Meet the team: Kraksat 2014

Description of the Cansat missions

Measure radiations changes to detect life

Progress Report 1:

In this part of CanSat development our team focused on planning and gathering informations about possible solutions for our goals. We are sure that excellent plan is a key to victory. Each team member has been given a task corresponding to his interests. Research was performed and then we met in order to create plan for our team. In this progress report we are going to present it.

Progress Report 2:
We are currently working on every aspect of our project. All the required parts have already been bought and most of them have been tested.

Previously we decided to print the CanSat skeleton using a 3D printer and harden it using carbon wrapping. The model with placement of elements is ready and one for 3D printer is almost ready. Electronic circuits are being designed.

The only elements which have not yet arrived are the video transceivers.

We thought that a perfect way to present the data gathered by our CanSat would be to plot graphs in real-time using a web app. The web app has already been programmed in Java using Vaadin. Tests were performed that confirmed that our web app is ready to plot graphs of temperature, height and pressure.

On-board software support required sensors, data transmission and dumping, but still lacks automatic power-saving.

We have already received financial aid from the Polish Children’s Fund (Krajowy Fundusz na Rzecz Dzieci, fundusz.org). Our team also sent specially prepared proposals to many organisations, which we think will be willing to help us with funding our flights.

Progress Report 3:
We have assembled two CanSAT models: 1. Basic (backup model). This modes has onboard computer with ATMega328 / Arduino UNO. Technical & innovative aspect - we will preferably use European components - We have been promised all of STMicroelectronics components we need. STMicroelectronics is an Italian-French Company with Development Center located in Prague. Temperature, pressure, 3D acceleration,3D gyroscope and 3D magnetics will be recorded. Recorded data will be saved on SD card and also will be transmitted to a ground station and stored as data files and calculated and displayed by National Instruments LabView Student Edition software. Basic model is intended to be used as a backup model (in case of advanced model malfunction) in Andoya competition. The main purpose of developing basic and advanced model is to support Czech schools competing in future Czech Cansat Competition 2015 and our help to ESERO Czech in future. 2. Advanced (main model). This model has more futures as the backup model (see under for more info) e.g. the Geiger counter. It also has a better on-board computer which is just on one flat plate, not like on 3 flat pates like in backup model. It also has a brand new control board (more info in “technical achievements”. We also used new case and parachute (which you may see at picture in technical achievements as well).

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