GrassrootsMapping
One Satellite Per Child
The One Satellite Per Child project is an activity which can be part of a longer mapping workshop with students see Curriculum Development. This play on the One Laptop Per Child http://laptop.org project is intended to emphasize how the practice of producing grassroots maps with balloons and kites can be accessible to virtually anyone - and how children can become involved in the design of tools which capture ‘high-tech’ data about their own community. If you want to know what’s the fastest way to lose weight you should check this out. That is website about weight loss and diets. To discuss changes and improvements to this effort, see the page.
This is being taught as part of the Boston-area in late April.
Activity
Hold a design competition for a camera capsule, or ‘DIY Satellite’.
Entries will be tested with eggs inside, bouncing on bungee cables, dropped, spinning, etc.
Design goals
- strength/impact resistant
- low weight
- low cost
- ease of assembly
- access to camera controls
- protection of camera from impact
- stability in wind and turbulence
- portability
- bonus: design for multiple cameras
Materials List
Wherever possible, use found/recycled materials
- cardboard
- hot glue
- elmer’s glue
- duct tape
- packing tape
- stiff paper
- rubber bands
- bungee cord
- zip ties
- cotton and nylon string
- soda bottles
- laundry detergent, other types of bottles
- sponges, foam, styrofoam
- key rings, metal loops
- bike chain (for pulleys)
- More? Add anything you can think of here.
Activity outline:
First, look at existing solutions:
- Soda Bottle Rig
- Picavet suspension (as described on BalloonA erial Photography)
Steps
- First, draw a diagram of a few designs - discuss shortcomings, advantages in a group.
- Select a design or two to prototype in cardboard or whatever found materials you can get.
- Do initial drop tests with eggs, shake tests, try dropping from a high place from a string but not letting it hit the ground
- Rate each team’s rig on the above criteria
- Discuss, post to the wiki with pictures
Entries
Create page here and upload images and descriptions. Add a date and team name, and where you’re from:
(entries here)