Team MassiveIO:

Published February 12, 2016 © GPL3+

IoT for Telescope Controllers

Re-design TSCII with Raspberry Pi at its core.

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Things used in this project

Hardware components

MassiveIO TSCII

Story

TSCII telescope controller

Massive IO telescope control systems provide remote access to all telescope peripherals including focusers, heaters, temp sensors, cameras, rs-232 devices and mount control. Core functions are controlled by the CPU driven Telescope Super Controller (TSC). The TSCII provides connectivity and communications to all devices at the mount via a single data connection. Portable or fixed mounts may be reliably operated from local or remote locations.

TSCII Interconnect framework

Current Development

Project underway to replace Stamp BS2 and proposed mini PC with Raspberry Pi as central controller for FAC's next generation telescope controller. Initial progress has been made on component choices, intial pcb fabrication designs are underway. Prototype case designs are being developed with 3D print technology.

TSCII 3D printed case

Project updates will be posted here as material becomes available.

Article coverage includes:

Pi USB internal IO device connectivity

Multi port RS-232 modules

DC motor control

Temp/Humidity control

POL DC-DC converters

ASCOM driver integration

Sketchup of TSCIII with built in fit2-PC

TSC model III features built in PC with 6 USB ports 4 com ports, PWM motor control, temp monitoring and heater control. PC based observatory software can be run on internal PC to make TSCIII a complete telescope control and observation server in one package.

TSCIII

Legacy TSCII details

Side connector plate

RS-232 com port x 3

Can set com port numbers with Windows Device Manager

3com ports available for mount, rotators, temperature controlled focuses, etc

3 separate high speed DLP serial UARTS

RJ11 style plugs reduces connector bulk (cables included)

Dual 9-12VDC focus motor controller

128 step rates for fast or slow rotation high torque motor control

Can turn the motor shaft in increments less .1mm

Focus motor hand controller to control speed, direction and focuser selection

Software controllable. Interfaces to TSC control app (includced)

3 x heater control

-50c to 120c sensing range

Accurate within .5c

Temperature logging

Control set points to activate heaters when dew point is reached

7 port USB 2.0 Hub

4 External ports for cameras and or RS-232 converters

3 Internal ports uses by com devices and internal processor

Can operate and capture from multiple high speed USB cameras simultaneously(USB 2.0 enhanced)

Ports can be connected to RS-232 converters to control additional peripherals such as TCF devices, rotators, adaptive optics, spectrum analyzers, filter wheels etc.

Single USB connection to PC connects the 7 port hub as well as internal converters and processors

3 x Internal power supplies

Uses multiple high efficiency miniature isolated DC to DC converters

10 amp maximum capacity

5 volts at 4 amps (USB hub and internal electronics)

9 volts at 1 amp (focus motors)

12 volts at 8 amps (mount, external peripherals, heaters).

2 x DC 2.5mm center pin power connectors for external peripherals

Internal SBIG Power supply (+12/-12/+5) with SBIG DIN connector

Military stylemain power connector with gold plated pins

Internal PIC processor

Controls integration between hand controller and computer based focus control

Monitors temperature probes

Controls dew heaters

Monitors overall operation of TSC

Future development

Software

Comes with control software for controlling focus motors and dew heaters

Can be used along with Observatory software that uses com ports or ASCOM

Use favorite remote control software (RDP, PC Anywhere, VNC) to control host pc and thus gain control over all peripherals

Pictures of TSCII in action

1 / 10 • TSCII mounted to side of CPC1100

Future Addons

Touch panel interface

Other microcontrollers

Voice recognition mount control

Full wireless using induction rechargeable battery at mounts park position

Induction charger concept

Coredless power for OTA

Code

Legacy BS2 Stamp Op code for TSCII

' {$STAMP BS2}

' {$PBASIC 2.5}


CS              PIN     14                       ' chip select
AData           PIN     13                       ' data pin
CS2             PIN     10
Clk             PIN     12                       ' clock pin
MotorRst        PIN     1
MotorCtrl       PIN     2
FMNBut          PIN     7
FMFBut          PIN     4
H1Pwr           PIN     8
H2Pwr           PIN     9
H3Pwr           PIN     11
FMSpeedPot      PIN     3
FMSelect        PIN     6

Temp1          VAR  Byte
Temp2          VAR  Byte
F1NTrig        VAR  Byte
F1FTrig        VAR  Byte
F2NTrig        VAR  Byte
F2FTrig        VAR  Byte
FSpeed1        VAR  Byte
FSpeed2        VAR  Byte
iFSpeed1       VAR  Byte
iFSpeed2       VAR  Byte
iFSC1          VAR  Byte
iFSC2          VAR  Byte


iFSchange1     VAR  Byte
iFSchange2     VAR  Byte
BlockLS1     VAR  Bit
BlockLS2     VAR  Bit

HSetPoint      VAR  Byte
HRstPoint      VAR  Byte

HostConnected  VAR   Byte
WaitForHost    VAR   Byte

  #SELECT $STAMP
  #CASE BS2, BS2E, BS2PE
    T1200       CON     813
    T2400       CON     396
    T9600       CON     84
    T19K2       CON     32
    T38K4       CON     6
  #ENDSELECT

  Inverted        CON     $4000
  Open            CON     $8000
  Parity          CON     $2000
  Baud            CON     T19K2 + Inverted
  sValue          VAR     Byte(2)
  FMC             CON     70
  HC              CON     72
  FS1             CON     83
  FS2             CON     84
  AH              CON     67
  SH              CON     77
  RH              CON     78

  AutoHeat        VAR     Byte(3)

 HIGH MotorCtrl
 LOW MotorRst
 HIGH MotorRst

 PAUSE 100
 HIGH CS
 HIGH CS2
 LOW FMSpeedPot


HostConnected = 0
WaitForHost = 5000

iFSpeed1 = 127
iFSpeed2 = 127
FSpeed1 = 127
FSpeed2 = 127
HSetPoint = 2
HRstPoint = 1


Main:

DO

   SERIN 16,Baud,WaitForHost,NoHost, [STR sValue\2]
    HostConnected = 1
    WaitForHost=5000

    SELECT sValue(0)
      CASE FMC  ' Focus motors
        IF sValue(1) = 49 THEN GOSUB FM1Near
        IF sValue(1) = 50 THEN GOSUB FM1Far
        IF sValue(1) = 51 THEN GOSUB FM2Near
        IF sValue(1) = 52 THEN GOSUB FM2Far
        IF sValue(1) = 53 THEN GOSUB FM1Stop
        IF sValue(1) = 54 THEN GOSUB FM2Stop


      CASE HC 'Heaters
          IF sValue(1) = 49 THEN GOSUB Heater1On
          IF sValue(1) = 50 THEN GOSUB Heater1Off
          IF sValue(1) = 51 THEN GOSUB Heater2On
          IF sValue(1) = 52 THEN GOSUB Heater2Off
          IF sValue(1) = 53 THEN GOSUB Heater3On
          IF sValue(1) = 54 THEN GOSUB Heater3Off

      CASE FS1
        BlockLS1=1
        FSpeed1=sValue(1)

      CASE FS2
        BlockLS2=1
        FSpeed2=sValue(1)

      CASE AH
        IF sValue(1) = 49 THEN AutoHeat(0)=0
        IF sValue(1) = 50 THEN AutoHeat(0)=1
        IF sValue(1) = 51 THEN AutoHeat(1)=0
        IF sValue(1) = 52 THEN AutoHeat(1)=1
        IF sValue(1) = 53 THEN AutoHeat(2)=0
        IF sValue(1) = 54 THEN AutoHeat(2)=1

      CASE SH
        HSetPoint = sValue(1)

      CASE RH
        HRstPoint = sValue(1)

    ENDSELECT

       GOSUB ProcessLocalCmds

       SEROUT 16, Baud,[Temp1,Temp2,H1Pwr,H2Pwr,H3Pwr,HSetPoint,HRstPoint,FMNBut,FMFBut,FSpeed1,FSpeed2,FMSelect]


LOOP

END


ProcessLocalCmds:  ' Process local commands

  GOSUB ReadTmp1
  GOSUB ReadTmp2
  GOSUB AutoHeatCtl
  GOSUB ReadFSpeed

  IF FMNBut=0 AND FMSelect = 0 THEN GOSUB FM1Near
  IF FMFBut=0 AND FMSelect = 0 THEN GOSUB FM1Far
  IF FMNBut=0 AND FMSelect = 1 THEN GOSUB FM2Near
  IF FMFBut=0 AND FMSelect = 1 THEN GOSUB FM2Far

  IF FMNBut=1 AND F1NTrig = 1 AND FMSelect = 0 THEN GOSUB FM1Stop
  IF FMFBut=1 AND F1FTrig = 1 AND FMSelect = 0 THEN GOSUB FM1Stop
  IF FMNBut=1 AND F2NTrig = 1 AND FMSelect = 1 THEN GOSUB FM2Stop
  IF FMFBut=1 AND F2FTrig = 1 AND FMSelect = 1 THEN GOSUB FM2Stop

  'GOSUB DisplayData
  IF HostConnected = 0 THEN GOTO ProcessLocalCmds


 RETURN

ReadTmp1:
    LOW CS
    SHIFTIN AData, Clk, MSBPOST, [Temp1\9]
    HIGH CS
RETURN

ReadTmp2:
    LOW CS2
    SHIFTIN AData, Clk, MSBPOST, [Temp2\9]
    HIGH CS2
RETURN

ReadFSpeed:
  IF FMSelect = 0 THEN
     RCTIME FMSpeedPot,0,iFSpeed1
     LOW FMSpeedPot
     IF iFSpeed1 > 126 THEN iFSpeed1=127
       IF iFSpeed1 < 1 THEN iFSpeed1=1
        IF iFSchange1 <> iFSpeed1 THEN
          iFSchange1=iFSpeed1
          BlockLS1=0
        ENDIF
         IF BlockLS1=0 THEN FSpeed1=iFSpeed1
   ENDIF

   IF FMSelect = 1 THEN
     RCTIME FMSpeedPot,0,iFSpeed2
     LOW FMSpeedPot
     IF iFSpeed2 > 126 THEN iFSpeed2=127
       IF iFSpeed2 < 1 THEN iFSpeed2=1
         IF iFSchange2 <> iFSpeed2 THEN
           iFSchange2=iFSpeed2
           BlockLS2=0
         ENDIF
         IF BlockLS2=0 THEN FSpeed2=iFSpeed2
   ENDIF
RETURN

Heater1On:
 IF H1Pwr=0 THEN HIGH H1Pwr
RETURN

Heater1Off:
 IF H1Pwr=1 THEN LOW H1Pwr
RETURN

Heater2On:
 IF H2Pwr=0 THEN HIGH H2Pwr
RETURN
Heater2Off:
 IF H2Pwr=1 THEN LOW H2Pwr
RETURN

Heater3On:
 IF H3Pwr=0 THEN HIGH H3Pwr
RETURN
Heater3Off:
 IF H3Pwr=1 THEN LOW H3Pwr
RETURN

' motor 1
FM1Near:
 IF FMNBut=0 THEN F1NTrig=1
 SEROUT MotorCtrl,T2400,[$80,0,1,FSpeed1]
RETURN

FM1Far:
 IF FMFBut=0 THEN F1FTrig=1
 SEROUT MotorCtrl,T2400,[$80,0,0,FSpeed1]
RETURN

FM1Stop:
 F1NTrig=0
 F1FTrig=0
 SEROUT MotorCtrl,T2400,[$80,0,0,0]
RETURN

' motor 2
FM2Near:
 IF FMNBut=0 THEN F2NTrig=1
 SEROUT MotorCtrl,T2400,[$80,0,2,FSpeed2]
RETURN

FM2Far:
 IF FMFBut=0 THEN F2FTrig=1
 SEROUT MotorCtrl,T2400,[$80,0,3,FSpeed2]
RETURN

FM2Stop:
 F2NTrig=0
 F2FTrig=0
 SEROUT MotorCtrl,T2400,[$80,0,2,0]
RETURN


NoHost:
 HostConnected=1
 WaitForHost=5000
 GOTO ProcessLocalCmds
RETURN


AutoHeatCtl:
  IF AutoHeat(0)= 1 THEN
   IF Temp1+HSetPoint < Temp2 THEN GOSUB Heater1On
   IF Temp1 >= Temp2-1 THEN GOSUB Heater1Off
  ENDIF
  IF AutoHeat(1)= 1 THEN
   IF Temp1+HSetPoint < Temp2 THEN GOSUB Heater2On
   IF Temp1 >= Temp2-1 THEN GOSUB Heater2Off
  ENDIF
  IF AutoHeat(2)= 1 THEN
   IF Temp1+HSetPoint < Temp2 THEN GOSUB Heater3On
   IF Temp1 >= Temp2-1 THEN GOSUB Heater3Off
  ENDIF

RETURN

 END

DisplayData:
   DEBUG CLS,"Temp 1 = ", DEC Temp1,CR,"Temp 2 = ", DEC Temp2 ,CR, "FMb1 = ",DEC FMNBut,CR, "FMb2 = ",DEC FMFBut,CR,"FM Speed1 = ",DEC iFSpeed1, CR, "FM Speed2 = ",DEC iFSpeed2, CR, "FMSlect = ",DEC FMSelect, CR , "change = ",DEC iFSchange1, CR, "FMpot = ",DEC iFSpeed1, CR
    ' DEBUG CLS,"1=",DEC IN1,CR,"2=",DEC IN2,CR,"3=",DEC IN3,CR,"4=",DEC IN4,CR,"5=",DEC IN5,CR,"6=",DEC IN6,CR,"7=",DEC IN7,CR,"8=",DEC IN8,CR,"9=",DEC IN9,CR,"10=",DEC IN10,CR,"11=",DEC IN11,CR,"12=",DEC IN12,CR,"13=",DEC IN13,CR,"14=",DEC IN14,CR ,DEC ifSpeed1, CR,DEC iFSpeed2,CR

   RETURN

Credits

Mike Hogan

9 projects • 51 followers

Interested in hardened massive io frameworks

IoT for Telescope Controllers

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Story

TSCII telescope controller

Current Development

Schematics

TSCII Case

Connection Diagram

Connection Diagram

TSCII Telescope Controller

Code

Legacy BS2 Stamp Op code for TSCII

Credits

Mike Hogan

Comments

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IoT for Telescope Controllers

IoT for Telescope Controllers

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Story

TSCII telescope controller

Current Development

Schematics

TSCII Case

Connection Diagram

Connection Diagram

TSCII Telescope Controller

Code

Legacy BS2 Stamp Op code for TSCII

Credits

Mike Hogan

Comments

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