The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is a Large-Number-Small-Diameter radio telescope array currently with 42 individual antennas and 5 independent back-end science systems (2 imaging FX correlators and 3 time domain beam formers) located at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory (HCRO). The goal of the ATA is to run multiple back-ends simultaneously, supporting multiple science projects commensally. The primary software control systems are based on a combination of Java, JRuby and Ruby on Rails. The primary control API is simplified to provide easy integration with new back-end systems while the lower layers of the software stack are handled by a master observing system. Scheduling observations for the ATA is based on finding a union between the science needs of multiple projects and automatically determining an efficient path to operating the various sub-components to meet those needs. When completed, the ATA is expected to be a world-class radio telescope, combining dedicated SETI projects with numerous radio astronomy science projects.
@article{arxiv.1010.1567,
title = {Commensal observing with the Allen Telescope array: software command and control},
author = {Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill and Garrett K. Keating and David MacMahon and Peter K. G. Williams and Gerald Harp and Robert Ackermann and Tom Kilsdonk and Jon Richards and William C. Barott},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1010.1567},
year = {2010}
}
Comments
SPIE Conference Proceedings, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy, Nicole M. Radziwill; Alan Bridger, Editors, 77400Z, Vol 7740