High-Level Project Summary
The challenge asked us to present a design for a separation device of a spacecraft.Our group's approach to this problem was to develope a design for parachute's actuator. It uses the magnetic property which brings the electricity usage of our device to the allowance which was 20Watts.The material used in this separation mechanism is Aluminum which makes the actuator to weight about a kilogram.A heater was installed to the magnetic separator to control the decrease/increase in temperature.This separator mechanism has the ability to be recharged as it uses the neudonyom magnet which is used under it's demagnetization temperature.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
This device uses two semi-circle shapes attracted to each other with magnetic force. This shape forms the lid and this lid stays enclosed until enough heat is given for it to reach its max working temperature and magnets opened for the parachute to be released.
The lids contain two ring shapes which go around a bar that is connected to the cylinder. This connection acts as a hinge, where it allows the lids to rotate freely. This system allows the lid to open or close.
Neodymium magnet is used to attract the lids to each other. This magnetic force allows the lid to stay closed and intact to the cylinder. Neodymium magnet used has a suffix "M", which means that it has a maximum working temperature of 100°C.
A heating device is used to increase or decrease the temperature in the actuator. When it's the time for the separation, the temperature is brought to 100°C. This demagnetizes the magnets and the lids open up as there is nothing holding them together. The parachute is released and the mission is completed with no free debris thrown in the space.
This device is also reusable as the magnets still haven't reached its Curie temperature of 320°C, it can be remagnetised and used again. This also makes this device a cost efficient product.
Space Agency Data
The below researches were used which gave a brief introduction of how actuators have been used in NASA real world projects.
It also gave us the opportunity to detect which mechanism is lacked usage among the current mechanisms used .
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110016488/downloads/20110016488.pdf
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/parachute_results.html
Hackathon Journey
This was a challenging route for all of us, despite that there were some great opportunity for each member to try performing well in what they enjoyed and we're good at and in the end we all gained so much experiences.
This gave the group a great structure and motivated each member.
We all had come from an engineering background so we decided to go for this project.
Our group aimed to make the idea of using a magnet actuator into practice and make it reach a manufacturer stage.
References
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1000936121002363#b0180.
2. https://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:168679/datastream/PDF/download/citation.pdf
3.
.” https://www.first4magnets.com/tech-centre-i61/frequently-asked-questions-i69
4.
https://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=temperature-and-neodymium-magnets
5.
https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/aluminium-7075-price-per-kg.html
6.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224139508_Permanent_Magnet_Remagnetizing_Physics_of_a_Variable_Flux_Memory_Motor
7.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321098223_Demagnetization_Withstand_Capability_Enhancement_of_Surface_Mounted_PM_Machines_Using_Stator_Modularity
8.
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms1953
9.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110016488/downloads/20110016488.pdf
10.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/parachute_results.html
Tags
#mechanics #detachment #magnets #actuator #parachute #spacecraft
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.