Project Floppa
Project Floppa is the UC CubeCats’ CATiSE mission for the 2022-2023 academic year, and revolves around collection of a cloud sample during flight, as well as capturing 360° videos during flight.
Objectives
- Educate first-year or inexperienced members about project management, teamwork, and creative thinking.
- Take one sample of a Cumulus cloud for chemical analysis.
- Construct a graph of air pollution vs. altitude with data gathered from the flight.
- Record and recover a 360° timelapse of the flight’s ascent and descent.
High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) System
Flight Systems
The mission will use a 2kg weather balloon connected to the payload container (a Styrofoam cooler) by a nylon parachute cord. The HAB holds the water container, sensors, and fans, as well as the 360-camera GoPro Max attached to its bottom. The cloud collection system is isolated from the sensors so that the water sample is secured after landing. Additionally, the camera is protected by a plastic dome that absorbs the landing impact to protect the SD card.
Floppa Flight Systems Subsytem block diagram
Floppa Payload Box CAD Model
Software & Payload
The main control computer for the system is an Arduino Mega 2560, which stores data from the air pollution sensors (CO2, barometer, and AQ1) and controls the cooling fan for the cloud collection system. The air quality sensor measures the amount of Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ethyl Alcohol, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the air every 60 seconds. When it comes to the cloud collection system, the cooling fans lead the air to a thermoelectric cooler that condenses the water, which is then stored in a small container. We use a 30000mAh power bank to provide power for the GoPro Max to take a timelapse video throughout the duration of the flight, as well as the sensors, Arduino board, fans and cooler.
Floppa Software & Payload Subsystem block diagram
Mission
The mission will be launched in southern Indiana (likely Milan, but exact location TBD depending on wind behavior) so that it lands somewhere in the Greater Cincinnati area. The duration of the flight is expected to be approximately 6 hours and the maximum altitude reached is expected to be between 30,000 and 35,000 meters. Although the launch date is to be determined, the current prediction is mid-September 2023.
