GPS Targeted Pneumatic Launcher

[STHORNE]

I severely doubt that launcher is capable of firing 600m.

..Got any videos?

Why be so negative?... He said he would post vids as soon as he can...

[TurboSuper]

This isn't so much about the launcher as the system controlling it. The launcher part could very easily be scaled up to fire much further, the real challenge was getting it to target with GPS.

Budget was an issue, and from personal experience, I can tell you that National Instruments' software isn't exactly cheap (I'm assuming of course, it wasn't pirated.). Also, being a science fair project, I'll assume portability was a factor.

[charred_cookie]

Ok here is a link to a web site that did a little spill on the the local fare. http://www.ieee-huntsville.org/y2007/lw ... f2007.html

The Pressure Sensor is a Sutra Systems Model 206. (I dent have a picture, Sorry)

The Cannon Chamber is constructed out of 4" sc40 PVC and is 5' long. The barrel is I believe 1 1/2 in sc80 but it has a sleave insert into it that that is some sort of super thin vacuum pipe. The vacuum pipe fits perfectly around my projectiles, so I slid it in that sc80 and called it a barrel. lola The entire barrel is 9' Long. And you can see in the Picture the that it had to be supported to make it more stable.

Maxes the 2nd I have Videos but am not a You Tube junky and dent know the easiest way to post them.

TurboSuper is exactly right! The actual Launcher was not hard to construct at all. It took maybe a week to finnish. The difficult part was incorporating everything together. Getting a Rellyable Projectile, preforming all the physics calculations, writing the Program, building the Electronics, and getting the launcher to fire extremely accurately was the hard part. Trying to get all that to come together in time for the fair was rather difficult. But was rewarding when it payed off.

[SpudFarm]

aha! now we can see the scale:P
HUGE

[MaxuS the 2nd]

Now that Sir...Is definitely more like it.

From the other picture, I got the impression that it stood about 2ft high.
Great work mate!

[Maniac]

Whoa it is huge yes that othe picture definitelry made it look about two foot tall. Cannont wait for a vid on this. How much dough did you put into making this, electronics and all.

[POLAND_SPUD]

yeah now it's much better... please feel free to post more pictures

well the projectile could be much better in terms of drag coef. but ofcourse I understand that there were other considerations

are you going to upgrade it for example by building a new more powerful gun?

[Leodan]

From the other picture, I got the impression that it stood about 2ft high.

I think it was not the same launcher on the other picture you're talking about (it seemed like white PVC)

Maybe we could see some damage pics ? (Well, not of the tank of course xD)
That's some really nice work.
But one more thing, does the software give you multiple possibilities for the trajectory that the projectile could follow to reach its target ? I mean, could you manually choose between high trajectory, high muzzle velocity and lower trajectory, lower velocity to be able to have the projectile hit its target from above or with a lower angle ?

[charred_cookie]

Leodan -
It was the same cannon, just with a dif Barrel.
And yes, the software is fully adjustable. If you look at the pic of the software you will see that it will calculate every aspect of the launch so you can predict the outcome. So for example if there is a 100' tall tower in front of you, you can play around with the angle in order to make it over, and the software will still calculate the pressure required.

Another interesting thing that I have not mentioned yet is that the software will not only calculate the X and Y courdinants, but also Z. By that I mean that is will compensate for any change in altitude between the Launcher and the Target. So for example It would still fire accurately if I was to shoot it off a cliff, or up a hill.

Poland Spud-
Yea the Projectiles was one of the most difficult parts of the whole project! It was def the most time consuming part.
I have been wanting to build a new projectile that is launched with a sabo, but have not had time to get around to it. I have also wanted to build one with and accelerometer in it, so that you can measure various data such as launch force and impact force. It would be very nice to be able to measure and then check to see if the data collected collaborated with the what was predicted.


If anyone has more questions please ask. If you have anything imparticular you would more data on I will do my best to help out.

[STHORNE]

OMMFG! lol. From the other picture, I thought I could step on it and break it, but now that you actually show its towering scale, It looks massive.

How did you take that other picture anyway? It sure fooled everybody..




The Mastermind:....
(lol, really f**king bored)

[charred_cookie]

I took that other picture from the top of my 10' Porch. lol

[spudkilla]

Is that Redstone arsenal in Huntsville, AL?

I live very close, Do you know where hazel green is?

[D_Hall]

If anyone has more questions please ask. If you have anything imparticular you would more data on I will do my best to help out.

I notice you used GGDT.

Mind if I get a data dump from you so I can put it up in the library? 'Tis rare for me to see somebody with significant data that I can use.

[charred_cookie]

Yea it is the one in Huntsville.
I live not far from Hazel Green. Maybe 45 min to an hour.

D_Hall -
Yes I did use it! I found it to be extremely helpful during the design stages of my project.
and yes I would be happy to help out. What sort of Data you looking for?

[D_Hall]

Charred,

Well, whatever you'll give me, of course!

Gun design.
The GGDT file you used.
Pictures.
Test data.
Anything and everything you'll give me.

Put it this way: It's easy for me to sort through data and NOT post something you give me, but it's sure difficult for me to post something you DIDN'T give me.