Argos - Outline of System Design 

The figure below needs only a few comments. The light blue boxes represent software, that has to be developed as part of the Argos project.

The Control Module is a real-time module responsible for generating signals to the motors and processing feedback from the encoders.

The Control Module is in turn controlled by the Telescope Control Program running as an ordinary Linux process. The two processes communicate via named pipes (FIFO's) and maybe shared memory (not decided yet).

The Telescope Control Program is the universal entry point to the Argos System. Itreceives input from the hand controller and interfaces to externam programs like XEphem. Other options are a joystick or voice control (not shown on the figure). CCD cameras, autoguiders etc. would also connect to the Telescope Control Program (also not shown).

The Socket Inteface allows for remote control - either from a nearby computer (in the warm weekend-cottage:) or via the Internet. However, truly remote operation will not be possible unless the dome is modified. Currently it can only be opened and turned manually.