ArcVIEW: a LabVIEW-based astronomical instrument control system

To meet the needs of the SOAR 4.2-m telescope first-generation instrument suite, as well as new instruments for the Blanco 4-m telescope, we developed a new camera controller system called ArcVIEW. In order to provide a strong foundation and rapid development cycle, we decided to build the system using National Instrument's LabVIEW environment. The advantages of this approach centers on the tools available for rapid prototyping, integration and testing of components. Over the past 2 years, we have taken ArcVIEW from a design document to the point of controlling two new instruments being built at CTIO. The IR imager, ISPI, will complete final testing this semester and go into use on the Blanco telescope in September 2002. The second instrument, the SOAR Optical Imager, is due for completion this semester and will be the commissioning instrument for the SOAR telescope, for which first light is expected in early 2003.