ROTSE

ROTSE (for Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment) is an array of four optical telescopes located around the world, operated by computer following up on reported gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). During the time when it is not responding to alerts for GRBs, it surveys for other optical transients. The original ROTSE (ROTSE-I) was deployed in 1998, following an earlier 1993 robotic initiative named GROCSE (for Gamma Ray Burst Optical Counterparts Search Experiment). A upgrade plan (ROTSE-II) was canceled, and a redesigned upgrade, to the current configuration (ROTSE-III), was carried out in 2004. It receives its alerts of GRBs from other sources, beginning its imaging within seconds of receiving the alert.