Add comprehensive development roadmap for OpenAstroFirmware (#5)

Author: andre-stefanov

ROADMAP.md

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+# Development roadmap
+
+**Description:** This document outlines a comprehensive development roadmap for OpenAstroFirmware, an open-source telescope mount control system built on Zephyr RTOS. It provides a structured, phased approach to transform the current foundational codebase into a professional-grade astronomical control platform.
+
+**Goal:** To establish clear development priorities and timelines for implementing essential features including LX200 protocol support, mount control systems, hardware integration, and advanced astronomical capabilities, ultimately creating a competitive alternative to commercial telescope control solutions while maintaining the project's open-source and DIY-friendly nature.
+
+## 🎯 Current State Assessment
+
+**Strengths:**
+- Solid foundation with Zephyr RTOS and modern C++
+- Comprehensive stepper motor driver framework (TMC22xx, TMC50xx, GPIO)
+- Cross-platform development with native simulation
+- Professional build system (West/CMake)
+- Clear architecture separation
+
+**Gaps:**
+- LX200 protocol implementation incomplete
+- Minimal Mount class with no coordinate management
+- No integration between stepper drivers and mount control
+- Missing calibration and homing procedures
+
+---
+
+## 🚀 Phased Development Roadmap
+
+### **PHASE 1: Core Foundation (3-6 months)**
+*Goal: Achieve a functional MVP that can control a basic telescope mount*
+
+#### 1.1 Complete LX200 Protocol Implementation
+- **Priority: CRITICAL**
+- Implement full command parser and response generator
+- Add error handling and timeout management  
+- Support core commands: slewing, positioning, tracking
+- Enable compatibility with SkySafari, Stellarium, ASCOM
+
+#### 1.2 Mount Control System
+- **Priority: CRITICAL** 
+- Expand Mount class with coordinate transformation engine
+- Implement RA/DEC to stepper coordinate mapping
+- Add real-time sidereal tracking algorithms
+- Support different mount types (German Equatorial, Fork)
+
+#### 1.3 Stepper Motor Integration
+- **Priority: CRITICAL**
+- Connect Zephyr stepper framework to Mount class
+- Implement homing and limit switch support
+- Add basic calibration procedures
+- Support TMC2209/TMC5160 drivers on MKS Robin Nano
+
+#### 1.4 Basic Safety & Control
+- **Priority: HIGH**
+- Implement emergency stop functionality
+- Add software limits and collision detection
+- Basic power management
+- Status monitoring and error reporting
+
+---
+
+### **PHASE 2: Enhanced Functionality (6-12 months)**
+*Goal: Create a feature-rich mount controller competitive with commercial solutions*
+
+#### 2.1 Advanced Calibration System
+- **Priority: HIGH**
+- Automated star alignment (1-star, 2-star, 3-star)
+- Polar alignment assistance with drift method
+- Periodic error correction (PEC)
+- Pointing model with atmospheric refraction correction
+
+#### 2.2 Extended Hardware Support
+- **Priority: HIGH**
+- Additional controller boards (Arduino-compatible, ESP32)
+- WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity modules
+- GPS integration for automatic site setup
+- Temperature compensation sensors
+
+#### 2.3 User Interface Development
+- **Priority: MEDIUM**
+- Touch display support (TFT, OLED)
+- Web-based configuration interface
+- Mobile app connectivity (WiFi/BT)
+- Comprehensive diagnostic tools
+
+#### 2.4 Multi-Axis Control
+- **Priority: MEDIUM**
+- Focuser control integration
+- Camera rotator support
+- Filter wheel control
+- Dome/roof automation interface
+
+---
+
+### **PHASE 3: Advanced Features (12-18 months)**
+*Goal: Implement professional-grade features for serious astronomers*
+
+#### 3.1 Custom Object Tracking
+- **Priority: MEDIUM**
+- Solar system object tracking (planets, Moon, Sun)
+- Satellite pass prediction and tracking (ISS, etc.)
+- Comet/asteroid tracking with orbital elements
+- Non-sidereal rate tracking
+
+#### 3.2 Professional Automation
+- **Priority: MEDIUM**
+- Automated meridian flip with resume
+- Weather monitoring integration
+- Scripting support (Lua/Python)
+- Observatory-wide automation
+
+#### 3.3 Advanced Astronomy Features
+- **Priority: LOW**
+- Autoguiding integration (PHD2, internal)
+- Plate solving for improved pointing
+- Multiple target queue management
+- Mosaic planning support
+
+#### 3.4 Ecosystem Integration
+- **Priority: HIGH**
+- ASCOM driver development (Windows)
+- INDI driver support (Linux)
+- Integration with NINA, PHD2, SGP
+- Cloud connectivity for remote access
+
+---
+
+### **PHASE 4: Optimization & Community (18+ months)**
+*Goal: Build a sustainable, community-driven ecosystem*
+
+#### 4.1 Performance & Reliability
+- Real-time performance optimization
+- Memory and power efficiency improvements
+- Thermal management for outdoor use
+- Long-term stability testing
+
+#### 4.2 Community Features
+- Plugin architecture for extensions
+- User-contributed mount profiles
+- Crowdsourced pointing models
+- Community documentation portal
+
+#### 4.3 Professional Tools
+- Observatory management software
+- Fleet management for multiple telescopes
+- Advanced telemetry and analytics
+- Commercial support options
+
+---
+
+## 🛠️ Development Infrastructure (Continuous)
+
+### Testing & Quality Assurance
+- **Comprehensive test suite**: Unit, integration, hardware-in-the-loop
+- **CI/CD pipeline**: Automated building and testing
+- **Hardware simulation**: Virtual mount testing
+- **Performance benchmarking**: Real-time performance validation
+
+### Documentation & Community
+- **Developer documentation**: API references, architecture guides
+- **User manuals**: Setup guides, troubleshooting
+- **Hardware compatibility**: Tested board and driver combinations
+- **Video tutorials**: Setup and calibration procedures
+
+### Development Tools
+- **Hardware debuggers**: In-circuit debugging support
+- **Mount simulators**: Software models for different mount types
+- **Configuration tools**: GUI-based setup utilities
+- **Testing rigs**: Automated hardware validation
+
+---
+
+## 📋 Implementation Priorities
+
+### **Immediate (Next 3 months)**
+1. Complete LX200 protocol implementation
+2. Implement basic coordinate transformation in Mount class
+3. Integrate stepper drivers with mount control
+4. Basic tracking and slewing functionality
+
+### **Short-term (3-6 months)**
+1. Automated calibration procedures
+2. Additional hardware board support
+3. Web-based configuration interface
+4. Comprehensive error handling
+
+### **Medium-term (6-12 months)**
+1. Touch display support
+2. Advanced alignment algorithms
+3. Multiple mount type support
+4. Professional automation features
+
+### **Long-term (12+ months)**
+1. Custom object tracking
+2. Professional ecosystem integration
+3. Community platform development
+4. Commercial-grade reliability
+
+---
+
+## 🎯 Success Metrics
+
+- **Technical**: Successfully control major telescope mount brands
+- **Performance**: Sub-arcsecond pointing accuracy, <1 second response time
+- **Community**: Active contributor base, 1000+ installations
+- **Compatibility**: Support for 20+ controller boards, major astronomy software
+- **Documentation**: Complete user and developer documentation
+
+This roadmap transforms OpenAstroFirmware from a work-in-progress into a comprehensive, professional-grade telescope mount control system while maintaining its open-source, DIY-friendly nature.