This key operational requirement requires near-full automation of all such steps. In particular:
All processes needed during night operations (target selection, science & calibration data taking & handling) will be run through automated scripts; All spectrograph functions needed during night operation will be motorized and remotely controlled through a CAN-bus system. The extensive control software is being developed using a full instrument simulator.
Most of the pieces of the extensive software package needed for data reading, handling and initial data reduction (removing the instrument signature) are already in-hand through previous developments for 2dF and AAOmega; they are being upgraded and adapted for the HERMES facility. Again, the instrument simulator will be widely used to test these.
The final phase of observing and science data analysis in the context of the GA Survey (producing the input target catalogue, extracting precise abundances & radial velocities, building the huge Survey output catalogue, extracting the Science) is being prepared and will be handled by the GA Survey Team.