AAS main features

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The AAS is based on a ‘smart’ CMOS camera with a large field of view lens and on-board computing processor, based on Linux OS, and special customized software

• Lens and housing:

  • 4.8mm f/1.8 (SKR IR CINEGON or similar)

  • Option for different focal lengths

  • Cylindrical aluminum (h: 322 mm x d: 220 mm) housing with a 27.5 ° sloped pedestal to protect the camera from wind shake and dust 

• CMOS sensor:

  • E2V EV76C660

  • 1280x1024 pixels

  • 5.3 μm pixel size

  • 10 bit ADC

  • Sealed chamber filled with inert gas (Argon or Krypton)

• Cooling system :

  • Based on a controlled 5.5x6.5 mm Peltier cell

  • Thermal dissipation on the metal structure

• Processing Unit:

  • AM335x 1GHz ARM® Cortex-A8 Processor

  • 512Mb RAM

  • 4Gb eMMC internal storage

  • microSD slot (alternative boot memory)

  • Industrial range

• Connectors on Panel:

  • 10FL/100SX 850nm fibre optic pair lines Ethernet

  • RS232 UART service line

  • Discrete Inputs: Power-On, Start Alarm, Shutdown

  • Discrete Outputs: Aircraft Detected, Increased Background, System On, Watch Dog

  • 24V @ 0.6A max with over/under voltage and over current protections power supply

• Integrated Software

  • Aircrafts identification with trajectory calculation

  • Laser triggering in case of alarm zone crossing

  • Frame masking to avoid dome false triggering

  • Simple TCP/IP interface

• Complete support service: customization, commissioning and maintenance during operation​

AAS example application: ESO Paranal VLT telescope 4 LGS unit

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2Gen AAS has been developed by Astrel Instruments for the 4LGSF of the ESO Adaptive Optics Facility, to be installed in pair on the UT4 telescope at ESO Paranal Observatory. The AAS commissioning has been completed in January 2020.

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On 2023 ESO committed eight 3Gen AAS to fully equip all UT1-2-3-4 telescopes of VLT.