HEART: Gemini North Adaptive Optics (GNAO) real-time controller using the Herzberg Extensible Adaptive Real-time Toolkit (HEART)

In July of 2020 the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre was contracted to provide the Gemini Telescopes Observatory with a facility class Adaptive Optics (AO) Real Time Controller (RTC) suitable to run existing and future Adaptive Optics Systems. This Gemini Adaptive Optics Real-Time Controller (GAO RTC) is using the Herzberg Extensible Adaptive Real-time Toolkit (HEART), a C/Python software framework for constructing RTCs that targets general-purpose CPUs and standard networking hardware. Initially a fully simulated stand-alone RTC will be completed which will be suitable for experimentation in association with end-to-end AO simulation software. Subsequently, it will be reconfigured and extended to support hardware interfaces to the future Gemini North Adaptive Optics (GNAO) facility. This paper will provide an overview of the customization of the HEART design for GNAO, current state of the development, how this system state changes during operation, and how HEART was de-risked.