Wolk
@ August 17, 2010
Makes people aware of air quality
Cost to build:
$150
Weight:
400 grams
- Actuators / output devices: LEDs
- CPU: Picaxe 28x1
- Power source: Lipo
- Sensors / input devices: gas sensors
- Target environment: Outdoors
The first idea (as below) was to make a little solarpowered robot. This is still the case but it won't run on tracks but it will fly in the sky hanging under a balloon.
;)
@ Mon, 2010-09-27 23:03
What am I missing?
@ Tue, 2010-09-28 10:39
Nothing
You're just a victim of my undirectional behaviour ;)
I first wanted to make a rolling robot on solar panels. Since I already made some I wanted something else and the weather balloon experiment brought me there.
I think there's only few gas sensors that parallax offer that you could use to check airquality. In the netherlands they measure SO2, PM10, O3, NH3, CO, NO and NO2 in regards to airquality.
Since this is published on the internet ( http://www.lml.rivm.nl/data/tabel/actueel.html ) it might even be an idea to upload that data to the balloon. Not sure if I can manage that programwise just yet but it must be doable with some help. That would save quite some bucks on the sensors.
Now that I'm awaiting my orders I'll go balsa this week and build the chariot that will hang under the balloon.
@ Tue, 2010-09-28 13:22
Oh, ok. And your not
@ Tue, 2010-09-28 15:45
It will be attached to a
It will be attached to a wire so it will stick arround.
I'm not sure about the panels, I think Geir used some very lightweight power cable for his whirliwig so maybe the panels stay on the ground (and just feed power to the balloon through the wire). I'm not sure yet depends on how visible the balloon is during daytime.
I think it will lift arround 300/400 grams when fully inflated.
The Dutch publish the data of a lot of measuring stations to the internet. There is one pretty close to me. (that's the RIVM link in the previous post).
Check for the paris balloon on the net. Putting the leds in there is basically the whole idear, people will see the color of the balloon and know instantly how the air is doing that they breathe in.
Also in doubt about the sensors, I don't think there's a one stop shop. Depending on how much they cost it might be better to get the data from the internet. Check if you have environmental monitoring stations close to you. Good chance if you are in Europe.
@ Mon, 2010-09-27 15:12
Helium or Hydrogen???
Helium does not pose a fire threat and is used in modern derigables. Hydrogen gives more lift but is highly flamable. This is what the Hindenburg used.
If you are using Helium then the fire department should be quite happy.
@ Mon, 2010-09-27 15:25
Right. Atomic weight of He
Right. Atomic weight of He is ≈ 4, and atomic weight of H is ≈ 2. And Helium as a seldem noble gas is much more expensive, but safe. Your only problem should be the air traffic.
@ Mon, 2010-09-27 15:38
Good news
That's good news, didn't know that! Air traffic should be ok as it will be attached to a cable and won't get any higher then +/- 50 meters. I noticed the price of helium, 40 bucks should get it filled. I'm a bit confused now as to why I had to contact the firedepartment. I guess the guys at cityhall didn't know that helium is not flamable either. Anyhow, the balloon is on it's way (150cm) so if they blow things off I'll just go renegade :)
@ Mon, 2010-09-27 14:43
Up it goes
Since another rolling robot (and one on the shelve) is a bit to much Wolk is definatly going airborne. I just got a balloon :)
Another thing is the legal part of things. I contacted the local governement and so far they have no objection since there are little rules in regards to scientific balloons, I can not put any sponsors on there (then you do need a permit as it's a commercial object).
I am waiting for the fire department now. Since the balloon is filled with helium and as such posses a possible fire threath I need their permission. A friendly fireman is looking into it the comming days as he had no experience with such a project yet and wasn't sure if I was allowed.
@ Mon, 2010-09-27 14:44
Wolk - a new destination
Inspired again by LMR and Markus latest project I looked at the internet (yes, all of it) and came up with a plan. Wolk means cloud so somewhere in the past the future was written. Due to the balloon of Markus I ended up in Paris. Yes, France. And you can say what you like about the French I really loved their idea. Close to the Eiffel tower there's this huge helium balloon that can take you up for a little so you can overlook Paris. Just recently they added something pretty cool to that, gas sensors and leds. Items we all love.
The sensors control the leds and depending on air quality the balloon turns green, yellow or red depending on the amount of crap we have to breath in. Check it:
Now how cool would it be if LMR adapts the idea (but smaller). Next year will be 2011 so what if we can get togheter 11 balloons (each representing a country) and get these things up in the sky? I guess we could be on CNN ;)
Anyway, it would be nice if you! could join and go for global realization! All air are belong to us!
@ Mon, 2010-09-27 14:55
Love the idea:)
Love the idea:)