Performance and results from the commissioning of the first acquisition, guiding, and wavefront sensing units for the Large Binocular Telescope

We present the results from the commisioning of the first three off-axis Acquisition, Guiding and Wavefront Sensing Units on the Large Binocular Telescope. In particular we report on the performance of the units with respect to image quality, optical efficiency and scattered light. We also present the procedure for calibrating the stage coordinate system astrometrically to the focal plane coordinates of the telescope as well as the positional performance of the system. The first of a total of four units was mounted on the telescope in October 2007 and in the mean time three units have been mounted on the telescope. The units have been used for commisioning of the focal stations as well as for scientific observations since the end of 2008 with LUCIFER-I, the near-IR images and MOS spectrograph