  We have created a new autonomous laser-guide-star adaptive-optics (AO)
instrument on the 60-inch (1.5-m) telescope at Palomar Observatory called
Robo-AO. The instrument enables diffraction-limited resolution observing in the
visible and near-infrared with the ability to observe well over one-hundred
targets per night due to its fully robotic operation. Robo- AO is being used
for AO surveys of targets numbering in the thousands, rapid AO imaging of
transient events and longterm AO monitoring not feasible on large diameter
telescope systems. We have taken advantage of cost-effective advances in
deformable mirror and laser technology while engineering Robo-AO with the
intention of cloning the system for other few-meter class telescopes around the
world.
