SHINS: the SHARK-NIR instrument control software

SHARK-NIR is a compact instrument for coronagraphic imaging, direct imaging, and coronagraphic spectroscopy in the near-infrared wavelengths (0.96−1.7 μm) mounted at the left bent Gregorian focus of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). Taking advantage of the telescope’s adaptive optics system, it provides high-contrast imaging with coronagraphic and spectroscopic capabilities and is focused on the direct imaging of exoplanets and circumstellar discs. We present SHINS, the SHARK-NIR instrument control software, mainly realized with the TwiceAsNice framework from MPIA, Heidelberg, and the Internet Communications Engine (ICE) framework using the C++ programming language. We describe how we implemented the software components controlling several instrument subsystems, through the adaptation of already tested libraries from other instruments at LBT, such as LINC-NIRVANA. The scientific detector comes with its own readout electronic and control software interfaced with our software through Instrument-Neutral Distributed Interface (INDI). We describe the C++ core software Observation Control Software, responsible for dispatching commands to the subsystems, also implementing a software solution to avoid a potential collision among motorized components, fully transparent to final users. It exposes an ICE interface and can be controlled by clients developed in different languages. Observation, calibration, and maintenance procedures are implemented by means of template scripts, written in python language, controlling Observation Control Software through its ICE interface. These templates and their parameters are configured using “ESO-style,” XML observation blocks (OBs) prepared by observers, or in general SHARK-NIR users. The high-level control is carried out by REST HTTP APIs implemented in a python back-end, also acting as a web server for the several browser-based front-end graphical user interfaces that allow the OBs to edit and sequence, as well as individual device movement and monitoring. Finally, we present the first scientific results obtained by SHARK-NIR using coronagraphic mode.