Sensor Testing

To ensure that our sensors are working properly and that the wireless transmission is working, we enlisted the help of the Irish AirCorps.

At 12:30 today, an AirCorps helicopter touched down on the grounds of CCC. With over 150 spectators, there was huge excitement.

We had our ground station ready to go and we treated it like a trial run for next week's launch.

To avoid any damage to the CanSat, we placed the sensors connected to our old Arduino in a box and handed it to the crew. The YAGI Antenna was used to receive data.

The helicopter brought the sensors to a height of 1km. All of our sensors (temperature, pressure, humidity, GPS, magnetometer and ultrasonic) received data.

We have already tested the parachute with a crane drop and a tensile testing machine.

All systems go for Norway! (literally)

By Hugh

Parachute Testing

We needed to test the parachute to make sure it could withstand the maximum weight of the can.

I made copies of the parachute to test the material binding and string strength. We wanted to see which was the weakest point in the parachute, the string strength or the material binding.

We tested the parachute at Limerick Institute of Technology using a tensile-testing machine. We first tested the string strength to see how much strain it could withstand.  There were two clamps that clamped onto the strings and one moved upward slowly pulling it apart while the computer calculated the strain. It estimated to be about 150 newton.
We than tested the one string with binding attached, using the same method, once again the amount weight the string could take was about 150 newton. Since the string snapped in the middle and not at the binding, it showed us that the string was the weakest part in the parachute not the binding or the material. We are really glad about this because it means our parachute should work properly on Launch Day.

When we tested the demo with two strings and binding the weight it could take was almost double, which meant our readings were accurate.

According to our tests results the parachute should be able to take more than the required weight.

By Tayyaba and Evan

CanSat - Team Value

In conjunction with building a satellite, making a parachute and undertaking an outreach programme, one of the core elements of the CanSat competition is team work. The CanSat competition gives teams a real taste of what it is like to work in a multi-disciplinary environment. 

Each team member has a specific role: 
• Evan Moloney - Mechanics and Engineering of the can. Responsible for the construction of the actual can itself, the internal chassis and the top and bottom plates. (Helped by Niall)
• Niall Keating – Design of the new PCB and installation of components. Also responsible for the coding of the primary mission. (Helped by Chris)
• Chris Kelly – Coding of the secondary mission, testing of the sensors and project planning. (Helped by Evan) 
• Tayyaba Sheikh – Construction of the parachute. Responsible for testing the parachute strength and calculating the terminal velocity of the CanSat. (Helped by Hugh)
• Hugh Fitzgibbon – Team Coordinator and PRO. Designing and implementing an outreach programme, preparing presentations and contacting firms for sponsorship. (Helped by Tayyaba)  

Each team member brings with him/her different talents and abilities. And of course, a personality! 
It is easy to get along with people when the CanSat is functioning correctly, deadlines are met and morale is high. However, we have been working together for many months at this stage and we have obviously had disagreements. We have a strict protocol in place for when there is a disagreement. A team meeting is called, opinions are shared and a solution is put in place. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing – to fly the Irish flag in a professional and commendable manner. 

We have learned a lot about teamwork throughout the competition. Many of these skills will be transferable later in life and we are delighted to have learned them in such an exciting competition. 

We now look forward to travelling Norway, as a team, and celebrating our achievements at the European Final! 

By Candroid

A Teacher's Perspective

The CanSat project is truly an exemplar of Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) in operation. This particular teaching and learning methodology became a huge feature in science education, in the US after the launch of Sputnik era by the Soviet Union (late 1950s).

From my experience on the CanSat project these elements of IBSE are all truly transparent in terms of identifying and posing questions, designing and conducting investigations, analysing data, using models and explanations and communicating findings.

In specific terms the CanSat competition has provided our students an excellent opportunity to get practical experience in the design of complex systems that has its place firmly in the hi-tech sector. These skills feature highly in our smart economy for example, coding, electronic design, sourcing and specification of sensors, telemetry, design of printed circuit boards (PCBs), mechanical integration of sub modules in the Can and of course the dissemination of technical and other achievements via social networks, in parallel, to on site presentations to the captains of industry. Having acquired this real experience our students now have a very real sense that engineering is fun (a finding based on their enthusiasm and commitment throughout) and this has indirectly provided them with a greater understanding of what third-level prospectuses offer in terms of technical courses, by our colleges and universities.

In retrospect our students have learned so much and a lot of it would be at a level that is beyond the curriculum, set in second level. I believe this is a testament to IBSE and the vision of a student-centred approach in facilitating our students to achieve their fullest potential in their quest of delivering on CanSat’s objectives and even creatively generating extra objectives in their pursuit for excellence. All this has certainly paid off.

The competition in Norway next month will no doubt be intense but I have every belief that these students have what it takes to compete at the highest level, so keep your eyes fixed on this blog.

By Frank Murphy

Candroid at SciFest

Today the team travelled to SciFest, a Science Competition, in Limerick Institute of Technology as part of our outreach programme. The event was well attended by staff of LIT, students in the region, teachers, parents and high profile figures.

Although we did not enter the competition, we displayed a poster and we had a running presentation on a screen explaining our project to everyone.

Our aim at the competition was to promote Space Science and to promote the CanSat competition itself. We spoke to many different people varying from lecturers and professors to students and teachers.

It was a huge success and we certainly felt we helped to promote Space Science and CanSat.

Thank you to Marie Walsh and all at LIT and SciFest.

By Tayyaba 

Candroid starts VLOGING!

Following the success of our introductory video on-line, we've decided to start a YouTube Channel.

The Channel will feature videos of the team working/ explaining the project. The videos will be short and easy for everyone to understand!

The Channel will form an integral part of our outreach programme as well as helping us in our #CountdownToNorway.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbFqFN8uxhqeWDV2cd_MhVw

By Hugh