The Sonic Bloom Payload is a module to be integrated within the Prometheus rocket which is capable of deploying seed pods to the local environment. The intention is to support an environmental sustainability mission through the dispersal of flora which are local to the launch-site environment. This goal is critical to preserve not only the local flora, but also the various consumer-resource systems involving other organisms which rely upon the growth of these flora to sustain their life cycles.
The objective is accomplished by means of a 3D printed module encased by an outer shell and an electronics component utilizing an Arduino microcontroller. Upon the separation of the nosecone, a spring will release and the Payload module will be exposed to light. A photoresistor attached on the side of the module will trigger the linear motion of four solenoids housed in the 3D module only when the module is exposed to the air. The motion of the four solenoids will allow release of handcrafted seed pods stored in the module, with casings made from paper mache (entirely biodegradable). The seed pods will be released with the intention of the casing to break upon impact such that the seeds are scattered across the environment. Since the 3D printed module itself will not be released, there is no specific recovery scheme and it will be collected during the overall rocket recovery process.
|
|
AEROSPACE SYSTEMS | UCR
|