Automation of an optical frequency standard experiment

We are developing the first optical frequency standard in India with single ytterbium ion (171Yb+), which is confined and laser cooled in an ion trap. This precision clock experiment needs to be automated for running it reliably and continuously over few days. For this we are developing a computer control systems. Some of its supporting hardware modules have already been designed and tested. In this article we describe scheme of our automation and control system.