Off-world Power Generation Lab 1: Free Space 1W Transmission
- Use a full-sized solar panel to power a large battery
- Use the large battery to power a raspberry pi.
- Use the large battery to power a small laser through a voltage regulator that reports available power.
- Add an on/off switch to the laser circuit that is controlled by the pi.
- Point the laser at a diffraction lens that illuminates a small solar panel.
- Power a small battery with the small solar panel.
- Use the small battery to power an arduino through a voltage regulator that reports the available power.
Remember: we regulate the voltage, everywhere. Only voltage can force current where it is not wanted.
Can we keep the arduino powered 24/7?
[large panel] > [regulator] > [battery] > [pi] SPACE > [regulator] > [laser] =====> [small panel] > [regulator] > [battery] > [arduino]
Gear
- 190-540nm laser goggles for our 405nm laser
- 100W solar panel
- solar power regulator - I have no idea if this will do the job yet... but it's on the way!
- 88 Wh battery
- Raspberry Pi 3
- $45 300mW laser
- small solar panel
- lots of experimental voltage regulators, what works is still TBD
- 15 Wh battery
- Arduino Uno
- Breadboards
- Multimeters (two hand-held, two usb inline)
- cables
More gear that we may not need
- cheap <$1 5mW laser
- Raspberry Pi 3
- Arduino Uno