The primary mirror system control software for the VST

The most important element of the VST active optics is the primary mirror, with its active support system located within the primary mirror cell structure. The primary mirror support system is composed by an axial and a lateral independent systems and includes an earthquake safety system. The primary mirror system software has been designed with a system engineering approach. The software has to change the mirror shape during observations, but also shall allow the user to perform a number of other activities. It has to support: periodic maintenance operations like the alignment, the mirror removal and installation for recoating; the functional tests; the engineering operations; the recalibration of several parameters. This paper describes how the primary mirror system software has been developed to support both the observations and engineering activities.

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