MEPMEP(Martian Environmental Pod)(Martian Environmental Pod)

2/16/20042/16/2004

Aerospace Engineering DepartmentAerospace Engineering Department

University of Colorado-BoulderUniversity of Colorado-Boulder

Interim Review

Requests for ActionRequests for Action

RFA Author Solution

Verify clearances of deployment

Peterson Proved during initial testing

Make jigs to aide assembly of all the parts

Peterson/

Trudy

Developed method of assembling parts

Electronics package needs to be taller for clearance

Peterson/

Rhode

Corrected in Solidworks/Corel Draw drawings

Control motor speed. Avoid damage.

Trudy RPM of motor is low enough that no damage will result from the motor

x 10

Electronics Package

Platform

Mounting Box

Greenhouse

Thermal Petals

Design ChangesDesign Changes• Greenhouse/Pressure System

– New deployment method for greenhouse– Circular top will be secured by an acrylic ring inside of

the greenhouse

• Thermal Shield– Material of axle is aluminum

• Electronics/Software– Changed design of circuit to include:

• Op Amp• Transistor• Diode• Capacitor

New Circuit DesignNew Circuit Design

ProgressProgress

• Solidworks drawings → Corel Draw

• Prototypes of petals 7-10– Machined/Assemblied– Tested

• Prototype circuit on solderless breadboard

• Demonstration version of circuit on wire wrap breadboard

Current Issues: Current Issues: Greenhouse/Pressure SystemGreenhouse/Pressure System

• Kapton is too stiff to roll for deployment– Molding tool for new design

• Difficulty attaching circular top to cylindrical base– Acrylic ring will be secured

inside the top of the greenhouse to ease manufacturing

Current Issues:Current Issues:Thermal ShieldThermal Shield

• During initial testing, shear stress was too great at the rotation point on the petals.– Aluminum sleeve fits over

the outermost petal and is welded to the axle to distribute the torque applied.

– Runs half the length of the outermost petal

Current Issues:Current Issues:Electronics/SoftwareElectronics/Software

• LabView class– Trying to take course to learn software

programming– High risk if taken through the ITLL

Additional PartsAdditional Parts

• Molding tool

• Acrylic ring for greenhouse manufacturing

• Aluminum axle

• Aluminum sleeves for petal 1

• Mounting bracket for motor

Schedule ProgressSchedule Progress

Critical Path ElementsCritical Path Elements

• Machining acrylic parts (1/12 – 2/23)

• Assemble petals and base structure (2/2 – 3/19)

• Machine/construct molding tool (2/16 – 3/8)

• Manufacture greenhouse (2/9 – 3/19)

• Test pressure system (2/16 – 3/1)

• Build final soldered circuit (2/23 – 3/15)

• Develop software using LabView (2/23 – 3/19)

Budget AnalysisBudget AnalysisDate Company Parts Phone Number Contact Amount

12/15/2003 Kinko's copies     207.94

12/15/2003 Kinko's copies     19.20

12/17/2003 Colorado Plastic Products Inc. acrylic, epoxy 303-443-9271   10.67

1/15/2004 R.S. Hughes Company Inc. epoxy 303-371-9440   33.30

1/20/2004 Omega Engineering Inc. thermistor, pressure transducer 203-359-1660   114.35

1/21/2004 Maxon Precision Motors Inc. motors, gearboxes 650-697-9614 Mike Beasley 348.27

1/22/2004 R.S. Hughes Company Inc. epoxy gun, mixing nozzles 303-371-9440 Thomas 62.93

1/27/2004 American Durafilm Kapton 508-429-8000   163.08

1/28/2004 McGunkin Hardware Inc. clamps, aluminum rods, key 303-443-1822   62.47

1/28/2004 Colorado Plastic Products Inc. acrylic 303-443-9271   10.32

1/28/2004 R.S. Hughes Company Inc. mixing nozzles 303-371-9440 Thomas 47.90

1/28/2004 The Lee Company control valve 860-399-6281 John Caron 0.00

1/30/2004 Radio Shack electronics     30.84

1/31/2004 Radio Shack electronics     54.54

1/31/2004 Fistell's relay switch     30.40

2/9/2004 Colorado Plastic Products Inc. acrylic 303-443-9271   42.00

2/12/2004 The Beverage Factory carbon dioxide tank     53.00

        Total: 1,291.21

Questions?Questions?