Kevin Casteels

Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, Institute of Space Sciences

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Kevin Casteels is a researcher specializing in robotic observatory systems and astronomical automation, with a focus on developing the software and hardware infrastructure that enables fully unattended telescope operations. His most significant contributions center on the Joan Oró Telescope at the Montsec Astronomical Observatory (TJO-OAdM) in Spain, a small-class facility that operates in complete isolation, making robotic control not merely advantageous but essential for routine scientific use. Casteels has made meaningful technical contributions across multiple dimensions of observatory robotization. His foundational 2009 paper on the OAdM Robotic Observatory, which has garnered 14 citations, introduced the general control software architecture underpinning the facility's automated operations. Subsequent work expanded this foundation through specialized contributions to intelligent scheduling systems and the development of OpenROCS, an open robotic observatory control system that also addresses the critical challenge of automated dome control. Collectively, his papers reflect a systematic approach to solving the layered engineering problems inherent in building reliable robotic observatories — from high-level scheduling logic to low-level hardware integration. For students and researchers interested in observatory automation, telescope control systems, or the practical challenges of remote astronomical facilities, Casteels' work offers valuable technical insights grounded in real-world implementation experience.