I'm not dead! Updates and teasers.

Radio breaking squelch Is this thing on? Oh good!
It's been a LONG time since the last update and that's my fault, apologies for the delays in posts but oh the things that have happened since the last one have been AWESOME.

New generation precision suntracker, printed variant

To start off, I have passed a year at the new job and it has been a whole freaking year of awesome times, some frustration with part of the program and then elation when finally it all worked together as intended. Developing a new high precision solar tracker from the ground up has been a massive challenge due to difficulties with getting the most critical part, the imaging Multi Object Tracking sensor that is also found in modern Wiimotes, working from just a datasheet and my admittedly terrible coding skills. Getting the driver working correctly really allowed the power and incredible value of a logic analyzer for debugging a system. On the plus side, once that was working the rest was not too much harder and I have obtained permission from PXI to open source my library once that is working so anyone can unlock the power of this wonderful sensor. Another happening here was my first field campaign with my system, destination Arizona State University to do final debugging and training of the team that will be taking it to the Amazon rain forest.

Q1 2016 Rocket active stabilization system update, now with fins, nose cone and a mockup

With 2016 well underway it's time for the first update on the state of the stabilization system!

First off, apologies for the massive delays this post has had, was originally slated for mid-Jan launch but between job hunting and other stuff I've been hitting delays and trouble at every turn. Since last semester ended on Dec 18th, I'd been going to TechShop pretty much every day until Jan 18th making massive leaps and bounds of progress along the way. The most obvious of progress is the completion of the demonstration mockup airframe which will be gone into more in-depth after the break. 

The system's current state on the demonstration mockup

Spring break TechShop progress

Near-final fin with correct blending

Over this recent spring break, I'd decided to forgo the archetypal partying of the Senior year and continue work on my projects. My primary objective was to redesign the fin so it could be used with the round metal servo horns for easier integration and sturdier mounting. The main issue I was having was the splines not printing due to the low resolution of the printer which meant the servos are unable to properly engage with the fin.

February rocket active stabilization system update

Stabilization system miniaturization

Due to school preventing me from spending days at TechShop to use their printers and CAD workstations (my school lacks a technical education program sadly and my computer is on OSX so I can't use Inventor on it until I figure out how to install windows on an external hard drive) I have not made much progress on the system as of late.

Early November active stabilization system [Codename ARGuS] update!

Finally got back on the stabilization system development track! I finished the major school project and the replacement MPU-6050s arrived. The code recently got a MAJOR upgrade thanks to Bogdan Markovik who sent me the modified MPU6050 test code that has PWM drivers in addition to full roll, pitch and yaw control as well as fully configurable degrees of freedom for each axis. Bogdan has been assisting me with everything from code to new sensor possibilities and I hope to continue working with him as the project continues. I will be eventually moving away from the MPU-6050 as it can be kind of iffy with angles sometimes and calibration is rather annoying as I'd rather not risk the very costly high power rocket airframe to loss of structural integrity due to the sensor getting confused and shaking the rocket to bits. Thanksgiving break is coming up soon and that means my probable return to TechShop and further rapid development of the system! In addition to Bogdan helping out with the system, Sagar, the original coder of the very basic code that drove the first prototypes, is a frequenter of the same TechShop and will be working on refining his own system. Video of the new code in action is right after the break.

Stabilization system development slowing down(temporarily)

Hey there, Sorry about the rather long hiatus. School has started up and it not only is using up the vast majority of my free time but also it has removed my ability to frequent TechShop which is where most of my work is done from designing to 3D printing. My school does issue laptops with the Autodesk Suite installed, I will be requesting issuance of a computer so work can continue on the system. My school does not, however, have a 3D printer but oddly enough the middle school does. I am investigation wether or not I can book time on their machine. In return I would give a lecture and presentation to hopefully get the students excited about STEM careers and technology in general. My younger brother is the vice-president of the STEM club so he might be able to help create a line of communication and a possible partnership. Blog posts will be few and far between for a while, but when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around they will be picking back up in frequency as I will be back at the TechShop again.

Per Audacia Ad Astra
Arsenio Dev

Preliminary fin printing, lessons learned.

Yesterday I moved the fin into preliminary 3D printing. Initial print was flat on the print bed, apparently the support structure caused it to warp and the layers stacked strangely. Vertical printing worked a heck of a lot better! Also reprinted the baseplates to the correct size and spacing of servos.

Finally got rid of the cardboard structure! (size of prints is still wrong :[)

At long last, the horrible cardboard vanishes(except the fins). With the print that was completed today the tolerances came closer than ever before to being perfect but they still are wrong (D:). I had to take an exacto knife and shave the notches slightly wider but for some reason one of the plates was not circular but rather an oval which was nearly imperceptible except when they are stacked on one another(:/).

3D printing plates

Started printing plates to replace the crappy cardboard demo model. First time(black plastic) I had the slots for the servos too small; fixed it and am now printing it again(red plastic)
The initial print had issues with the quality of filament bead as is seen in the partially completed picture

printed revised prototype