Question Controlling Polar Alignment Programmatically?

Success!
I had a very brief clearing this evening and I took the opportunity to try it out. Seems to work very well already, I just need to tweak some parameters like backlash etc. a bit more.
First the program does a calibration by moving the altitude and azimuth motors a certain amount (much like PHD2 e.g.) and then it homes in towards the pole.

The conditions were quite bad though with high clouds etc. which caused the plate solved pole to jump around quite a bit.

That came a bit surprising as the program wasn't really ready yet for general use (except for people who know how to compile it ).
I've uploaded a binary now though so others can try it out already! However, it's still just a prototype and may not yet work well for other setups.

I've worked some more on this tool and it is now much more reliable and accurate. It also automatically determines and adjusts the amount of backlash now.

During my testing tonight it always reliably got to below 0.5 arcmin alignment (w.r.t. what iPolar reports).



Once I've sorted out the configuration I'll create a first actual release build.

Fantastic! I've been waiting for a piece of software like this FOREVER! Will it work with the Universal Polar Alignment System Avalon has come out with?

Thanks

No, probably not.
I'm assuming the Universal Polar Alignment System has a different ASCOM driver (if any at all) and/or communication protocol with the hardware.
But I'm sure it could be done if Avalon documents the communication protocol or provides an API in their driver/program through which the device can be controlled from another program.

If anybody has that device and wants to try implementing it, all that's required is implementing this interface github.com/TheCyberBrick/AutoPolarAlign/...larAlignmentMount.cs and then replace "StarGoMount" here github.com/TheCyberBrick/AutoPolarAlign/...ram.cs#L33C32-L33C43 with the new implementation.