The Robo-AO software: fully autonomous operation of a laser guide star adaptive optics and science system

Abstract

Robo-AO is the first astronomical laser guide star adaptive optics (AO) system designed to operate completely
\nindependent of human supervision. A single computer commands the AO system, the laser guide star, visible and
\nnear-infrared science cameras (which double as tip-tip sensors), the telescope, and other instrument functions.
\nAutonomous startup and shutdown sequences as well as concatenated visible observations were demonstrated in
\nlate 2011. The fully robotic software is currently operating during a month long demonstration of Robo-AO at
\nthe Palomar Observatory 60-inch telescope.