Original Paper

Autonomous software: Myth or magic?

  1. A. Allan,
  2. T. Naylor1,
  3. E.S. Saunders2

Article first published online: 4 MAR 2008

DOI: 10.1002/asna.200710961

Issue

Astronomische Nachrichten

Astronomische Nachrichten

Volume 329, Issue 3, pages 266–268, March 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Allan, A., Naylor, T. and Saunders, E.S. (2008), Autonomous software: Myth or magic?. Astron. Nachr., 329: 266–268. doi: 10.1002/asna.200710961

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, U.K.

  2. 2

    Las Cumbres Observatory, 6740 Cortona Dr. Suite 102, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, U.S.A.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 4 MAR 2008
  2. Article first published online: 4 MAR 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 NOV 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 16 NOV 2007

Funded by

  • DTI
  • EPSRC
  • PPARC
  • STFC

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Keywords:

  • astronomical databases: miscellaneous;
  • instrumentation: miscellaneous;
  • methods: miscellaneous;
  • methods: observational;
  • telescopes

Abstract

We discuss work by the eSTAR project which demonstrates a fully closed loop autonomous system for the follow up of possible micro-lensing anomalies. Not only are the initial micro-lensing detections followed up in real time, but ongoing events are prioritised and continually monitored, with the returned data being analysed automatically. If the “smart software” running the observing campaign detects a planet-like anomaly, further follow-up will be scheduled autonomously and other telescopes and telescope networks alerted to the possible planetary detection.We further discuss the implications of this, and how such projects can be used to build more general autonomous observing and control systems. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

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