Automated telescope with distributed orientation and operation processing

An automated telescope, comprising:

• an optical system for viewing celestial objects;
• an altitude motor system rotatably coupled to the optical system for rotating the
• optical system with respect to an altitude axis of the telescope, the altitude motor system comprising a first motor and a first microprocessor coupled to control the first motor;
• an azimuth motor system rotatably coupled to the optical system for rotating the optical system with respect to an azimuth axis of the telescope, the azimuth motor system comprising a second motor and a second microprocessor coupled to control the second motor;
• a third microprocessor connected to the first microprocessor and to the second microprocessor and receiving position feedback from the first and second microprocessors, the third microprocessor connected to a memory configured to store program instructions, wherein the program instructions comprise instructions for (a) determining a relationship between a celestial coordinate system and an altitude-azimuth coordinate system of the telescope, and (b) generating motion control commands based at least in part on the determined relationship and on the position feedback, whereby the first microprocessor controls the first motor and the second microprocessor controls the second motor based at least in part on the motion control commands, and wherein the altitude motor system further comprises a first motion indicator coupled to indicate motion of the first motor with respect to the altitude axis, the first microprocessor determining a position of the first motor based at least in part on signals from the first motion indicator, and wherein the azimuth motor system further comprises a second motion indicator coupled to indicate motion of the second motor with respect to the azimuth axis, the second microprocessor determining a position of the second motor based at least in part on signals from the second motion indicator.

An automated telescope, comprising:

• an optical system for viewing celestial objects;
• an altitude motor system rotatably coupled to the optical system for rotating the optical system with respect to an altitude axis of the telescope, the altitude motor system comprising a first motor and a first processor coupled to control the first motor using first motor position information determined by the altitude motor system;
• an azimuth motor system rotatably coupled to the optical system for rotating the optical system with respect to an azimuth axis of the telescope, the azimuth motor system comprising a second motor and a second processor coupled to control the second motor using second motor position information determined by the azimuth motor system;
• and
• a third processor connected to the first processor and to the second processor, the third processor operably associated with a memory configured to store program instructions, wherein the program instructions comprise instructions for (a) determining a relationship between a celestial coordinate system and an altitude-azimuth coordinate system of the telescope, and (b) generating motion control commands based at least in part on the first motor position information, the second motor position information, and the determined relationship, whereby the first processor controls the first motor and the second processor controls the second motor based at least in part on the motion control commands.