I'm checking the indi_maxdomeii driver in order to work ok with Ekos and I have found an issue about security on remote (or automatic) operating of a observatory.
MaxDome II has a nice feature. If it didn't receive any command (like check status) in 120 seconds (or so) it automatically closes the dome shutter. This is very nice in a remote observatory if you loose communication or in case of blackout (Dome shutter is battery powered).
The indi_maxdomeii driver does the job of checking the status once per second to avoid shutter closing. So is driver/computer hangs or can't communicate to the dome, shutter will be closed 2 minutes later.
However, in a remote configuration, if driver is ok but you lose the communication from client to driver, shutter didn't close because driver continues to check status to de dome.
To deal with this situation, indi_maxdomeii driver has a parameter called "Wach Dog Time". If set bigger than zero, it specifies how many seconds will driver wait without any communication with the client before it closes automatically the shutter. This ensures if communication with client is lost, Dome will be closed.
As far as I know, Ekos didn't send any command to the dome regularly, so to work with Ekos "Watch dog time" must be set to zero. However if communication between Ekos and indi_domeii is lost, shutter will remain open.
It would be nice if Ekos could communicate with dome driver every some time (in another client I set "Watch dog time" every second to confirm to the driver the client is up and healthy).
Also I think it will be nice to add "Watch dog time" feature in indidome class, so any dome can have this security feature.
MaxDome II has a nice feature. If it didn't receive any command (like check status) in 120 seconds (or so) it automatically closes the dome shutter. This is very nice in a remote observatory if you loose communication or in case of blackout (Dome shutter is battery powered).
The indi_maxdomeii driver does the job of checking the status once per second to avoid shutter closing. So is driver/computer hangs or can't communicate to the dome, shutter will be closed 2 minutes later.
However, in a remote configuration, if driver is ok but you lose the communication from client to driver, shutter didn't close because driver continues to check status to de dome.
To deal with this situation, indi_maxdomeii driver has a parameter called "Wach Dog Time". If set bigger than zero, it specifies how many seconds will driver wait without any communication with the client before it closes automatically the shutter. This ensures if communication with client is lost, Dome will be closed.
As far as I know, Ekos didn't send any command to the dome regularly, so to work with Ekos "Watch dog time" must be set to zero. However if communication between Ekos and indi_domeii is lost, shutter will remain open.
It would be nice if Ekos could communicate with dome driver every some time (in another client I set "Watch dog time" every second to confirm to the driver the client is up and healthy).
Also I think it will be nice to add "Watch dog time" feature in indidome class, so any dome can have this security feature.