Since this is the EOH issue of the Banks, I figured I would write an expanded explanation of SigMicro's (the Special Interest Group for Microcomputing) EOH project. ACM selected the SigMicro Computer Controlled Telescope project, or C.A.T.S. (Computer Aided Telescope System), as its central exhibit this year. This project has been developed in cooperation with the University of Illinois Astronomical Society (UIAS). The project's basic concept is to allow someone to take the telescope out in the field and then type into the computer the astronomical object -- such as a star or planet -- they would like to view. The computer would then tell the telescope where the object is and how to find it. Signals will be sent out of the serial (RS-232) port of a PC to a Motorola 68HC11 motor controller which will then actuate the stepper motors until the object is in view. Once the object has been located, the telescope's hardware will track the object. We are using optical encoders to send signals back to the computer which tell the computer where the telescope is pointing at all times.
I would like to thank all of the people who have been involved in this project. They are (in no particular order)...from ACM: Dan Simms, Frank Klier, Jonathan Stark, David Morgan, Ann Coyne, Doug Beeferman, & myself; from UIAS: Greg Rudnick, Steve Elliott, Peter Sochaki, Kayoko Ikeda, Joe Schmidd, Jeremy Hicks, & Mr. Hicks. I would also like to point out the driving force behind getting the project started last year: Ed Burns (We love you Ed!:)).
Our normal meetings are Mondays at 8pm in 1102 DCL. Most of the meetings so far this semester have been used to discuss and work on EOH projects, but we will be returning to normal meetings really soon. If you would like to get in touch with me or just wish me Happy Birthday (Ed.'s note: 2/26), you can e-mail me at sigmicro@uiuc.edu.