Starbugs: focal plane fiber positioning technology

Michael Goodwin; Jeroen Heijmans; Ian Saunders; Jurek Brzeski; Will Saunders; Rolf Muller; Roger Haynes; James Gilbert

doi:10.1117/12.856777

21 July 2010 Starbugs: focal plane fiber positioning technology

Michael Goodwin, Jeroen Heijmans, Ian Saunders, Jurek Brzeski, Will Saunders, Rolf Muller, Roger Haynes, James Gilbert

Proceedings Volume 7739, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation; 77391E (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856777
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We report on the technological achievements of our latest Starbug prototypes and their implications for smart focal plane fiber positioning applications for wide-field astronomy. The Starbugs are innovative self-motile miniature robotic devices that can simultaneously and independently position fibers or payloads over a field plate located at the telescope's focal plane. The Starbugs concept overcomes many of the limitations associated with the traditional 'pick and place' positioners where a robot places fixed buttons onto the field plate. The new Starbug prototypes use piezoelectric actuators and have the following features: (i) new 'lift-and-step' method (discrete step) for accurate positioning over different surfaces; and (ii) operate in an inverted hanging position underneath a transparent field plate, removing the need for fibercable retractors. In this paper, we present aspects of the Starbug prototypes, including the theoretical model, mechanical design, experimental setup, algorithms, performance and applications for astronomical instrumentation.

Citation Download Citation

Michael Goodwin, Jeroen Heijmans, Ian Saunders, Jurek Brzeski, Will Saunders, Rolf Muller, Roger Haynes, and James Gilbert "Starbugs: focal plane fiber positioning technology", Proc. SPIE 7739, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation, 77391E (21 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856777

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