2013 Impossible Project. Extreme Robotics: The SSSC

For last year's project, see the 2012 project report

This year's project is to construct a supersonic space catapult (SSSC), specifically, a table-top sized device that can electromagnetically accelerate a 1-2 gram payload to supersonic velocity. The method employed will be an actively controlled, linear induction motor. The following initial contraints have been determined...

• The device and its development must not kill or seriously damage anyone.
• Damage to property must also be avoided.
• The final construct should be of attractive appearance, a work of art even.
• There will be blinking lights.
• The components (other than specialty ones already acquired) must be obtained for less than $1000. No constraints on the value of student hours put into it.

The following specialty components have been obtained for the construction of the device. They are somewhat expensive and not easily replaceable, so care should be taken not to accidently destroy them during development and testing. High voltage testing will take place only with the professor present, so there's that pair of eyes, but the components should not be dropped on the floor, (or your toe), hit with a hammer, have their terminals subjected to repeated bending stresses, have Mountain Dew spilled on them, etc.

• 8 25uF high voltage polyester film capacitors rated at 4000VDC. We will plan to use them at 2000V. They are Model LK40-256Y manufactured by Plastic Capacitors Inc. USA .
  Model information
• 10 high-voltage, high-current, rapid-current-rise, thyristor modules for use as switches. These are rated at 4000VDC, 10kA 10us current pulse, 30kA/usec current rise. We will design at 1/2 these values. The modules are manufactured by Applied Pulsed Power Inc. USA .
  Data sheet

Working Groups

The class will be broken into teams of 4-5 people with the following responsibilities.

The Big Box

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Yaron Shaverdi (shop)
• Mike Urciuoli (integration)
• Willie Reed (safety)
• Andrew Nocka (shop)
• Mochen Liu

High-Voltage Driver Circuit

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Peihong Jiang (shop)
• Douglas Miller
• Hao Chen
• Ryan Swanson (safety)
• Ethan Senator (integration)

Coils and Coil Housing

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Dillon Sheehan (integration)
• Jonathan Wong
• Dan Scarafoni (shop)
• David Bang (safety)
• Xing Yan

Ballistics

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Ben Batha
• Ciaran Downey (shop, safety)
• Vedant Ahluwalia (integration)
• Matt DeMartino
• Kuan Wang (shop)

High-Voltage Charging

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Julian Lunger
• James Yuzawa (integration)
• Joseph Brunner
• Prakash Bhasker (safety)
• Ge Wu

Mesoscale Trigger Pulse Generation

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Christina Kayastha
• Frank Dinoff
• Jonathan Perez
• Emily Ansley (safety)
• Ryan Puffer (integration)

Sensing, Timing, and Analytics

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Emily Eisenberg
• Theodore Stein
• Raghu Mehta (integration)
• Alex Wilson (safety)
• Jen Karkosa

User Interface

Group Page: TBA

Members

• Nicholas Rochwerger (integration)
• Becky Galasso
• Gerjo Tacaraya (safety)
• Sean Esterkin

Crosscutting Groups

There are also three other groups composed of members of the main working teams.

Safety

This is a student safety committee with representatives from every team. It is charged with examining all device components and their interactions and devil's advocating any potential failure modes or safety issues. And looking over the shoulder of all you devil's advocates will be your's truly... Group Page: TBA

Members

• Willie Reed (big box)
• Prakash Bhasker (charging)
• Ciaran Downey (ballistics)
• David Bang (coils)
• Ryan Swanson (HV driver)
• Alex Wilson (sensing & timing)
• Gerjo Tacaraya (user interface)
• Emily Ansley (mesoscale trigger)

Integration

Charged with identifying the points of interaction between components designed by the various teams, and facilitating communication and interaction between the groups in development of coordination protocols. Group Page: TBA

Members

• Mike Urciuoli (big box)
• James Yuzawa (charging)
• Vedant Ahluwalia (ballistics)
• Dillon Sheehan (coils)
• Ethan Senator (HV driver)
• Raghu Mehta (sensing & timing)
• Nicholas Rochwerger (user interface)
• Ryan Puffer (mesoscale trigger)

Shop

This group is responsible for all fabrication involving power equipment or machinery. The members will all be put through John Miller's shop safety course, and are the only class members allowed to use the student machine shop equipment. Group Page: TBA

Members

• Adam Purtee (TA)
• Yaron Shaverdi (big box)
• Andrew Nock (big box)
• Ciaran Downey (ballistics)
• Kuan Wang (ballistics)
• Dan Scarafooni (coils)
• Peihong Jiang (HV driver)

Some useful distributers and suppliers

• Digikey (electronic components)
• Mouser (electronic components)

Plans, Results and Action Items:

• Don't drop it in the water.
• Don't put it in your mouth.
• Don't spill soda on any component.
• Don't demo it to your friends without the professor present. (As the prof will hold the HV source, this wouldn't be easy, but one might be tempted...)

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