# Automatic Operation

## Overview

Most of the time the unit should be started in automatic mode, which just means that POCS will make the decisions about when to start and stop operations (based on safety conditions), what targets to observe (based on the scheduler and the constraints), and how the data is handled during cleanup.

{% hint style="info" %}
Make sure you have done the following:

* Set the [Configuration](/build/software/configuration.md) properly.
* Checked that all the [Services](/build/software/appendix/services.md) are running.
* Performed all the appropriate [Testing](/build/testing.md).
  {% endhint %}

### Automatic operation

Assuming everything is set up properly, running POCS in automatic mode is simple:

```sh
pocs run auto
```

This command will block for as long as the unit is running, so it should be done in a `tmux` (or `byobu`) session so it can live longer than your ssh session.

You can also view the detailed logs (in a separate [tmux / byobu](/build/software/appendix/tmux-byobu.md) pane or window) with:

```sh
# Follow the log file in a terminal.
tail -F logs/panoptes.log
```

### Using simulators

You can use simulators with the `pocs run` commands, passing a `-s` (or `--simulator`) option for each piece of hardware you need to simulate:

```
pocs run -s power -s night -s weather run
```

The possible list of simulators is:

* `power`
* `weather`
* `night`
* `mount`
* `cameras`

{% hint style="warning" %}
The `mount` and `cameras` simulators are not very robust.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Note that you are passing the options to `pocs run` and not to `pocs run auto`, e.g.:\
\
`pocs run -s mount auto`\
\
and **NOT**:\
\
`pocs run auto -s mount`
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://www.projectpanoptes.org/build/operation/automatic-operation.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.