Explore Scientific PMC-Eight ESOGT-01B Programmer's Reference Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Explore Scientific Manuals
  4. Controller
  5. PMC-Eight ESOGT-01B
  6. Programmer's reference manual

Explore Scientific PMC-Eight ESOGT-01B Programmer's Reference Manual

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

PMC-Eight™
Programmer's
Reference
DOC-ESPMC8-002 Release 2
2019_March 07

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the PMC-Eight ESOGT-01B and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Related Manuals for Explore Scientific PMC-Eight ESOGT-01B

Summary of Contents for Explore Scientific PMC-Eight ESOGT-01B

  • Page 1 PMC-Eight™ Programmer’s Reference DOC-ESPMC8-002 Release 2 2019_March 07...
  • Page 2 This document is copyright ©2016–2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NOTE: This document is provided to our PMC-Eight™ customers for their personal use in developing applications for the PMC-Eight™ Control System in accordance with the requirements of Explore Scientific and the PMC-Eight™ OpenGOTO™ Community Steering Committee.

  • Page 3: Document Notes

    Program names used to communicate with the PMC-Eight™ are designated in Bold Italic, i.e., Parallax Serial Terminal. The PMC-Eight™ Control System is warranted by Explore Scientific, LLC. If you have any questions or issues when using this reference with your PMC-Eight™ system, you should contact Explore Scientific...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    I/O on the system. The firmware is compiled on an external computer and uploaded via the serial RS232(DB9)/USB communications port. RS232—A communications hardware standard for serial communications. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 5: Acronyms

    North Celestial Pole/South Celestial Pole Optical Tube Assembly Precision Motion Controller PMGR Programmer Right Ascension Transmission Control Protocol User Datagram Protocol West Pointing East Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 6: Introduction

    Section VIII: Appendices of this document. One of the key elements of the PMC-Eight™ System is the Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ Command Language. This language is designed to be both flexible and powerful enough to instruct the controller to perform any task the controller can perform.

  • Page 7: System Description

    . Note that both the model 2A and 1A use the same components and have nearly identical schematics. Parallax Propeller™ P8X32A 8-Processor Architecture/Block Diagram Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 8 1(ea) 1A-01C WiFi Module Espressif ESP8266 ESP-WROOM-02 WiFi Module 1(ea) 1A-01C USB FTDI FT232RL USB Serial Interface Chip PMC-Eight™ Major Component List PMC-Eight™ Controller Model 1A TOP Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 9 Programming Application Notes. The controller communicates at 115,200 BAUD with No Parity, 8 Bits, 1 Stop Bit over the network, through the RS232 connection and the USB connection. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 10 Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ Application Note PMC8-AN001: How-To Update the PMC- Eight™ Control System Firmware (located in the Appendices) explains this process. The firmware files are in a Knowledge Base Article on the Explore Scientific USA website, just search for “firmware” in the Knowledge Base search tool.
  • Page 11 PMC-Eight™ with a Terminal Program to Configure the RN-131 WiFi Interface and Switching Between the WiFi Interface and the Serial Interface, and the document Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ Application Note PMC8-AN003: Switching Between the WiFi Interface and the Serial Interface on the iEXOS 100™...
  • Page 12 The PMC-Eight™ model 2A-06B WiFi module (Microchip RN-131G) daughter board has a test point (TP_IO9) used in resetting the module to the Microchip factory defaults. Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ Application Note PMC8-AN002: Connecting to the PMC-Eight™ with a Terminal Program to Configure...
  • Page 13 The number (channel) will increment by one each time the dongle is used to change the channel and will recycle back to 1 after reaching channel 11. There are 11 channels available in total, channels 1–11. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 14: Pmc-Eight™ Controller And Command Language Theory Of Operation

    SLEW process. The processors run independently so that if any one processor fails, it will not affect the operation of the others. PMC-Eight™ System Architecture Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 15 0.04 (± 0.02)”arc . This value is based on the internal precision of the firmware integer calculation and setting of the precision tracking rate value. (See Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 16 Right Ascension (RA) or Declination (DEC) drift caused by less than perfect polar alignment. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 17 PMC-Eight™ ST4 factory default calibration. In this case, customers must contact Explore Scientific to have their ST4 input calibrated to their specific camera. See Appendix VIII.4 “Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ version 2A-006A/B Autoguider (ST-4) Port Calibration Procedure (Rev 1.3) Firmware Version 9r4 08162015 AND LATER (2015 August 22)”...
  • Page 18 DOC-ESPMC8-002 Rev. 1.2 2019 March 07 (Firmware 09T10, 10A01 and above) Command Language Theory of Operation The Explore Scientific Command Language commands are used to send data requests and instructions to control the motors and receive status data back from the hardware. Four basic types of commands are used to interrogate the controller, two general purpose commands, and two special purpose commands.
  • Page 19 (0x119400) and 2304000 (0x232800). These values are from -0.000 to -90.000 degrees. This pointing position is called “West Pointing East” or WpE. This means that the telescope is WEST Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 20 4. DEC motor counts increase from SCP: -2304000 < S < -1152000 < N < 0: NCP. When EpW, LMST is at motor count value -1152000 and is the position where the counterweight bar is horizontal to the horizon. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 21: Pmc-Eight™ Ascii Command Language

    Mode. The Diagnostic Mode is used to enable the Simple Base ASCII Command Interpreter within the firmware. These commands are used internally by Explore Scientific employees in troubleshooting low- level motor performance functions. The default Command mode enables both the JOC and ES Command Interpreters when the PMC-Eight™...
  • Page 22 This value should not be changed; values less than 115,200 affect the control response when using the ExploreStars application and render the application inoperable without modification. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 23: Pmc-Eight™ Ascii Command Language Syntax

    DOC-ESPMC8-002 Rev. 1.2 2019 March 07 (Firmware 09T10, 10A01 and above) V PMC-Eight™ ASCII Command Language Syntax The Explore Scientific Controller Command Language is an ASCII based command language system that can be parsed by a computer program to determine the desired control action and is human readable, making it easy to interpret and form messages when coding once the syntax is mastered.
  • Page 24  Firmware version 9T12 increases motor current to 1300 mA See Table on page 16 for the fixed tracking rate count calculation and parameter values for each of the Explore Scientific mounts. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 25 RESET Command Name Parameter “ESR!” Reset WiFi Comm Controller None BOOT Command Name Parameter “ESB!” Reboot Motor Controller None List of PMC-Eight™ ASCII Commands Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 26 DOC-ESPMC8-002 Rev. 1.2 2019 March 07 (Firmware 09T10, 10A01 and above) The firmware code modules have the following information as a ready reference to the command syntax. NOTE: The firmware (version 09T10+, 10A01) source code is Explore Scientific, LLC proprietary and IS NOT available for inspection.
  • Page 27 REQUEST: “ESGdA!” RESPONSE: “ESGdAD!” Example: Get Current RA Axis Direction Value REQUEST: “ESGd0!” RESPONSE: “ESGd01!” NOTE: Data values are specified as Hex String Values. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 28 The calculated precision tracking value for a sidereal rate of 15.000”arc sidereal-sec Precision Tracking value = (15.000 / 0.28125) * 25 = 53.333 * 25 = 1333 (decimal) = 0x0535 (hexadecimal) Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 29 Axis Rate, the floating-point value for counts sec needs to be multiplied by 25 and rounded to the nearest integer to develop the value used in sending Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 30 REQUEST: “ESSi10001C200!” RESPONSE: “ESGi10001C200!” (decimal 115,200 BAUD) Example: Set Current System Information #3 (DEC Maximum) Value REQUEST: “ESGi300465000!” RESPONSE: “ESGi300465000!” (decimal 4,608,000 DEC MAX) Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 31 Both axes may be slewed concurrently as desired because these are independent processes. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 32 NOTE1: The system reboot command restarts the controller independent of the wireless communications controller. The wireless communications are maintained while the motor controller restarts. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 33: Pmc-Eight™ Hardware Interface Specifications

    Autoguider Input from camera RJ45 8P8C Connector DEC Motor Output Motor Step Signals 4-pin Header (internal) RA Motor Output Motor Step Signals PMC-Eight™ Hardware Interface Specifications Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 34: Pmc-Eight™ System Software Development Kit Information

    6.2 templates for .NET programs, and all the source code is available along with the driver for those who want to use it for their ASCOM client applications. The Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ ASCOM driver has been tested using the ASCOM Platform Conformance tool and passes 100% of the suite. The driver has been tested successfully using the ASCOM Platform client applications MaximDL and Cartes du Ciel.

  • Page 35: Miscellaneous System Information

    PMC-Eight™ System including information about the availability of new documents or information included in our Knowledge Base, User Manuals, and other documents since the last release of the SDK. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 36: Appendices

    4. Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ version 2A-006A/B Autoguider (ST-4) Port Calibration Procedure (Rev 1.3) Firmware Version 9r4 08162015 AND LATER (2015 August 22) 5. ASCOM Platform Conformance Test Report—Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ ASCOM Driver Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 37: Application Note An001: Firmware Update Procedure

    If you do not want to purchase a USB-to DB9-adapter, you can send your PMC-Eight™ Control System back to Explore Scientific for firmware updates. Please call Customer Service for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number, and then ship your controller to: Explore Scientific, LLC.
  • Page 38 “C:\Users\jerry>” 6. Set the directory using the CD command to the location that the firmware update file was extracted to, i.e., “C:\Users\jerry> cd Documents\PMC8_firmware”. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 39 If you have any issues performing this procedure, or if you have suggestions, comments, or questions, please contact support@explorescientific.com or call our customer support number (866) 252-3811. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 40: Application Note An002: Model 2A Switching Communications

    Once you are connected to the PMC-Eight™ via the PGMR/SERIAL port (interface 0), you can enter diagnostic mode to perform other functions. This is the subject of “Explore Scientific PMC- Eight™ Application Note PMC8-AN004: Entering and Using the PMC-Eight™ Diagnostic Mode.”...
  • Page 41 Data Bits: Stop Bits: Parity: NONE Flow Control: NONE If you want to change the PMC-Eight™ WiFi RN-131 configuration, then perform the following procedure: Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 42 PMC-Eight™ RN-131 configuration to factory default values.). Step 6 below provides a list of the default parameters as set by Explore Scientific. Ensure that logging is enabled on the Putty terminal program to record these default parameters so that you have a record of these default factory values.
  • Page 43 5 set sys trigger 0x01 save set wlan auth 4 set wlan hide 1 set wlan join 7 set wlan chan 8 save Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 44 If you have any issues performing this procedure, or if you have suggestions, comments or questions, please contact support@explorescientific.com or call our customer support number (866) 252-3811. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 45: Application Note An003: Model 1A Switching Communications

    Terminal program is used to perform this switch back to the WiFi Interface (interface 1). The WiFi protocol will be either TCP/IP or UDP/IP, depending on where you left it last when issuing the “ESY!” command. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 46 APPLICABLE PMC-Eight™ Hardware/Firmware Versions 1. PMC-Eight™ System Controller version 1A-01C or later. (Only used in the iEXOS 100.) 2. PMC-Eight™ System Controller Firmware version 10B01 or later. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 47 Switch from UDP/IP to TCP/IP using the “ESY!” command NOTE: This procedure assumes that you start with the delivered configuration of the PMC-Eight™ with the WiFi interface enabled. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 48 GREEN box. You should see an “ESY0!” response. 7. You should now be able to connect via TELNET using PUTTY. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 49 UDP/IP from TCP/IP on WiFi (interface 1). 4. You should now be able to wirelessly use the ExploreStars™ application with the iEXOS 100™. PMC-Eight™ Firmware Startup Splash Screen Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 50 If you have any issues performing these procedures, or if you have suggestions, comments, or questions, please contact support@explorescientific.com or call our customer support number (866)252-3811. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 51: Model 2A Analog Autoguider (St4) Port Calibration Procedure

    1.1.5.1 OR LATER. 1.0 Discussion The Autoguider port on the Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ controller uses a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) circuit to convert ST-4 port contact inputs to a unique frequency for that contact input combination. The circuit uses an SE555 timer chip to create the square wave output that is measured by the processor firmware and processed into a frequency value.
  • Page 52 In the IDE, CLICK the Run, Identify Hardware… menu items and VERIFY that the following message displays: Propeller chip version 1 found on COMx. RECORD the COM port identified. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 53 Autoguider Frequencies. There are two values shown, the Frequency value and the calculated, enumerated contact combination value. For each button push, the values will change accordingly. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 54 USING the values recorded in step 4.22, in the IDE, SCROLL to line number 142 and MODIFY each of the lines for each button combinations. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 55 TRACK MODE as indicated by the “Tr” icon, perform the following step. 4.29 PUSH each button combination on the Autoguider Switch Test Box and VERIFY that the RA and DEC positions change as desired. Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

  • Page 56: Ascom Platform Conformance Test - Pmc-Eight™ Ascom Driver

    14:44:00.049 InterfaceVersion 14:44:00.083 Connected True 14:44:00.116 Description ES_PMC8 Telescope 14:44:00.150 DriverInfo Explore Scientific PMC-Eight Mount Controller ASCOM Driver. Developed by GRHubbell. Contact Explore Scientific at www.explorescientificusa.com . Version: 6.0 14:44:00.185 DriverVersion 14:44:00.227 Name Explore Scientific PMC-Eight ASCOM Driver 14:44:00.262 CommandString...
  • Page 57 Slewed back to start position within 56.8 arc seconds of expected RA: 18:44:33.23, actual RA: 18:44:37.02 14:48:18.710 SyncToCoordinates Slewed back to start position OK. DEC: 19:09:59.40 Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 58 Tracking stopped to protect your mount. Conformance test complete No errors, warnings or issues found: your driver passes ASCOM validation!! Driver Hash Value: 8A91BA639244CEF66FC46E4C203B24E77C9DB5519A66C3F40AAF1CF9E62720F7BAA25BA03CB95B8B9AAF2E8F1D40359C507F2DB3FE1B6413D979BFD8868F3623 Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...
  • Page 59 Explore Scientific PMC-Eight™ Controller Programmer’s Reference DOC-ESPMC8-002 Rev. 1.2 2019 March 07 (Firmware 09T10, 10A01 and above) Copyright ©2016-2019 Explore Scientific, LLC. ExploreScientificUSA.com +1 (866) 252-3811, 1010 South 48 Street, Springdale, AR 72762...

Table of Contents