Build Your Own Satellite

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I always thought it would be neat to have your own "Spy" Satellite.The fact that we have our own Spy Satellites traveling around the earth justamazes me. So why not have your own? The following intractable shows you how todo just that, build your own  Satellite. This is Vs. 1. Oh, and did Imention this is a  "Green" project via recycling old parts? Moreto come on that.

The Satellite features the following:

·         A wireless camera that can transmit video/audio up to 300ft!

·         Suntracking garden variety solar panels to recharge is batteries. 

·         Thrusterto simulate a burn to position itself in the correct orbit.

·         Speakerfor wake up and sleep procedures to conserve power.

Ready to build your own? Well here is how.

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Step 1: Finding an Enclosure

First thing you need to do is a find asuitable enclosure. I found mine at Goodwill, great place for project partshunting. I found this great lamp that was missing the base that had everythingI was looking for. The flexible neck once removed made a great hole to attacheda thruster. The hole for the power cable was perfect for a programming port.And the hole for the on/off switch was a perfect fit for my wireless camera.The odds of you finding this same setup are slim so keep your mind open whenlooking for an enclosure. Look at things a different way, from differentangles. Don't look at things for what they are but for what they could be. Dothis and you'll find an enclosure in no time, or you can just build you own.;-) Take a look at the lamp light cover. Looks like a great rocket or thrusterhuh?

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Step 2: Gutting Time and Primary Parts Arrangement

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So you have your enclosure. Now comesthe fun part....gutting it. Mine was pretty simple. All I had to do was unscreweverything and it practically fell apart. Try to keep any parts you may be ableto re use in your project or another in the future and recycle the rest.Once gutted you need to start pre-fitting your primary components. This way youcan work around these parts to avoid some headaches later.

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Step 3: Building the Thrust-er

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Ok, so remember how I said you gotta keep your mind open and look at things notfor what they are and for what they could be? Well, here is a perfect example.For my thruster what better item to use then a nose hair trimmer lol.

1.   Gut the thrust er portion

2.   Glue in a piece of hollowed out threaded rod (can find in lamp section@ your local hard ware store, may need to cut down)

3.   Lightly sand and paint

4.   Cut some pref board tofit inside

5.   Solder different colorLED's to the board leaving enough wire to attach some kind of connector (dig inyour recycled parts bin to locate connectors or purchase at Radio Shack, etc)

6.   Glue board to thrust er and bolt to base of lamp.

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Step 4: Adding Audio

For this project audio is straight forward. We will be using a small piezoelement. Simply glue to the enclosure, add a connector, and your good to go.

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Step 5: Building the Chassis

We are going to need some sort of chassis to hold our circuitry and solarpanels. I find that by layering perfboards you can make a suitable chassiseasily, cheap, and easy to attach parts to. Doing this also allows you toservice your satellite easily by being able to attach connectors to it for easyparts removal. Check the following pictures to see how I made mine.

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Step 6: Building the Solar Panels

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For my Satellite I am using 4rechargeable 2000 Nimh batteries (not including a 9V for the camera). To beable to sustain the batteries for a while we need to keep them charged. To doso I am using two garden light variety solar panels. I removed the panels fromthe lights and created a mold to give them a clean look and hide where thewires go into the hollow tube. Check out the pictures to see how its done.

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Step 7: Building the Solar Panel Chassis

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The Solar Panels need to move to be able to track the sun. Using 4"L" brackets, a micro servo, and some salvaged gears we can build asuitable tracking unit. The "L" brackets are made by buying some3/4" wide flat aluminum rods, hacking them down to size and bending themaccordingly using a vise or set of pliers. Drill holes on each leg for bolts andthe Solar Panel tube. One set of brackets I had to cut the width down  soI could attach the servo. Also the bigger "L" brackets need to have aslit dremeled out to allow the passage of the wires during assembly. Check outthe pictures for clarification. Find some small gears from an old toy, tapeplayer, etc. Drill out the center to match your Solar Panel tube size andlightly glue on via a dab of hot glue for easy removal if needed. Take amatching gear and attach to the servo. You can cut down the servo horn andattach to that for easy removal of the gear from the servo. Then put it alltogether based on the pictures.

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Step 8: Camera Attachment

The camera portion of this build was the easiest. I purchased a wireless cameraon E-Bay for like $30. Simply unscrew the lens, insert the lens through thehole, and screw back into camera. Add a dab of hot glue to keep in place, andattach a 9V battery during operation. Vs 2.0 will turn on via a timing scheduleor via remote control.

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Step 9: Adding the Programming Port

I wanted to be able to update theprogramming and add auxiliary power during demos. I found that a PS2 mouseextension cable worked perfectly. It has enough pins to due the job and bycutting the cable in half gave me both a male and female end with wires readyfor soldering. Once stripped and re wired I simply hot glued it in position andadded a connector to plug into the circuit board.

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Step 10: Building the Circuit Board

Now for the most difficult part of the build, the brain. Now seeing how this isbuilt using a lot of junk, and spare parts pulled off of old equipment, itsdifficult to show you where to put each individual component. Reference thepictures to see where I placed my parts. Also check out the schematic (stillworking on learning eagle cad) and code below. I am using a Picaxe 14M for thebrain. There is lots of info on how to read schematics, program the picaxe, etcon indestructible, Add TipAsk QuestionCommentDownload  and of course google.

For a better picture of the Schematic:Add TipAsk QuestionCommentDownload

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Step 11: Whats Going on in There?

So your probably wondering what the heck is going on. Let me break it down for you. Upon power input the program first checks the voltage input coming off the solar panels. If the voltage is to low it falls asleep. To high and it wakes up, plays its boot up music, and fires its LED thrust er. After that the panels start scanning 5 spots in the sky andmeasures the voltage at each interval. Once complete it compares the values andfinds the highest voltage source spot. It then turns its panels to thatlocation and goes falls asleep for a small amount of time to conserve power.After it wakes up its checks the initial voltage and starts the process allover again. If the voltage is to low its plays its boot down music and goes intoa long stand by time.

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Step 12: Final Assembly

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All there is left to do is put it all together. I was able to seat my chassisdirectly into the body and use the two holes I drilled for the Solar Paneltubes as a guide and to stabilize everything. I was able to move the perfboardsup and down via the threaded rod for a perfect fit. Once that was complete Ipre charged my batteries and uploaded my program. Now I have my own "SpySatellite".  I nick named it "Zee " 
 

Mohammad Rizwan s/o Mr. Haji Rafiq Ahmad 
Chandpur Uttar Paradesh (India)

Whats App +919457103214