ARES IV

Universal Event | Let It Go (Without A Bang)

Don't Let Me Down

High-Level Project Summary

We developed a mechanism to hold two different parts together and when needed, release a bolt and consequently, those parts will be unattached. The proposed challenge was to create a reliable and shockless alternative to pyrotechnical devices in space and that's exactly what our project does. Its significance shows up when it might represent a revolution in the way we unfold things in space, doing it more safely and efficiently.

Link to Project "Demo"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19JIQxxN025sQHVNJrbYvbchAXXjPcoS7/view?usp=sharing

Link to Final Project

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vRfe_jnAtkP921RFKxm4glnPqb6PJPBn/view?usp=sharing

Detailed Project Description

Our device grips a screw tightly and, when necessary, releases it, activating the nail's rapid thrust. This is a new model of an older device, Hold Down and Release Mechanism (HDRM). The main difference is that it can be used multiple times not just once like in previous versions, as it will use electromagnetic forces to separate two pieces and a spring that will force the pieces against each other and hold them together.

This newly proposed method provides full control in both stages of the mechanisms. Other methods such as alloying with shape memory were considered by the group, it would be simpler but we would not be able to control the speed at which the material retracts, making its use unfeasible, and the need to control the temperature would make the project consume much more energy. We hope to create a fully reconfigurable HDRM, something that hasn't been done before, and hopefully, transform space engineering and open up new horizons for modern science and humanity. To develop this project, we used drawing software for illustration of the functioning mechanisms and google for numerous researches.

More details with the illustrations can be found in the final project.

Space Agency Data

https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2020/ip_8.html

We use this first link to start our project.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20150004077/downloads/20150004077.pdf

We use NASA material to understand the basic functioning principle of our project.

Hackathon Journey

This was the first experience of this team with hackathons and it was extremely fun and enjoyable although it was tough. The group learned a lot and discovered diverse types of technologies we had no idea existed. Also learned how those new technologies work as well as their functions. In the beginning, we thought it was an impossible mission, struggled in some parts, but it became easier with teamwork, perseverance, and a bit of coffee.

To solve the problems faced, we tried to use what was learned in college and found in reliable books/websites to solve it. We want to thank RefSeek and the Nasa Space Apps team for helping us out and for providing this event of unimaginable journey of knowledge.