  We discuss work by the eSTAR project which demonstrates a fully closed loop
autonomous system for the follow up of possible micro-lensing anomalies. Not
only are the initial micro-lensing detections followed up in real time, but
ongoing events are prioritised and continually monitored, with the returned
data being analysed automatically. If the ``smart software'' running the
observing campaign detects a planet-like anomaly, further follow-up will be
scheduled autonomously and other telescopes and telescope networks alerted to
the possible planetary detection. We further discuss the implications of this,
and how such projects can be used to build more general autonomous observing
and control systems.
