Re: [ATM] Patent Application for an Automatic Telescope

[Chris Rowland <chris_group_mail@dsl.pipex.com>]

Dominic-Luc Webb wrote:
> Always nice to hear everyone looking into (latest???) innovations. I
> wonder, if anyone has implemented some of the ideas I have below,
> although I think they are fairly obivous, not terribly original and
> not terribly marketable. On the other hand, as pointed out by others,
> some software giants made billions selling essentially dysfunctional
> garbage.
> 
> My idea as follows:
> 
> Time + GPS + gravity sensor.

I think this is patented, it is the North and Level Technology that
there was all the fuss about between Meade and Celestron. Meade have
successfully patented any alignment method that started with the scope
in any terrestrial alignment.

> Time + GPS fixes you to an ephemeris. The gravity sensor tells you
> exactly which way is down, and by extrapolation, which way is up.
> I would guess this is pretty cheap to implement by ATMs these days
> and sad to say I have no time to try this myself for the time being.

I did this a few years ago for a scope using the Bartels scope drive. A
link to a GPS would set the position and time and a script to find and
slew to a couple of alignment stars.

I just didn't have the gravity sensor or compass.

Chris

> A GPS is rather often helpful appendage to our arsenal, so it could
> be something many of you already have. A simple gravity sensor
> should not be hard to make, like a position sensor hanging on a
> string placed below a fixed point somewher on the scope. Without a
> GPS and time, a computer with fixed local coordinates and time
> should be fine. This should guarantee the scope knows night from day
> and gives a crystal clear starting point for orientation.
> 
> This is obviously gadgetry beyond what is needed by most, but it
> might allow some of us an excuse to stay out of the cold this
> Winter in favor of engineering a (better???) mouse trap.
> 
> Come to think of it.... I already did write very simple tracking and
> orientation software that takes into account time of day. Basically,
> it does not permit tracking or sweeping outside a field that is less
> than 10 degrees above horizon, and the software is given time and
> ground coordinates. It was not such a big deal really.
> 
> Dominic-Luc Webb
> 
> _______________________________________________
> ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/
> 
> 


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