karl3＠writeme.com wrote:
the first step for launching your space-faring floating island community is to move into the sky with a little autonomous blimp drone.
sadly, if you have a funny life experience where you teleport around the country all the time, you'll need a way to collect supplies for airfaring life that you don't leave behind.
so, sending robots into [air]space first lets them accumulate supplies for you there until you move there yourself.
- arduino or other SOC - sim card add-on to SOC if doesn't come with - gps add-on to SOC if doesn't come with - prepaid data sim - configure arduino to listen on the sim via e.g. SSH while powered - test that one can connect to SOC via sim - motor control hardware for SOC with at least 4-5 three-state channels (maybe plan for 8-10 to add options implementing 3-state control unless it comes with this) - sealed lead acid battery (could use lithium ion for lightweightness if needed) - 2 buck-boost regulators, one to float the battery, another to power the SOC unless it takes the battery voltage - 4-5 motors; 1 sturdy and slow to raise/lower something below the object, the rest speedy and powerful to push it through the air - spool and turbines for the motors to drive - solar panel - fine and rugged polyester twine to hang panel and tether from - wiring - liftable balloon [also need structure, a way to attach everything to the balloon; one could lash them with polyester twine, possibly, or make a frame and attach them and the balloon to the frame
most people already have an SOC (system-on-a-chip) of some sort: an arduino, a cell phone. something.
here's what i found: 2 small dc motors 2 servos 1 motor control board for 1 motor 2 5v relays 2 motor encoders
the motor control board is part of a fan kit so there are options there's also a 3d printer here although i'm a little limited on my use of it the 2 servos i think connect to a tiny 2-axis gimbal
so basically the thing i'm most missing is the balloon with lifting gas. after that a battery with voltage regulation. assuming i can use something random as twine for now.
now i'm wondering, could i do this today? there are stores near me that sell party balloons. i could attach the fan to the gimbal to make for weak directional propulsion. i'm missing mobile power for the motors. i could buy a small battery at an auto parts store. or maybe more easily, i could find a power backup system, like a mobile power pack. i could plug a cell phone into the mobile power pack ... but cell phones aren't good at controlling motors without a separate controller device that speaks usb, bluetooth, or wifi. i think i might have ummmm one of those linux phones. it might have gpio pins i could use. i'm not sure that i have a soldering iron, but i could buy one if needed. basically i need a way to make the thing i can ssh into, control the motors, somehow. i found an arduino uno associated with the motors. it takes USB-B or something for power and i think there's a cable, not sure. thinking for a final product you'd want 2-3 ways to connect to it remotely (and get gps) in case it is high in the sky and one of them breaks. so, things i could buy today to make a barebones prototype today: - power pack (ideally a solar one) to power arduino and motors - power adapter for motors? - party balloons - twine, construction materials - hey if i'm shopping i could get a prepaid sim card might have left something out. if i can make a barebones prototype, then maybe i could order supplies for a real thing. if i move before they arrive, i could order them again. the biggest concern is powering the motors. i guess this would either be USB-C or 12V DC. if a power pack has a car DC adapter then i could get some DC device and cut the wires and wire them in. maybe i should get a soldering iron too just in case. then, i'd have to program the arduino uno. arduinos didn't used to run operating systems, somebody might have changed that, dunno, but it might be hard to set up SSH with it. i don't think it has a SIM card either. but i guess it's just a prototype. i guess a raspberry pi would be easier than an arduino. it's got SSH. there'd be less code to write. i'm interested in engaging the arduino but it could derail the project. i wonder if i can buy a raspberry pi nearby. there's also a nuc 10 here that is similar to a raspberry pi. OH i can use a cell phone! i could make the arduino into a motor controller and connect a cell phone to it ... hrm >( i feel somewhat confused around what to pursue here