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I'm not sure which is scarier...
the concept of dropping an RCX or the fact that you would have to "test"
the design.
I'd really be interested in seeing details of your results,
but only if you succeed.
hugging my RCX,
:?) bishop
Ian Sinclair wrote in message <382529be.23919145@mail.cadvision.com>...
The following post prompted me to resurrect an idea I dreamed up a
some time ago...
<snip>
I have had an idea for quite some time, but one significant problem...
Wouldn't it be very cool to design and build LEGO Mindstorms
Skydivers!
These skydivers will be quite large and heavy. I was thinking about
using a large RC aircraft to drop the LEGO skydivers, but a real
balloon would be even better.
I'd start by designing a chute or buying one. I know of at least one
RC company that makes a powered parafoil model. I know the parafoil
is available separately.
I'll have to do some digging on the web. If we can find out all the
details for a parafoil, it would be relatively easy to sew your own
from rip-stop nylon fabric.
I would then conduct a couple drop tests with plain LEGO parachutists
to test the idea. Wouldn't want to risk an RCX too soon in the design
phase! That could be a shattering experience (pun intended). :-)
Then it would be time to build an RCX skydiver. I'd start with a
straight drop with the chute open. Move on to a zip line drop
insuring chute deployment does happen. Then make sure the drogue
pulls out and opens the main chute. I'd use a long line that did pull
the chute if the drogue failed to do so. If all was well you could
move on to the last stage of development.
A fully controlled and timed drop where the RCX deploys the drogue
which opens the main. A drogue may not even be necessary. It will
depend on your chute and the compartment that holds and opens to
deploy it.
Other improvements we could make:
Just imagine this... I know some are working on GPS sensors for the
RCX, or dreaming about it anyways. If the RCX controlled the chute,
you could design and program it to try and hit a preplanned drop zone.
Very cool if it could be done.
Maybe one of our LEGO engineering or electronics types could design a
altimeter sensor for Mindstorms. Then we could deploy the chute just
in time... That would make for really exciting and very scary drops!
Any LEGO fans also into ballooning?
Thoughts?
I'm definitely going to give this a go next spring. Just have to find
an accommodating balloonist. Or build a large RC trainer.
<ICS>
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: LEGO RCX Skydivers
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| (...) I would suggest making the RCX do a bungee jump first, before taking to the skies.If anything should go wrong, at least you would have a finite length of rope. -- C S Soh (URL) where air is power (25 years ago, 5-Nov-99, to lugnet.general, lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | LEGO RCX Skydivers
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| The following post prompted me to resurrect an idea I dreamed up a some time ago... (...) I have had an idea for quite some time, but one significant problem... Wouldn't it be very cool to design and build LEGO Mindstorms Skydivers! These skydivers (...) (25 years ago, 5-Nov-99, to lugnet.general, lugnet.robotics)
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