Here are minutes of our telecon Tuesday Feb. 21, my apologies for the delay! -- as well as work done since then -- please just reply with (or let me know) any corrections -- thanks! :
Attendees: Arnold Gaertner (NRC) and me
The diffusive light source is now completed and installed into ALTAIR-Victoria:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2017/03/06/19.44-98144-LightSourceInstalled1.jpg http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2017/03/06/19.44-40881-LightSourceInstalled2.jpg
but the source still needs to be tested out "in situ". I've mechanically configured it so that we can fly the lasers+integrating sphere source simultaneously with the diffusive light source, if we so desire (or we can fly just one of the two sources, or do a test flight with neither, of course). We'll try to test out the diffusive source in situ this coming weekend.
Within my office, Capella:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2017/01/23/21.17-37945-Capella.jpg http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2017/01/23/21.17-83540-CapellaGuts.jpg
successfully receives messages containing GPS location information from the Betelgeuse test box. However Karun and undergrad Nick Hammer and I did a test of Betelgeuse-to-Capella transmission from rooftop-to-rooftop here on campus, which was unsuccessful in receiving sent messages. That was almost certainly because the U.FL RF connector within Capella (which connects the DNT transceiver to the U.FL-to-N cable assembly, which then in turn connects to Capella's Yagi antenna), popped out, which it tended to do because the force on the large N connector tended to twist the tiny little U.FL connection. I've hopefully remedied that by gluing the U.FL-to-N cable into the Capella box, which should keep it firmly affixed.
The next step is to try outdoor range testing with Betelgeuse and Capella again (from Elliott to Bob Wright buildings here on campus, and then after that see if we can successfully send a signal from Betelgeuse, when located at the DAO 12 km away, to the rooftop of the Bob Wright or Elliott building here). Then, Karun, Nick, and I can use Capella and Betelgeuse for an observational test of telescope tracking of UVic's 8" Celestron telescopes, using radio transmission of the GPS location of Betelgeuse together with a light source. Karun, together with Nick, have taken some initial stellar images with one of the Celestrons (initially lost, due to a nasty hard drive failure, but then heroically retaken), and next we'll take some images of a stationary terrestrial light source located at the DAO. Then we'll try tracking the terrestrial light source using radio transmission of the moving light source's GPS position sent via Betelgeuse (which will be located at the source) to Capella (which will be located next to the telescope).
The AIFCOMSS monitoring and control software continues to be updated, with the latest screenshot at:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2017/02/06/21.02-16393-OMSSScreenshot_6feb17.png
Student Layth Holubeshen is now working on the next steps for that software, which are to get wind speed and direction text (at ALTAIR's altitude) into the Windytv window text box, then add an altitude slider for winds at different altitudes, and a time slider for the wind forecast and recent history. (And after that, to add ALTAIR flight path predictions.)
Mark Lenckowski has completed the stabilized pole for the new 10-meter-high drop test setup at Victoria:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/12/19/15.28-91194-MeterStabilizedPole_1.jpg http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/12/19/15.28-81425-MeterStabilizedPole_2.jpg
As you can see (faintly), he affixed side-struts and guy wire to the PVC pole, to prevent it from bending in either of the two transverse directions, so it can now be raised to vertical, from horizontal, without bending or breaking. Mark is now working on some carabiner-type attachments for the end of the pole, and he should have those finished in about a week or so.
Recent progress also on the hardware for the pre- and post-flight photometry cross-check device -- the 12" aluminum sphere (a photo of it is attached in a link at the bottom of this message, http://www.sharpeproducts.com/store/aluminum-12-dia-sphere) is now been cut into two hemispheres, with holes for four measurement photodiodes:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/12/19/15.28-19075-Hemispheres1.jpg http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/12/19/15.28-5015-Hemispheres2.jpg
Machinist Chris Secord still needs to cut the large light-entrance port in the top of the first hemisphere, and then we need to paint the interior of both sides with Avian-B paint (after first priming the interior with white powder coat). It should be coated and completed in approximately another month.
The survey-tripod-mounted device to cross-check yaw-pitch-roll information from the gondola (e.g., on days before/after flights) is mostly constructed now, thanks to Mark Lenckowski -- photo at
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/31/18.15-24048-wPitchRollCalibDevice.jpg
and all that remains to be done is a small fitting between the device and the bottom of the payload. The purchased hardware in it includes both the survey tripod (http://www.cpotools.com/cst-berger-60-alwi20-o-aluminum-tripod-with-quick-release--orange-/cstn60-alwi20-o,default,pd.html), two adjustable angle mounts (http://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=AP180), and a rotation mount (https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=RP01). That last fitting to attach (temporarily, pre- or post-flight) the upper adjustable angle mount to the payload feet will be completed here in the next couple weeks.
We're currently revising the draft initial contractual agreement from our colleagues at Globalstar Canada regarding 2 initial SPOT Trace devices (and their service plans) for the educational side-project for the upcoming NATO SPS application, in which classrooms in elementary and high schools could launch company-donated SPOT Traces using party balloons (or a more environmentally-friendly version thereof), and track them to learn more about winds at different levels in Earth's atmosphere.
Regarding the simulation part of AIFCOMSS, we'll be working on adding flight path prediction information to the Windytv and Cesium windows of AIFCOMSS, using GFS (global forecast system) file input for both forecast and real-time information of winds.
Another next step, software-wise, is to establish telemetry communication between the main ALTAIR-Victoria board:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/17/20.30-32651-ectronicsBoard17aug16.jpg
and the Betelgeuse test-box:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/17/20.30-68004-Betelgeuse1.jpg http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/17/20.30-53104-Betelgeuse2.jpg
and to update the control and monitoring software to incorporate the telemetered info, and also implement onboard SD card data storage, as well as storage of the telemetered info.
Houman will send Cordell and/or us updated sections of his master's thesis soon -- that information will be extremely useful to us going forward. Also, Susana and Nathan, it would be very helpful for us all to get the JHU students' final writeup when you have a chance.
Our next grant application will be a NATO "Science for Peace and Security" application, together with Australian colleague partners.
That's all I remember, please send things that I forgot. Next telecon ** tomorrow, at 4 pm Eastern time **.
Cheers, talk to you all tomorrow! justin
On Tue, 21 Feb 2017 01:56:24 GMT, Justin Albert wrote:
> Hi! > > Telecon tomorrow (Feb. 21 in North America, Feb. 22 in Australia) at the > regular time: 4:00 pm Eastern (1:00 pm Pacific, 10 am Hawaii, 10 pm > European, 8 am Eastern Australia). Discussion items include: > flight/telescope plans and tests; construction, drop testing, and other > tests of the new gondolas/payloads; light sources and light source > modelling; goniometric and pre- and post-flight calibration; propulsion > work; nanosat bus and payload solid models; computing/website; grant > applications; and recap of schedules. > > Here's how to connect: > > 1) Open Skype on your computer (note that of course, you should first install Skype, http://www.skype.com , on your machine if you haven't already). > 2) In the "Contacts" menu, add me ( jalbertuvic ) as a contact, if you haven't already. > 3) Just wait for me to Skype-call you at the usual time (4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific). > 4) If there is any trouble, or if you don't get a Skype-call for some reason and would like to join, just send me an e-mail (jalbert@uvic.ca). > > Here's the tentative agenda: > > I) Flight & telescope plans, and upcoming tests > II) Construction, drop tests, and other forms of tests of the new gondolas and payloads here in Victoria. > III) Diffused light source, and its modelling, pre- and post-flight calibration, and goniometric calibrations > IV) Nanosat solid models & Houman's thesis > V) Computing/website, including new flight control and simulation progress. > VI) Grant applications > VII) AOB > > Talk to you all tomorrow, thanks! > justin
Attachments:
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/05/22/18.23-24702-12inAlSphere.jpg
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/04/06/16.53-58615-SideView.pdf
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/04/06/16.53-48539-TopView.pdf
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/17/20.30-32651-ectronicsBoard17aug16.jpg
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/17/20.30-99000-AvianBTestHemisphere.jpg
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/17/20.30-68004-Betelgeuse1.jpg
http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2016/08/17/20.30-53104-Betelgeuse2.jpg
