Software for automated run-time determination of calibration values and hardware capabilities in torrent detector control systems

The MONSOON Torrent image Acquisition system is being designed partially to reduce the complexity in configuring a Detector controller system. This paper will discuss how we have achieved this goal by creating a system of automation for the configuration task. We also discuss how the automated systems work to insure proper focal plane operation in the face of potential network, communications and controller hardware failures during observing sessions. The Torrent hardware design is discussed in section 2. In Sections 4 and 5 we discuss the automated processes used to develop the description of the Torrent hardware used by the rest of the automation system. In Sections 6 through 8 we discuss the semi automated system configuration/integration/design software. In Section 9 we present the automated run-time configuration tools and discuss how it operates in the face of various failures. In Section 10 we discuss how Torrent and the automated systems will achieve the goal of reducing observing down time in the face of hardware failures.