Wrapping Up

Today I finished all the hardware and got it to cycle according to the letters i type in, but i was not able to get the receiving part of my program to work so for now i am going to have to leave that problem unsolved. Now I'm staying up late working on my board and PowerPoint. Have a long night ahead of me.

Programming

For the past two days I've been trying to figure out the programming for my transmitting and receiving end off my system. It turns out it's pretty complicated. I have a basic idea for the transmitting half but the receiving side is not as much complete. Also I realized that to transmit video I need to do over 8,000,000 bits per second and my Arduino can't get anywhere that fast. I also picked up a golfball display case that just so happened to be almost the exact same size as my frame and I will be using that for my receiving half.

Relay

I solved my problem with the 5V working but not the pin. I still don't know why it does this but I've bypassed the problem. Insted of trying to get power strait from the pin I will put a relay in the circuit and operate the relay using the pin. This also means that I am able to test how fast I can cycle the laser. I figured out that I can cycle it on and off once every five one-thousandths of a second.

All Coming Together

Today I started to work more on the programing. I got the receiving side mostly figured out. I got it so that when I point the laser at the photocell it will turn on an LED. Now all I need to do is replace the LED with a fire wire cable hooked up to a computer or camera. On the transmitting side I'm having some problems. The Arduino has two different types of ports in this instance a pin and a 5 volt port. The pin is hooked up to the program and the 5V pin just sends out power. I tested both with a multi tester and they both seem to have the same volts and amps. My problem is that I can operate my laser off of the 5V port but not the pin, but I can operate an LED off the pin or the 5V. This is a major setback until I figure it out. I also planned out my title and board with my dad.

Making Progress

With two vices and a lot of elbow grease, I got the laser diodes, drivers, and focus lens, out of their cases. One of them I accidentally broke a solder joint, but that was easily fixed. The only bad part was that I badly scratched the nice original case. I also picked up a bunch of supplies from Radioshack. I got some general-purpose printed circuit boards for my power/Arduino board, some photocells for the receiving half of my system, a switch, and some cable-connector-maker. The cable maker makes everything removable, which I learn last year, is very useful. This way I don't have to desolder every time i need to change something. I also figured out my power system and what voltage battery I need.

Lasers

The lasers came in today and according to how fast I can push my finger, it seems like they should work. I am trying to get the case apart without damaging the delicate diode or any other part of the laser. I figured out that it is glued in there very tight. I also worked more on my programs today and am getting closer to the final programs. I am programing using the Arduino's default programing, program.

Some Change in Plans

As I did more research I realized I may not need to use the piezoelectric block idea, because I think I can just pulse the laser on and off fast enough. Expecting the lasers to come in tomorrow. Once I get the lasers I can test them to see if they can turn on and off fast enough or if they need a few seconds to warm up. Also I started on the programing today.

Starting Up Again

Starting up late this year. This year I'm build two FemptoSats that will transmit between each other via lasers. So far I ordered the lasers and an Arduino, and am working on learning the Arduino programing language. The design I'm working on is, have a laser point into a prism, that will split the beam in two, have one of the beams go off to the side and hit a mirror and have the other beam continue strait. The mirror, that the second beam is hitting, is attached to a piezoelectric block. This can be altered using the Arduino. I will send a message to the Arduino and it will digitize it into ones and zeros which will then alter the piezoelectric block accordingly. The second beam will then reunite with the first beam, and go to the second FemptoSat. The second FemptoSat will receive the laser signal and send it to the Arduino which will translate it back. One hard thing about using lasers is that the satellites will have to be very precise and exact to hit the receiving satellite. The attitude control will be using motors from a mini-helicopter. This will give the FemptoSat full attitude control.

Photos from Cal Poly Cubesat Developers Workshop 2009

I finally got some pictures up for viewing from our Cal Poly Cubesat Workshop trip!  They were hastily gathered but due to our next trip this is it for now.

Click Link:

Photos from Cal Poly Cubesat Developers Workshop 2009

Coming Soon: Bryan's Cal Poly Adventure

Aloha Friends,

We had an amazing time with Bryan at the Cubesat Developers Conference at Cal Poly last weekend.  We're still unpacking and uploading photos and trying to find time to get it all written down here while it is fresh.  Don't know how we'll find the time because Bryan is still trying to catch up on missed assignments and tests and has 2 days of SAT testing this week and then we are off to New Mexico for the next adventure (Shhh... sorry, can't talk about that until we get clearance... really!)

As soon as we can get everything organized and loaded up, we'll share about all the tremendous people Bryan met and opportunities he's been offered.  I am so proud of Bryan and I have no doubt this last weekend will be an important factor as he considers his future career path!

Aloha For Now,

Bryan's Dad

Bryan's Cubesat Presentation (Revised)

Bryan re-shot his presentation with better audio now.

Bryan's Cubesat Awards

We are so proud of Bryan!  He did very well at the Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair, winning 7 awards!  Thanks to all of you who supported him with encouragement, prayers, cash, equipment and advice.  You share in his success!

AWARDED:
Air Force Association - 1st place (field of aerospace sciences), $250 + certificate
Armed Forces Communication/Electronics Assoc. Hawaii - 1st place, $200 + certificate
College of Engineering, UH Manoa - Junior Award, $100 + certificate
Emergency Amateur Radio Club - 1st place, $125
Engineers & Architects of Hawaii - 1st place, $75 (bond) + certificate
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers - 1st place, $100 (+ teacher award $100)
NASA - Certificate of Outstanding Achievement (creative scientific endeavor in aerospace research) - certificate + packet of goodies

  
  

Bryan's Cubesat Presentation

Bryan gives the presentation he gave at the science fair, minus the demo and the Q&A time.

State Science Fair

On Monday I went to go set up and sign in for the 52nd Hawaii state science fair.  I went right after school set up my board and did some paper work.

 Then on Tuesday I went for the judging.  I had to leave the house at 6:00 am in order to get there on time.  My friend from Hanalani had also made it to state.  When I got there I saw my friend form 6th grade there.  He was three projects down from me.  I was judged by eleven judges.  Two were with the official science fair judges and the rest were agency and company judges.  Hanalani took a field trip to there, but had too leave soon after they arrived because they technically were not supposed to be there during judging.  I left at about 2:00 p.m.

On Wednesday was the award ceremony.  My grandparents and even Dr. Wayne Shiroma were there.  We had to sit a listen to names being called out for four hours.  I ended up winning awards from seven different agencies!  This made all of the work put into it worth it.