Oral Presentation Only

NASA Nebraska High Altitude Ballooning and the Fab Lab

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Abstract

The NASA Nebraska High Altitude Ballooning (N-NHAB) program has collaborated on projects with the Fab Lab at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha, NE. Based on the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms, the Fab Lab contains 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and much more. In its trial phase, the Fab Lab encouraged projects from the sciences. In response to this request, one of these projects involved a HAB student who wanted to streamline custom circuitry for measuring the efficiency of solar cells. The circuit pathways were designed and precisely cut from a copper sheet and the laser cutter was used so the copper could be imbedded in a sheet of clear polycarbonate. The solar cells were flown and the circuit performed as designed. From this relationship between the physics department and the Fab Lab, another project was initiated with a local 3D printing company to provide N-NHAB with a stabilization platform for three GoPro 3+ cameras to provide a stable panorama view at altitude. The first prototype of the platform was tested on a flight in April 2015. An Undergraduate Research Group was formed by faculty members last year at MCC and, with the Fab Lab, developed of an opportunity for undergraduate research students to present their results at the first MCC Showcase at the college, a combination science poster presentation and maker fair. Lastly, potential future collaborations for engineering applications and the new Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology (CAET) building at MCC will be discussed.

How to Cite:

Sibbernsen, K. & Sibbernsen, M., (2015) “NASA Nebraska High Altitude Ballooning and the Fab Lab”, Academic High Altitude Conference 2015(1). doi: https://doi.org//ahac.8173