Team Six-PackLaunch Readiness Review

Calder Lane, Courtney Ballard, Ian Thom, Thomas Green, Matt Cirbo, Janelle Montoya

11/29/11

Fall 2011

Rev A

08-11-11

Mission Overview

BalloonSat Helios measures

the efficiency of wireless energy transmission using a

laser and solar panels.

Design Overview

Two Foam Core Structures

Top Circuit:

Nine 3v 25mA Flexible Solar Panels

3.3 volt Li-ion battery

50 mW red laser

Bottom Circuit:

3v 22mA Flexible Solar Panel

Attopilot Current/Voltage Sensor

Arduino Uno and SD shield

3V 25mA Solar Panels (9)

3V 22mASolar Panel

50mW 650nm Laser

Battery

9-volt BatteryArduino Uno

Microprocessor

Micro SD Shield

Micro SD Card

AttoPilot Current/Voltage Sensor

HOBO

Thermometer

Barometer

Hygrometer

Li-Ion Battery 

Switch

Rechargeable Battery

SD CardCamera

Switch

9-volt Battery (3) Switch Heating Circuit

Switch

Switch

Flight Results

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 50000

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8Flight Voltage

Flight Voltage

Time (seconds)

Vol

tage

(V

olts

)

• Sun rising, not hitting bottom solar panel

• Sun hits panel, drastic voltage increase

• Satellite enters troposphere

• Burst and wild motion

Flight Results

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20Flight Temperature

Internal TemperatureExternal Temperature

Time (Seconds)

Tem

pera

ture

(°C

)

• Launches• Enters troposphere• Burst• Exits troposphere

Flight Results

• Launches• Enters troposphere• Burst• Exits troposphere

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 1000020

22

24

26

28

30

32

34

36

38

40Relative Humidity

Relative Humid-ity

Time (Seconds)

Rel

ativ

e H

umid

ity (

%)

Post-testing

• Arduino shuts off due to low temperature

• Satellite removed from the cooler

0 500 1000 1500 20000

2

4

6

8

10

12

-0.1

-0.05

0

0.05

0.1New Cold Test

Temperature

Voltage

Time (seconds)

Tem

pera

ture

(°C

)

Vol

tage

(V

olts

)

What failed and how? Arduino – Stopped sensing Heater – Lost power

What tests were done to confirm this? Second cold test Battery whip test

How has it been fixed? Arduino would have its own heater The heater batteries would be attached

better

Failure Analysis

Conclusions

• Wireless Energy Transfer – Possible, just inefficient using lasers and

photovoltaics– Much higher efficiencies could be achieved

using microwaves – Beaming focused radiation is an effective

means to transport electricity– However, changing EMR back to electricity is

less efficient

Conclusions

• Power Generating Satellites– Data indicated that the sun at higher altitudes

does produce more energy– Very possible to launch power generation

satellites into orbit– Orbiting solar farms could potentially be far

more efficient using different EM frequencies

Appendices

• Lessons Learned• Ready to Fly• Requirements• Mass and Money Budgets• Message to Next Semester

Lessons Learned

• Not done at launch– Still work to do after

• More solar panels on top• Heater in bottom box

– Prevent Arduino failure• One box instead of two• Control solar panel

Ready to Fly

• Stored in upward position– Larger box on top, smaller box below

• How to activate payload:– Camera button– Laser switch: ON– Solar panel switch: ON– Heater switch: ON– Arduino switch: ON

Requirements

Weight: Under 850g? -> Negotiated for 70g extra -> Under 920g? Yes

Cost: Under $250? No

Able to record 90 minutes of data? No

Remains intact? Sort of

Measures efficiency of laser transfer of energy? No

Temperature remains above 10°C? No

HOBO works? Yes

Camera works? Yes

Item Cost Weight Provided by/ Bought from

HOBO Datalogger Provided 30 grams Gateway to Space ClassFoam Core/Aluminum Tape

Provided 170 grams Gateway to Space Class

Canon SD780 IS Provided 130 grams Gateway to Space ClassHeater Provided 100 grams Gateway to Space ClassFlight/Test batteries Provided and bought with

personal funds150 grams Gateway to Space Class

Flight Tube Provided 10 grams Gateway to Space ClassSwitches Provided 20 grams Gateway to Space ClassDry Ice Bought with personal funds Not launched Supermarket

Arduino Uno $29.95 70 grams SparkfunAttoPilot Voltage and Current Sensor

$19.95 20 grams Sparkfun

Micro SD Shield $14.95 30 grams SparkfunMicro SD Card Donated <1 gram The Lane FamilyPowerfilm 3V 25mA Flexible Solar Panel (9)

$62.55 27 grams www.solarhome.org

Powerfilm 3V 22mA Flexible Solar Panel (1)

$6.75 3 grams www.solarhome.org

50mW 650nm Laser $18.04 100 grams www.ankaka.comCarbon Tubing $49.00 10 grams dragonplate.com3.7 Volt 2600 mAh LG Li-Ion 18650 Battery

$24.95 50 grams www.megabatteries.com

     

Shipping and Handling $35.63    

Total $261.77 920 grams*  

Message to Next Semester

• Pick a challenging, but achievable experiment

• Be prepared to work outside of class• Work hard, but don’t tire yourselves out pre-

launch• Make time for programming troubleshooting• Know data conversion factors• Make a schedule, and stick to it• Do HW #7 ahead of time