The MUP Astro CAT is an auto GPIO configuring add-on board for the Raspberry PI 3 which provides additional hardware interfaces to communicate and control a Meade Autostar, Moonlite focuser and temperature sensors.
This repository contains the firmware and driver project files needed to build and use the MUP Astro CAT.
Kicad hardware schematic and pcb files are available at:
https://github.com/Sector14/mup-astro-cat-hardware
Please refer to the additional documentation in the docs/ directory for information on build/installation instructions and testing notes.
CAT refers to the Schmidt-Cassagrain telescope (CAT for short) this board will be attached to. After naming it CAT I considered the recursive "CAP" which would stand for "CAP Attached on Pi" since this project doesn't quite meet the "Hat" spec, a cap is not a hat! but that means renaming things so CAT it is.
- docs - project documentation
- indi_driver - libindi drivers (GPL3)
- eeprom - eeprom configuration and overlay source (GPL2)
Use a raspberry pi and additional interface board to control the following devices:
- SXVR-H9
- LodeStar
- Filter Wheel
- LX90 Handset
- Moonlite Focuser
- Illuminated Reticle (v2?)
- Temp Sensor
The SXVR-H9, LodeStar (excl ST4 guide port) and Filter Wheel simply connect as USB devices to the Pi.
The LX90 Handset uses a RS232 connection via RJ22 to the PI.
Moonlite focuser controlled via GPIO to a unipolar stepper motor controller that will handle signal timing. Ensures any jitter/pauses from pi due to non realtime OS won't impact motor control.
ST4 port from APM is not implemented, it might be added in a future revision via i2c bus however as the LX90 supports pulse commands over serial, it may not be needed.
Version 1.x of the firmware/software is compatible with any revision of Version 1 of the hardware. Breaking changes will result in a major version bump.
Note: Due to a breaking upstream device tree name change that occurred between the Jessie and Stretch release, auto remapping of the UART to GPIO pins may fail.
An eeprom built with version 1.1 or later is required for Stretch. Version 1.0 or earlier is required for releases prior to Stretch.
Please refer to the eeprom section of building.md for further information.
Copyright Gary Preston 2016