Weekly Assignments Final Project About me Mid semester project

16. Applications and Implications

Individual assignment:

Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered,answering:

What will it do?

The final project is meant to be a small replication of a satellite with solar panels created with an Origami that will fold and unfold.

The project foresees that the origami solar panels with unfold when enough light is detected.

In case obstacle is detected during the opening of the solar panels, unfolding process will stop immediately and solar panel will start folding.

Who's done what beforehand?

I have not found evidence of similar projects on the public internet, but there's some photos on the Web that proves that space agencies (NASA, ESA) are working on this topic.

What will you design?

Overall solution and components are in scope of the design activities:

  • Origami 2D design (first prototype includes a paper Origami that requires laser incision and cut).
  • 3D design of the components required to create the variable geometry structure supporting the solar panel.
  • Electronic scheme of the different PCBs: one main "central" PCB, one PCB handling DC motor, one for light sensor, one for presence sensor.

    • What materials and components will be used?

    Origami is made of paper in the current project.

    Variable geometry structure is made of 3D printed components + lightweight aluminum rods

    PCB with electronical components

    Enclose in plexiglas for the PCBs, Power bank and motor

    3D printed elements:

  • for engine mounts (PLA).
  • for the PCB mounts of the central PCB (PLA)
  • Anchors and wheels (Resin)

    • Where will come from?

    Except for the 2 sensors that will be purchased online and the lightweight aluminum rods that will be purchased from a local shop, all the other materials components are available in the FabLab.

    How much will they cost?

    sensors cost estimate: 20€ to be confirmed

    lightweight rods cost: 120€

    What parts and systems will be made?

    Except for the lightweight rods, motor, 2 sensors and powerbank, all the other elements of the project will be created.

    Origami will be made of paper (200grams /m^2 paper)

    Mechanical parts: anchors, wheels, kneecap, summit, rack and pignon, enclosure for the sensors, space like decorative elements to stick on the plexiglass

    Electronical parts, PCBs: central PCB, PCB for TOF sensor, PCB for photoresistance, PCB for DC motor control

    What processes will be used?

    3D printing process will be massively used for the preparation of the mechanical components using PLA and resin when higher precision is required

    Assembly process Leveraging embedding mechanism of physical elements to avoid glue and screws

    Laser cutting of the origami structure (incision and cutting)

    milling process to create the required PCBs + soldering of the components

    Cabling process: the electric wires will pass inside the tubes of the structure

    What questions need to be answered?

    One of the questions that I would like to address (not for the current release but for a future phase) is the possibility to replace the paper used for the Origami with a thin plastic material reinforced with thin plastic or plexiglas tiles

    This could be the subject for further iteration(s) and tests.

    How will it be evaluated?

    Your project should incorporate 2D and 3D design

    additive and subtractive fabrication processes,

    electronics design and production,

    embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming,

    system integration and packaging

    Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project

    Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable

    Research links: