3D Sky-Mapping Robots Scheduled For Installation In 2018

The galaxy robots, named as Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument will assist researchers accurately locate millions of galaxies, stars and quasars. The project is planned to be installed on the Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona on August and September.

These 5,000 arrays of galaxy-seeking robots are managed by 200 scientists and 45 institutions worldwide, Science Daily reported. DESI will produce a 3-D detailed map of the galaxy, which is expected to help in improving knowledge in the structure of the galaxy as well as the dark matter. ProtoDESI's cylindrical robots are integrated with a fabric-optic cable that captures light at the exact location of the object in the night sky. BOSS, DESI'S predecessor requires light-gathering cables that are plugged into metal plates regularly by hand. Holes are drilled to match the selected sky objects in a certain placement. The creation of DESI greatly speeds up this process.

The galaxy robots require precision in spinning to avoid collision as these robot changes position several times to collect light from pre-selected sky objects. This is done by using a software-controlled choreography. This technology is 10 inch long with to small motors that facilitates rotating motions in positioning the fibres in 12 millimetres in diameters orbit, Economic Times reported.  DESI robot's primary targets are galaxies while the prototype will use most bright stars to manipulate the system's accurate positioning to track movements of objects in the galaxy.

Parker Fagrelius, the manager of ProtoDESI project at Berkely lab stated that the main goal for this robot is to fix fibres on selected objects and hold it in the exact same position. Reportedly, the 10-robot system is integrated with a set of 16 light emitting rods that projects blue light to calibrate the positioning system onto a camera. The illuminated fiducials will contain 120 devices as the project is completed.

The galaxy robot DESI is expected to be installed in 2018 while ProtoDESI will run tests at Mayall in September during a good weather condition.