Problems addressed
- Single points of failure in power, network or control
- Unsafe closure logic and unclear weather authority
- Software components that work only when manually supervised
- No documented recovery route after a partial failure
AST / 09 Urquhart / capability
Remote observatories
Design for the fault that happens when nobody is there.
Remote-observatory architecture and integration across weather, roof or dome, power, network, computing, control and recovery.
Who it is for
A defined service for a recognisable technical problem.
- Private and shared remote observatories
- Existing installations with reliability or recovery problems
- Projects planning an unattended imaging facility
Included
- System boundary, dependency and failure-mode review
- Power, network, weather and control architecture
- Automation-state and recovery planning
- Integration or commissioning scope where agreed
Not included
- Safety certification or regulated electrical work
- Civil, structural and weatherproofing design
- Guaranteed continuous availability
- Equipment and third-party service costs
Delivery process
Reduce uncertainty in deliberate stages.
Readiness
Assess site, equipment, power, network, control and environmental inputs.
Failure design
Define authority, safe states, interlocks, timeouts and recovery routes.
Integrate
Connect and test the agreed hardware and software boundary.
Prove
Exercise representative normal, degraded and recovery scenarios.
Starting prices
Choose the smallest useful commitment.
Electrical, structural and regulated work requires appropriately qualified contractors.
See the complete price listObservatory Readiness Review
Power, network, safety, control and environment
Complete Remote Observatory Architecture
Full technical system specification
Full Observatory Automation
Weather, roof or dome, power and fail-safe integration
Evidence and limits
Credibility comes from what can be checked.
- Critical dependencies and single points of failure are recorded.
- Acceptance testing includes degraded states and recovery scenarios, not only normal operation.
- Safety responsibilities and specialist boundaries are explicit in the scope.
Questions
Before you enquire.
Can an observatory be completely unattended?
It can be designed for remote operation, but residual risks, maintenance and recovery responsibilities remain. The acceptable boundary must be agreed.
Can you work with existing equipment?
Yes, subject to interface, condition and documentation review. Some components may limit reliable automation.
Do you perform electrical installation?
Regulated electrical work must be completed or approved by appropriately qualified contractors. UDS can define system requirements and integration boundaries.
Start with evidence
Describe the current system and the outcome you need.
Include the main constraint, the people affected, the timescale and any existing specification. UDS will confirm the most proportionate first step.
Send the project brief