Applications of high-rate data logging to telescope system development and operations

The Gemini Secondary Mirror Tip/tilt Systems (M2TS) have greatly benefited from the availability of software-based data logging-to-disk of internal variables at servo loop rates, enabling efficient testing and troubleshooting. Similar 'fast-logging-to-disk' systems are now being considered for other Gemini subsystems. We describe how this technique was successfully applied to the M2TS, solving intractable tuning problems; a forward look will show how extensive and fully integrated logging and diagnostic capabilities are at the heart of the new design for the M2TS-2. Designers of new and ever-larger and more complex telescope systems are challenged to consider the benefits of including such systems in their own designs at an early stage - and to consider the costs in terms of ease of performing diagnostics and loss of maintainability of not doing so.