Beefocus is an Open Source Hardware/ Software Telescope Focuser The goal of the project is to create a high quality DIY focuser that's relatively easy to build and modify.
The Github page for the project is https://github.com/glowmouse/beefocus The page contains the focuser's firmware and hardware builds.
The connection to the focuser hardware is done using WiFi. WiFi telescope setups are becoming common as astronomers mount computers directly onto their telescopes to reduce cabling. The WiFi connection means one less cable and one less USB port.
The Focuser's firmware runs on an ESP8266 - these are <$10 micro-controllers similar to Arduinos (in fact, the Arduino SDK is used to compile the firmware)
The Beefocus INDI driver supports two modes,
- Connect to an actual focuser using a TCP/IP connection
- Simulate the focuser in software, using a virtual "software-only" connection
The actual hardware focuser is controlled by firmware that's compiled and loaded onto the EPS8266 micro-controller. The firmware handles the connection to the driver, accepts new commands from the driver, controls the stepper motor, and sends responses.
The same firmware is used when the driver is in simulation mode. The simulated firmware handles the virtual "software-only" connection to the driver, accepts new commands from the driver, controls a simulated stepper motor, and sends responses.
Having simulated hardware that's a close match to the actual hardware is useful for testing. The unit tests create an INDI Beefocus driver using a simulated focuser, feed the driver commands (i.e. move to an absolute position), and check the driver's output to make sure it's correct. The tests run in "accelerated time"; a test sequence that would take minutes on an actual focuser takes seconds on the simulated focuser.
To try out the simulator to to the Focuser's Connection menu, select Simulated Connection instead of TCP Connect, and then press Connect in Main Control.
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| driver/beefocus | The core INDI driver |
| driver/beeconnect | Connection interface to actual or simulated focuser |
| driver/beesimfirmware | Uses the Firmware to simulate the focuser |
| unit_tests/test_helpers | General Utilities for unit testing INDI drivers |
| unit_tests/test_driver | Beefocus unit tests (using the simulated firmware) |
| firmware/* | ESP8266 Firmware. Also used for simulation. |