Looking at images of the old vac screens, the TP2/3 rotation speed and status string were digitally monitored. However I don't know if there were software interlocks predicated on those.

The temperature and current interlocks are implemented precisely because the pumps can shut themselves off. The concern is not about damaging the pumps (their internal logic protects against that); it's that a pump could automatically shut down and back-vent the IFO to atmosphere. Another interlock (e.g., the pressure differentials) might catch it, but it would depend on the back-vent rate and the scenario has never been tested. The temperature and current interlocks are set to trip just before the pump reaches its internal shut-down threshold.

One way we might be able to reduce our reliance on the flaky serial readbacks is to implement rotation-speed hardware interlocks. The old vac documentation alludes to these, but as far as Chub and I could determine in 2018, they never actually existed. The older turbo controllers, at least, had an analog output proportional to speed which could be used to control a relay to interrupt the V4/5 control signals. I'll look into this for the new controllers. If it could be done, we could likely eliminate the layer of serial-readback interlocks altogether.

That would be awesome if you're willing to volunteer. I agree this would be great to have.