What I learned:
How to use the lathe and mill |
Modular > aesthetic |
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The cylindrical payload was a relatively simple design. However, this was the first time I had to think about O-rings. The tube would have liquid flowing through silicon - how do I ensure a seal under high acceleration?
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I sorely wanted to use a custom PCB, but due to time constraints and last-minute modifications, went with a matrix board.
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Wheatstone bridges and strain gauge circuits |
How to summarize the project purpose |
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On paper, designing these circuits was manageable. I found that implementation, however, required some creativity. How would I test this? What are the pros and cons of switching out the resistors for trim potentiometers?
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During demos, I quickly realized I had to condense my payload spiel so laymen could understand my proposal. For example, a visual of a subdural hematoma beats words.
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How exactly does a load cell work? -turns out it's near impossible to extract the strain gauges |
How to learn from other teams Fill |
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2019-06-22: Looking back at Spaceport America 2019
This payload was created for launch at the 2019 Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico by UT Austin's Longhorn Rocketry Association. It was simultaneously entered in the SDL Payload Challenge.
The payload is the carrying capacity of a rocket - usually satellites, passengers, or cargo, In our case, we aim to design and launch scientific experiments as payloads.
Upon joining the payload team, I proposed the idea of 'Hemorrhage'. Due to other priorities, I withdrew most physical involvement for 6 months until deciding to travel to the 2019 Spaceport America Cup in June.
Our Payload Concept: Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage was inspired by my curiosity of traumatic brain injury. Given the rise of the space industry and the semi-recent concern for CBT in football players, I figured that rocket launches may have a subtle effect on the brain.
I dug through literature on
I explored some promising ideas:
- Our rocket's name is Torchy, a solid fuel rocket meant to reach an altitude of 10,000 ft. It is predicted to reach 13,000 ft, so we tried to lower that by adding weight in certain sections and utilizing an air brake system.
- Our payload's name is Hemorrhage, the scientific experiment our rocket will carry out.
The payload is the carrying capacity of a rocket - usually satellites, passengers, or cargo, In our case, we aim to design and launch scientific experiments as payloads.
Upon joining the payload team, I proposed the idea of 'Hemorrhage'. Due to other priorities, I withdrew most physical involvement for 6 months until deciding to travel to the 2019 Spaceport America Cup in June.
Our Payload Concept: Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage was inspired by my curiosity of traumatic brain injury. Given the rise of the space industry and the semi-recent concern for CBT in football players, I figured that rocket launches may have a subtle effect on the brain.
I dug through literature on
I explored some promising ideas:
- Redout in pilots or rollercoaster riders?: the body experiences negative G forces, which may cause retinal damage or hemorrhagic stroke
- Measure strain in different portions of the brain to see if different functions may be at risk for abnormal performance. Problem was that brain tissue is very elastic and I couldn't find any solid evidence that increased strain in the brain would damage it. Inspired by Phileas Gage and stories of Oliver Sacks' 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat'. People who suffer damage in the visual cortex experience visual problems; people who suffer injury in the memory section may have memory issues. But these are usually tumors exerting long-term pressure on the region, or a severe puncture wound. Strain caused by acceleration likely wouldn't be enough.
- Measure strain in bridging veins to see if they are at risk for rupture. Rupture would cause bleeding - a subdural hematoma. These are usually very severe and fatal. Often seen in babies as Shaken Baby Syndrome. Problem - usually caused by rotational acceleration. There aren't many models of people testing this. One study was performed by accelerating cadavers and dyeing fluid inside the blood vessels to easily detect rupture.