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I am building a free-space optical communications platform and need a complete pointing, acquisition, and tracking software package that can consistently maintain sub-degree alignment between my optical terminal and a remote node. Core expectations • Pointing accuracy: better than 0.5° under nominal environmental conditions; 100% uptime once locked. • Communications interface: native Ethernet/IP for command, telemetry, and reporting status. • Platform: x86/Linux preferred; however, I can compile on other POSIX systems if the code is portable. Your solution should include: 1. Real-time control loop that accepts attitude sensor data (e.g., IMU, encoders) and drives two-axis galvanometers and a MEMs array. 2. Acquisition logic capable of coarse scan, fine scan, and lock-on stages, with tunable parameters. 3. Tracking algorithms that compensate for vibration, wind-shake, and slow thermal drift. 4. Diagnostic console or web GUI so I can monitor link margin, beam wander, and error budgets. 5. Clean API documentation so I can later expand the interface. 6. Build scripts, unit tests, and a simple hardware-in-the-loop demo harness. Acceptance will be based on: • Closed-loop pointing error ≤0.5° RMS during a 10-minute simulation. • No frame drops or control stalls at 120 Hz update rate. • Pass/fail reports from the supplied unit tests and live demo video. If you have prior experience with optical terminals, adaptive optics, or similar high-precision motion systems, let me know—those insights will be invaluable as we tighten the loop later in the project.
Project ID: 40639508
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75 freelancers are bidding on average $7,124 USD for this job

Hi, Sub-degree pointing under real environmental conditions is the hard part—vibration rejection and thermal drift compensation will make or break this. We've built high-precision motion control systems with similar closed-loop demands. Ready to dig into your acquisition stages and tracking algorithms. Let's talk. Regards, Nurul Hasan
$7,000 USD in 60 days
6.8
6.8

As a seasoned Electrical Engineer and firmware developer, I can confidently say that I possess the necessary skills to tackle your High-Precision PAT Control Software project with great success. With an extensive background in embedded systems and control engineering, I have not only worked with relevant microcontrollers like STM32, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino but have also developed sophisticated firmware in Embedded C/C++, including DMA and real-time operating systems (RTOS) for high-stakes operations. My proficiency in PCB design, RF hardware, and FPGA development would additionally allow me to build a finely-tuned system architecture for your optical communications platform. The fact that I am experienced in developing software for robotic platforms ensures I'd be up to speed with the necessary precision motor control techniques as required for your needful pointing-acquisition tracking. Furthermore, I've built comprehensive IoT products right from concept to market-readiness - this includes API development, web & mobile app development, and understanding the significance of having a neat GUI or console for monitoring and diagnostics.
$9,000 USD in 60 days
6.8
6.8

I can help you build a PAT control loop that prioritizes lock stability over raw scan speed, ensuring 100% uptime once the link is acquired. My approach is pragmatic: I'll design the control loop around a cascaded architecture—a fast inner current loop for the galvanometers and a slower outer loop for the MEMs array. This decouples the response times, allowing the system to handle vibration and wind-shake without inducing cross-talk between the actuators. For acquisition, I’ll implement a state-machine based logic that uses an expanding spiral for the coarse scan and a raster pattern for the fine scan, with thresholds based on your link margin telemetry rather than fixed values. This makes the lock-on adaptive to environmental conditions. The tracking algorithm will use a Kalman filter with a dynamic noise model to fuse IMU data with encoder feedback, providing predictive compensation for thermal drift and mechanical resonance. The web GUI will expose raw error signals and control effort, not just final telemetry, so you can debug the loop behavior directly. The deliverable includes a hardware-in-the-loop harness that simulates platform motion via a UDP injection interface, allowing you to validate the 0.5° RMS requirement without needing the physical optics on the bench.
$5,000 USD in 7 days
6.0
6.0

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Create Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking Software for Optical Systems ❇️ Hi My Friend, I hope you are doing well. I have reviewed your project requirements and see you are looking for a complete pointing, acquisition, and tracking software package. You have no need to look any further; Zohaib is here to help you! My team is already working on similar projects for optical systems. I will develop a solution that meets your accuracy and reliability needs, ensuring seamless integration with your platform. ➡️ Why Me? I can easily build your optical communications software as I have 5 years of experience in control systems and software development. My expertise includes real-time processing, sensor integration, and algorithm design. Additionally, I have a strong grip on Linux systems and communication protocols, ensuring a robust solution tailored to your needs. ➡️ Let's have a quick chat to discuss your project in detail and let me show you some samples of my previous work. I look forward to discussing this with you! ➡️ Skills & Experience: ✅ Real-time Control Systems ✅ Sensor Integration ✅ Algorithm Development ✅ Optical Communication ✅ Linux Programming ✅ Ethernet/IP Communication ✅ Diagnostic Console Design ✅ API Development ✅ Unit Testing ✅ Hardware-in-the-loop Simulation ✅ Motion Control ✅ Performance Optimization Waiting for your response! Best Regards, Zohaib
$6,000 USD in 2 days
5.5
5.5

The real challenge here is the sub-degree alignment, so I’ll build the real-time control loop using C++ and a PID controller for the galvanometers and MEMs array, taking sensor data from a ROS node, also feeding telemetry over Ethernet/IP. I will use libusb for direct control of the galvanometers if they are USB devices, otherwise direct memory mapping if they are PCIe, and I will implement the acquisition logic with a state machine approach, moving from coarse scan with broad sweeps to fine scan using smaller increments and then a lock-on state. I would not use a standard Linux kernel for the control loop as it does not guarantee real-time performance; I would instead use a real-time kernel patch on Linux or a dedicated RTOS like Xenomai. Also, I will use the Ethernet/IP stack from libiec61131-3 for communications. 8 reviews on here, everything delivered on time and on the agreed price so far, plus Preferred Freelancer status. How will you handle power cycling of the galvanometers, do they need a specific warm-up sequence? Send over the device specifications for the galvanometers and MEMs array.
$8,656 USD in 21 days
5.2
5.2

I am proficient in building high-precision control software for optical communication systems and have extensive experience with real-time control systems and signal processing on x86/Linux platforms. My work on similar projects has equipped me with the skills to maintain precise alignment and interface with complex hardware through native Ethernet/IP protocols. I have developed software that implements advanced acquisition and tracking algorithms, accommodating vibrations and drift, ensuring robust performance in dynamic environments. My projects often include diagnostic tools and GUIs for real-time monitoring and tuning, as well as comprehensive API documentation for future scalability. My expertise also encompasses integrating IMUs and MEMs arrays to drive precise positioning systems. I am keen to further discuss how my experience can contribute to achieving the sub-degree alignment specified in your project. Could we schedule a time to discuss your specific needs in more detail? I am prepared to provide additional information or examples of my previous work. Thank you for considering my application.
$8,000 USD in 30 days
5.2
5.2

Hi, The central challenge is not only reaching ≤0.5° RMS, but maintaining deterministic 120 Hz control while separating sensor noise, vibration, wind disturbance, and thermal drift without destabilising the optical loop. I’d structure the package as a portable C++ control core on Linux, with real-time scheduling, timestamped sensor fusion, bounded queues, watchdogs, and no blocking work in the control path. Ethernet telemetry and the web console would run separately so visualization or network delays cannot stall pointing. Acquisition would use configurable coarse scan, fine scan, confirmation, lock, and automatic reacquisition states. Tracking could combine IMU/encoder fusion, calibrated actuator mapping, notch or adaptive filtering for vibration, and slow bias estimation for thermal drift. Galvanometer and MEMS commands would be isolated behind hardware interfaces, allowing the same controller to run against simulation, HIL, or physical drivers. Tests would cover timing jitter, packet loss, sensor dropout, saturation, lock loss, and reacquisition. Since “100% uptime” depends on defined disturbances and hardware limits, I’d turn that target into measurable lock-retention and recovery criteria for repeatable acceptance. Regards, Houssame
$7,500 USD in 7 days
5.3
5.3

Hi there, I have carefully reviewed your free-space optical pointing, acquisition, and tracking requirements and can support the complete development of the real-time control and monitoring software. With nearly five years of experience in mechatronics, embedded systems, sensors, control systems, C/C++ development, and communication interfaces, I can implement the 120 Hz closed-loop control, IMU/encoder processing, two-axis actuator control, coarse/fine acquisition, vibration compensation, Ethernet/IP communication, diagnostics, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. I can structure the software for portable x86/Linux deployment with clean APIs, tunable control parameters, unit tests, and clear documentation. Given my multidisciplinary hardware/control background, I can move efficiently from system modelling to integration and validation. Please send me a message so we can discuss your hardware interfaces and current platform. Best regards, Samuel tshibangu
$7,500 USD in 7 days
4.7
4.7

I am excited about the opportunity to develop the high-precision pointing, acquisition, and tracking software for your innovative free-space optical communications platform. My experience with optical terminals and high-precision motion systems aligns perfectly with your project needs. I understand the core expectations: achieving better than 0.5° pointing accuracy, ensuring 100% uptime once locked, and employing a native Ethernet/IP communications interface. I will design a robust real-time control loop that integrates seamlessly with your attitude sensors, including IMUs and encoders, for driving two-axis galvanometers and MEMs arrays effectively. The acquisition logic will feature coarse and fine scan capabilities, along with well-tuned parameters for optimal performance. I will develop tracking algorithms that mitigate issues like vibration and thermal drift, ensuring reliable operation under various environmental conditions. Additionally, I will provide a sophisticated diagnostic console or web GUI for monitoring link margins, beam wander, and error budgets. Expect clean API documentation for future enhancements, alongside build scripts, unit tests, and a demo harness to facilitate your development process. I look forward to your feedback and to brining 'What specific considerations or challenges do you foresee in maintaining consistency during varying environmental conditions?' into our discussions.
$5,000 USD in 14 days
4.7
4.7

Build a high-precision PAT control software stack for your free-space optical terminal on x86/Linux with a real-time, deterministic control loop at 120 Hz. The system will ingest attitude sensor data (IMU/encoders), drive two-axis galvanometers and MEMS, and implement a three-stage workflow: coarse scan → fine scan → lock-on, with tunable parameters for your environment. Tracking will compensate vibration and wind-shake via disturbance-aware filtering (e.g., notch/low-latency observers) and will correct slow thermal drift using adaptive bias estimation. You’ll also get a diagnostic console/web GUI reporting link margin, beam wander metrics, control error budgets, and lock status, plus an API that cleanly exposes command/telemetry over Ethernet/IP. Deliverables include: portable POSIX codebase, build scripts, comprehensive unit tests with pass/fail reports, and a hardware-in-the-loop demo harness suitable for validating closed-loop pointing error ≤0.5° RMS over a 10-minute simulation without frame drops or stalls. A concise documentation set will support future interface expansion.
$5,000 USD in 2 days
5.0
5.0

Hi, With my extensive experience in software development spanning over a decade, your High-Precision PAT Control Software project falls right into my field of expertise. I am well-versed in building real-time control loops that adeptly handle large-scale systems and have a proven track record in providing robust solutions with minimal control stalls. My skills in dealing with complex, high-speed systems such as trading and fintech platforms are translatable to this project where every second and every calculation counts. My familiarity with APIs/API Development would enable me to efficiently build the communications interface you require for Ethernet/IP command, telemetry, and reporting. Moreover, I have worked extensively with IoT devices, ensuring seamless connectivity, device monitoring, as well as real-time tracking which are all very relevant skills for this project.I regularly work with high-precision motion systems in domains like algorithmic-trading & IoT tracking and so I know quite a bit about the challenges you might face when fine-tuning your system’s performance. Having worked in a similar setting, I understand perfectly well how crucial the acceptance criteria - low pointing error rate, no frame drop or control stalls - are for the overall success of the project. I, not only assure you on mastery over these points but also on the ability to deliver efficient coding that ensures high uptime & performance with 0errors
$7,500 USD in 90 days
4.2
4.2

Greetings! I can develop a complete pointing, acquisition, and tracking software package for your free-space optical communications platform, with sub-degree alignment, real-time control, and diagnostic tools. I have experience with high-precision motion systems and optical terminals. I can deliver clean API documentation, build scripts, and a hardware-in-the-loop demo. Let me know your preferred platform and I will begin. Thanks, Revival
$5,000 USD in 30 days
4.4
4.4

Hi, Aashiq here from Cape Town, South Africa. This project instantly caught my eye, so I had to reach out. I see you’re looking for a complete pointing, acquisition, and tracking software package that maintains sub-degree alignment. Achieving better than 0.5° accuracy under environmental conditions is no small feat, but I'm confident I can deliver. I’ve worked on similar high-precision motion systems and optical communications platforms, helping clients achieve seamless integration and optimal performance. My experience includes developing real-time control loops and tracking algorithms, and I’d be happy to share samples of my successful projects. Based on what you mentioned, here is how we would approach the project: - Develop a robust real-time control loop using attitude sensor data. - Implement acquisition logic with tunable parameters for coarse and fine scans. - Design tracking algorithms to compensate for environmental factors. - Create a user-friendly diagnostic console for monitoring link status. - Ensure thorough API documentation and provide build scripts with unit tests. You can count on clear communication throughout the project, ensuring a user-focused solution optimized for performance. Best Regards, Aashiq
$9,000 USD in 7 days
3.8
3.8

I specialize in developing cutting-edge software for pointing, acquisition, and tracking for free-space optical communications platforms. With expertise in high-precision motion systems, I create robust solutions tailored to meet stringent performance requirements. My software includes a real-time control loop integrating attitude sensor data for precise actuator control, customizable acquisition logic for varying environmental conditions, and tracking algorithms to sustain alignment against challenges like vibration and thermal drift. The solution features a diagnostic console for real-time monitoring, comprehensive API documentation for scalability, and insights from prior optical terminal engagements for optimal performance. Let's collaborate to exceed your expectations and drive innovation in optical communications.
$9,000 USD in 5 days
3.0
3.0

Hello, I am an embedded/control systems engineer with 20+ years of experience in real-time hardware/software development, sensor processing, motion control, communication interfaces, and low-level system integration. Your PAT system is a strong match for my background. I can develop the complete software architecture including: - 120 Hz deterministic real-time control loop - IMU/encoder sensor fusion and pointing-error estimation - Two-axis galvo and MEMS actuator control - Coarse acquisition → fine scan → lock → tracking state machine - Vibration, wind-shake, and thermal-drift compensation - Ethernet/IP command and telemetry interface - Linux-based diagnostic/web monitoring tools - HIL simulation, automated tests, and performance reports I would structure the control software so acquisition, estimation, actuator control, networking, and diagnostics remain independent modules with clearly documented APIs. While my main background is embedded electronics, sensor systems, and precision real-time control rather than exclusively optical terminals, the PAT control problem is very close to systems I have developed involving feedback loops, motion sensing, filtering, communications, and hardware integration. I can also support later hardware tuning once real galvo/MEMS dynamics and optical feedback data become available. Best regards, Nichita
$6,000 USD in 7 days
3.0
3.0

Project requires an expert with the ability to understand complex systems, code using Linux/POSIX, write clean APIs and unit tests. I possess all these skills and more with over 8 years of experience in software engineering. Not only am I skilled at pinpointing issues and resolving them effectively, but I also have a knack for improving existing solutions to make them more practical and reliable. As a result, I'm confident that I can deliver a high-precision PAT control software that'll meet all your core expectations and then some. Furthermore, my prior experience with web scraping will come handy in building the diagnostic console or web GUI you've requested. I understand that a project of this nature needs to function flawlessly even under nominal environmental conditions. My track record will show you that I have successfully executed previous projects where uptime was crucial. Lastly, my dedication to the ongoing maintenance and support of my work ensures that should there be any necessary adjustments post-delivery or tightening the loop later in the project as you mentioned, I'll be there to provide the support needed. Choosing me for this project means choosing high-quality work, professional collaboration, and dependability
$7,500 USD in 7 days
3.0
3.0

Hello, I have already completed similar real time control and high precision motion projects involving sensor data, hardware interfaces, control loops, APIs, and Linux systems. I have strong experience in web development, APIs, and scalable software solutions, so I can quickly understand your requirements and deliver exactly what you need. I can develop the pointing, acquisition, and tracking flow with coarse and fine scanning, lock detection, vibration compensation, diagnostics, documented APIs, unit tests, and a hardware in the loop simulation. I will also focus on maintaining the required 120 Hz update rate and validating the 0.5 degree pointing target. Will you provide the IMU, encoder, galvanometer, and MEMS interface specifications, or should the software include abstraction layers for different hardware? I would be happy to discuss the control architecture and acceptance tests in a quick meeting. I will share my portfolio in chat I look forward to hear from you. Thanks Best Regards, Mughira
$7,500 USD in 7 days
2.8
2.8

Hello, We can develop your complete PAT control software with a reliable real-time architecture focused on sub-degree pointing accuracy and stable tracking for your optical communication platform. We’ll implement the 120 Hz control loop, IMU/encoder integration, two-axis galvanometer and MEMS control, coarse/fine acquisition, lock-on logic, and tracking compensation for vibration, wind-shake and thermal drift. Ethernet/IP will handle command, telemetry and system status. We’ll also provide a monitoring GUI/console, documented APIs, configurable parameters, unit tests, Linux build scripts and a hardware-in-the-loop simulation harness. Testing will target your ≤0.5° RMS pointing-error and 120 Hz performance requirements. Thanks, Invoke Tech
$5,200 USD in 15 days
3.7
3.7

Absolutely , this is the kind of project that makes control loops wake up excited. I can build a clean, portable PAT control stack for x86/Linux with Ethernet/IP command and telemetry, real-time closed-loop control, and a modular architecture that supports IMU/encoder inputs, two-axis galvanometers, and MEMs array control. The system can be structured around coarse scan, fine scan, and lock-on stages with tunable parameters, plus tracking routines to help counter vibration, wind-shake, and slow thermal drift. I’d also include a diagnostics console or web GUI for link margin, beam wander, and error budgets, along with API documentation, build scripts, unit tests, and a hardware-in-the-loop demo harness so the whole thing is testable instead of “trust me, bro.” The focus would be on stable 120 Hz operation, clean interfaces, and a simulation/test path that can prove the ≤0.5° RMS target before you ever point at the sky.
$8,500 USD in 30 days
1.5
1.5

Hi There!!! Your project is about building a pointing, acquisition and tracking software package for your free space optical communication terminal with sub degree accuracy. Services I can offer: Real time control loop processing IMU and encoder data to drive galvanometers and MEMs arrays Acquisition logic covering coarse scan, fine scan and lock on stages with tunable parameters Tracking algorithms compensating for vibration, wind shake and thermal drift Diagnostic web GUI along with API documentation, build scripts and unit tests for validation Would love to jump on a quick chat to understand your hardware setup and discuss the control loop architecture in detail. Best Regards, Hussain Ahmed
$5,000 USD in 28 days
1.5
1.5

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