Teacher Summer Research Program

Teacher Summer Teacher Summer Research ProgramResearch Program

Talina Grimes & Fatah Talina Grimes & Fatah KadigunKadigun

Houston Independent School DistrictHouston Independent School District

How have we How have we spent our time?spent our time?

ConsultingConsulting

Meeting with Dr. David Boyle and Meeting with Dr. David Boyle and STC Staff to develop strategies for:STC Staff to develop strategies for: Increasing student interest in Increasing student interest in

aerospace engineeringaerospace engineering Increasing productivity of students Increasing productivity of students

involved in the Space Engineering involved in the Space Engineering Institute (SEI)Institute (SEI)

Marketing the SEI to underrepresented Marketing the SEI to underrepresented minorities at the high school levelminorities at the high school level

ResearchResearch

Working with researchers on Wireless Working with researchers on Wireless Interference Testing and Electromagnetic Interference Testing and Electromagnetic Docking Station for the Mini AERCamDocking Station for the Mini AERCam

Proofreading a draft of Proofreading a draft of Celestial Celestial Navigation and PositioningNavigation and Positioning

Testing and helping to edit a NASA test Testing and helping to edit a NASA test plan for the Wireless Interference researchplan for the Wireless Interference research

Sitting in on a teleconference with NASA Sitting in on a teleconference with NASA regarding the Wireless Interference regarding the Wireless Interference ResearchResearch

Mini-AERCamMini-AERCam

A free-flying robot for A free-flying robot for space explorationspace exploration

AERCam ConceptAERCam Concept

AERCam = Autonomous Extravehicular AERCam = Autonomous Extravehicular Robotic CameraRobotic Camera

Free-flying robotic platform for visual Free-flying robotic platform for visual and non-visual sensing in support of and non-visual sensing in support of human space activities human space activities

Emphasis on “small” and increasingly Emphasis on “small” and increasingly “intelligent”“intelligent”

AERCam Roles in Human AERCam Roles in Human Space Flight:Space Flight:

Enhance extravehicular activity Enhance extravehicular activity (EVA) crew productivity(EVA) crew productivity

Provide better camera views for Provide better camera views for berthing and maintenance berthing and maintenance operationsoperations

Provide telepresence inspectionProvide telepresence inspection Provide platform for sensor Provide platform for sensor

positioning in areas potentially positioning in areas potentially inaccessible to EVA crewinaccessible to EVA crew

8

Anticipated AERCam Anticipated AERCam Mission Scenario for ISSMission Scenario for ISS

Mission scenario under Mission scenario under either teleoperation or either teleoperation or autonomous control:autonomous control: Deploy from home baseDeploy from home base Maneuver to region of Maneuver to region of

interest while avoiding interest while avoiding obstaclesobstacles

Perform desired Perform desired inspection or viewinginspection or viewing

Return to home baseReturn to home base Recharge power and Recharge power and

propulsionpropulsion

9

AERCam AERCam SprintSprint

Mini AERCam Mini AERCam Docking Station Docking Station TestbedTestbed

Electromagnet Electromagnet Proximity TestProximity Test

Electromagnet Proximity Electromagnet Proximity Test- PurposeTest- Purpose

Define the requirements of electromagnet use as a Define the requirements of electromagnet use as a component of a docking mechanism design.component of a docking mechanism design.

Measure the magnetic force exerted on a test Measure the magnetic force exerted on a test specimen by the electromagnets as a function of specimen by the electromagnets as a function of distance. distance. Collect sufficient empirical data to define the Collect sufficient empirical data to define the

maximum distance at which a force could be maximum distance at which a force could be measured from a representative electromagnetmeasured from a representative electromagnet

Define the general force vs. distance profile up Define the general force vs. distance profile up to as close as possible to the electromagnet to as close as possible to the electromagnet surface. surface.

Collect this data as a function of voltage for each Collect this data as a function of voltage for each electromagnet. electromagnet.

The LessonThe Lesson

uses NASA’s Mini-AERCam as a uses NASA’s Mini-AERCam as a ‘hook’ to illustrate uses of ‘hook’ to illustrate uses of electromagnets in space.electromagnets in space.

will be part of a unit on will be part of a unit on electromagnetism.electromagnetism.

may be used to introduce may be used to introduce electromagnetism or as a electromagnetism or as a culminating activity for the unit.culminating activity for the unit.

is designed for two 90 minute class is designed for two 90 minute class periods.periods.

DAY 1DAY 1 Introduce Mini-AERCam.Introduce Mini-AERCam. Illicit ideas from students on Illicit ideas from students on

how to dock the AERCam to how to dock the AERCam to the ISS.the ISS.

Allow students discovery Allow students discovery time with the Vernier time with the Vernier Magnetic Field SensorsMagnetic Field Sensors

Have students conduct the Have students conduct the instruction–driven instruction–driven investigation, investigation, Electromagnets– Winding Electromagnets– Winding Things UpThings Up

DAY 1, continued…DAY 1, continued…

Determine how electromagnetic field Determine how electromagnetic field strength varies with the number of wire coils strength varies with the number of wire coils around an iron nail.around an iron nail. Build an electromagnetBuild an electromagnet Use TI-83 graphing calculator, CBL, and magnetic Use TI-83 graphing calculator, CBL, and magnetic

field sensor to measure magnetic field strengthfield sensor to measure magnetic field strength Make a graph of the dataMake a graph of the data Draw conclusions about the number of wire winds Draw conclusions about the number of wire winds

and magnetic field strengthand magnetic field strength

Electromagnets– Winding Electromagnets– Winding Things UpThings Up

Purpose/Objectives

A A directdirect relationship exists between the relationship exists between the number of winds and the magnetic field number of winds and the magnetic field strength. The graph of magnetic field vs. strength. The graph of magnetic field vs. number of coils is number of coils is linearlinear..

Students can Students can predictpredict the magnetic field the magnetic field strength for various numbers of coils by strength for various numbers of coils by interpolatinginterpolating from the graph or by from the graph or by multiplying the slopemultiplying the slope by the number of by the number of coils. Students could perform an coils. Students could perform an experiment to confirm their predictions.experiment to confirm their predictions.



Results/Conclusion



Sample Results

DAY 1 Exit TicketDAY 1 Exit Ticket

How does the number How does the number of coils affect the of coils affect the magnetic field of an magnetic field of an electromagnet?electromagnet?

What application does What application does NASA have planned for NASA have planned for electromagnets on the electromagnets on the International Space International Space Station?Station?

DAY 2DAY 2

Review Day 1 Review Day 1 conclusions.conclusions.

Have students Have students conduct the conduct the inquiry-driven inquiry-driven investigation investigation ElectromagnetismElectromagnetism—Going the —Going the Distance.Distance.


Design and conduct an experiment to Design and conduct an experiment to determine quantitatively how the determine quantitatively how the magnetic field strength varies with magnetic field strength varies with distancedistance Build an electromagnetBuild an electromagnet Use TI-83 graphing calculator, CBL, and Use TI-83 graphing calculator, CBL, and

magnetic field sensor to measure magnetic magnetic field sensor to measure magnetic field strengthfield strength

Design a data table and graph of the dataDesign a data table and graph of the data Draw conclusions about the distance from Draw conclusions about the distance from

the detector and magnetic field strengththe detector and magnetic field strength

Electromagnetism– Going the Electromagnetism– Going the DistanceDistance

Purpose/Objectives

An inverse relationship exists An inverse relationship exists between magnetic field strength and between magnetic field strength and distance. As the distance increases, distance. As the distance increases, magnetic field strength decreases. magnetic field strength decreases. The relationship models an inverse The relationship models an inverse cubic function where the field cubic function where the field approaches zero and remains there approaches zero and remains there for any distance greater than the for any distance greater than the threshold.threshold.

Results/Conclusion


Electromagnetism– Going the Electromagnetism– Going the DistanceDistance

DAY 2, continued…DAY 2, continued…Electromagnetism– Going the Electromagnetism– Going the DistanceDistance

Sample Results

DAY 2 Exit TicketDAY 2 Exit Ticket

What is the relationship What is the relationship between magnetic field between magnetic field strength and distance?strength and distance?

How does the space How does the space environment environment complicate complicate experimental design for experimental design for engineers?engineers?

ISS Wireless ISS Wireless InterferenceInterference

ContentsContents

OverviewOverview TasksTasks

InterferenceInterference DevelopmentDevelopment RadiationRadiation Headset housing designHeadset housing design

Status / ProgressStatus / Progress Future WorkFuture Work

OverviewOverview Objective:Objective:

To develop a Wireless headset To develop a Wireless headset for the crew aboard the shuttle for the crew aboard the shuttle and the ISS.and the ISS.

Wireless Cable Replacement Wireless Cable Replacement for the ISS (WCRISS)for the ISS (WCRISS) research and enhancement of research and enhancement of

commercially available wireless commercially available wireless communication technology such communication technology such as Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 for as Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 for use aboard the International use aboard the International Space Station and other space.Space Station and other space.

Research how interference Research how interference affects wireless technologies.affects wireless technologies.

Tasks: Interference Tasks: Interference TestingTesting

Evaluate interference effects Evaluate interference effects between different wireless between different wireless technologies.technologies. Effects of coexistance between Effects of coexistance between

Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11bBluetooth and IEEE 802.11b Evaluate performance of wireless Evaluate performance of wireless

signals.signals. How range affects bandwidthHow range affects bandwidth

Test PlanTest PlanFull functional test has 176 steps.Full functional test has 176 steps. Testing shall be conducted in closed Testing shall be conducted in closed

setting and open setting. setting and open setting. (Electromagnetic Interference Room, EMI (Electromagnetic Interference Room, EMI and outdoors)and outdoors)

Setup and configuration of the testing Setup and configuration of the testing equipment.equipment.

Testing of the 802.11 wireless technology Testing of the 802.11 wireless technology independently. (2 computers)independently. (2 computers)

Testing of the Bluetooth wireless Testing of the Bluetooth wireless technology independently. (2 computers)technology independently. (2 computers)

Testing of both wireless technologies Testing of both wireless technologies simultaneously. (4 computers)simultaneously. (4 computers)

Status / ProgressStatus / Progress

Signal TestingSignal Testing Produced Map showing contours of Produced Map showing contours of

bandwidth for 802.11a, 802.11b, and bandwidth for 802.11a, 802.11b, and Bluetooth.Bluetooth.

Interference TestingInterference Testing Obtained interference effects on bandwidth Obtained interference effects on bandwidth

on a controlled environment and outdoors.on a controlled environment and outdoors. Preliminary Results (see graphs and Preliminary Results (see graphs and

averages)averages)

ConclusionConclusion Wireless headset replacement is a significant Wireless headset replacement is a significant

upgrade that will keep space technology upgrade that will keep space technology updated.updated.

Wireless research helps JSC by evaluating Wireless research helps JSC by evaluating alternatives to the legacy products in space.alternatives to the legacy products in space.

By implementing a comm infrastructure on By implementing a comm infrastructure on ISS compatible with modern earth based ISS compatible with modern earth based systems, NASA will gain important future systems, NASA will gain important future enhancements by enabling the next enhancements by enabling the next generation of space engineers to think in generation of space engineers to think in terms of technologies directly similar to the terms of technologies directly similar to the ones they use in their day-to-day activities.ones they use in their day-to-day activities.

Special Thanks to…Special Thanks to…

Spacecraft Spacecraft Technology CenterTechnology Center at Texas A&M Universityat Texas A&M University (STC)(STC)

Dr. David BoyleDr. David Boyle Ms. Diane HurtadoMs. Diane Hurtado Mr. Joe PerezMr. Joe Perez Pedro DavalosPedro Davalos

Maria PuenteMaria Puente Amanda CootsAmanda Coots

Ian HorbaczewskiIan HorbaczewskiDamaris SarriaDamaris Sarria

National Science Foundation

Teacher Summer Research Program

Documents

Teacher Summer Research Program