Constellation: The Autonomous Control and Data Acquisition System for Dynamic Experimental Setups

The operation of instruments and detectors in laboratory or beamline environments presents a complex challenge,requiring stable operation of multiple concurrent devices, often controlled by separate hardware and software solutions.These environments frequently undergo modifications, such as the inclusion of different auxiliary devices dependingon the experiment or facility, adding further complexity. The successful management of such dynamic configurationsdemands a flexible and robust system capable of controlling data acquisition, monitoring experimental setups, enablingseamless reconfiguration, and integrating new devices with limited effort.This paper presents Constellation, a flexible and network-distributed control and data acquisition software frameworktailored to laboratory and beamline environments, that addresses the limitations of existing solutions. The framework isdesigned with a focus on extensibility, providing a streamlined interface for instrument integration. It supports efficientsystem setup via network discovery mechanisms, promotes stability through autonomous operational features, andprovides comprehensive documentation and supporting tools for operators and application developers such as controllersand logging interfaces.At the core of the architectural design is the autonomy of the individual components, called satellites, which can makeindependent decisions about their operation and communicate these decisions to other components. This paper introducesthe design principles and framework architecture of Constellation, presents the available graphical user interfaces, sharesinsights from initial successful deployments, and provides an outlook on future developments and applications.