Remote Observatory Dome controller

using Raspberry Pi's to automate the open/close and rotation of an observatory dome using MQTT linked to web pages for remote access

Rob Jones

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Description

using more than one processor to automate an observatory dome to a fully robotic control: Shutter and dome rotation, focus, dew heaters and link to Stellarium, perhaps a webcam and weather station etc. VERY EARLY DAYS.

Components

1 × Raspberry Pi Zero £4 from the Pi Hut
1 × Pimoroni - EnvironpHat Pi hat, giving analogue inputs and motions, Gauss measurements (electonic compass) (£15)
1 × Box to hold pi & hat ABS box c30mm x 70mm x 55mm or simliar
1 × Power Supply converter: 12v to 5v at 1amp. Will feed the project via 12v recvhargeable, so need a converter to run Raspi
1 × 12v rechrageable cell prefer LiPo cell, but safer to use lead acid. Needs enough to drive a shutter mechanism for 2 mins and the pi for some 5 hours. guess at 35Ahr. Needs to work in low temperatures

View all 7 components

Project Logs

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Software
Rob Jones • 02/12/2017 at 17:49 • 1 comment

Raspi Pi: OS loaded and updated to include:
SAMBA: allows remote file services from a networked PC, when Pi in headless mode
MQTT client: messaging system
{Wiring Pi}
Pimoroni EnvironpHat: software libraries to communicate with the Hat. Need access to .heading()

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Build Instructions

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1

Step 1

Most hardware has been bought to be 'plug and play',
Raspberry Pi, wireless dongle power supply and EnvironpHat are plug-n-play together in only one way!
2

Step 2

Software OS
follow the standard OS install on the Raspoberry pi.org site, then add
sudo apt-get: samba pomoroni MQTT-client