Two new SafetyMonitors

General
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in the last few weeks I have produced another two new SafetyMonitors:

  • Generic File SafetyMonitor
  • Environment SafetyMonitor

The Generic File SafetyMonitor monitors any ASCII-file(s) on the local hard drive or on the network, scans it for a preamble (e.g. ROOF) and a trigger in that same line (e.g. CLOSED) and sets the SAFE/UNSAFE event based on the user settings.

The Environment SafetyMonitor reads observations from an ObservationConditions Driver (preferably OCH, but any driver can be used) and allows to trigger SAFE/UNSAFE events on 11 observation types in a maximum of 13 rules (the 2 additional ones are to allow for upper/lower limits for wind direction and temperature).

Both have their own web-page on my server:

Conform validation reports are included in the downloads.

I share these with the community in the hope they are beneficial to other (amateur) astronomers. I can, however, not be held responsible for any damage done as a result of a wrong setting or failure of the algorithm(s) or of the driver as a whole (this also accounts for all other freeware downloads on my server). So, use at your own risk and feel free to redistribute it. I would appreciate feedback in case any bugs are found.

with kind regards,
NicolĂ s

v009_runtime

step1a

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Hi Nicolas - during lockdown I developed an Arduino based environment sensor that measures SQ, humidity, pressure, cloud cover, rain and temperature, along with an observing conditions ASCOM driver. I was just about to try writing a safety monitor around the same hardware and realize I would need to create a hub that allows two drivers to read the same hardware. When I’m done, I will publish it on my website.

In your system - does it allow one to feed of an existing observing conditions ASCOM driver to generate a safety monitor?

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Hi Buzz,

the OCH (ObservingConditions Hub) allows to connect to multiple ObservingConditions drivers at one time. My Environment SafetyMonitor connects to the OCH and allows to monitor all those OC-Drivers and to fire UNSAFE-events if one of the observations is not within a desired range. The OCH comes with your ASCOM installation, so you do not need to create an OCH yourself.

My Environment SafetyMonitor can also be used with other OC-Drivers like that of a MGBox, etc. The available observation types are automatically detected.

NicolĂ s

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