1. Maple seed sensor housing for desert reconnaissance
Group 17:
Clinton Bencsik
Mark Brosche
Christopher Kulinka
Christopher Redcay
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

2. Overview Introduction The Design Concept Experimental Calculations
Prototype Design
Bill of Materials & Cost Analysis
Conclusion
Planned Future work

3. Seeking a way to monitor battle field terrain
Harris Corporation
$5.3 billion revenue in 2008
Fields
Communications and Intelligence Programs
Defense programs
Communications and information processing products
Data Links, Visualizations, and Digital Mapping
Seeking a way to monitor battle field terrain
Monitor foot travel
Monitor vehicle presence

4. Design Specifications
Project Scope
Design a sensor vehicle to house a battlefield awareness network that can be dropped from any altitude.
Project Requirements
Design Specifications
Survive a fall from a large height with sensors intact
Make from a material with Young's Modulus >0.8GPa
Hold a sensor array capable of detecting human and vehicle presence
Design with infrared and vibration sensors to report disturbances
Operate for several weeks without maintenance
Use solar cells to recharge batteries or capacitors
Auto-rotate during freefall similar to a maple seed
Design as a scaled up maple seed with "seed" holding sensors
Transmit data to a central network
Design with an g transmitter to send data

5. What is significant about a Maple seed?
Wing on seed is a natural mechanism for dispersing seeds over a large area.
Seeds “float” to the earth using auto-rotating flight
Why a Maple seed?
Simplifies design to avoid complex moving parts
Produces a desirable spread pattern to monitor a large area

6. The Design Concept 1 3 2 Single wing auto-rotating design
Seed sensor housing (1)
SDM manufactured
Integrated sensors and controllers
Integrated circuits
Integrated transmitter and power source
Wing with flexible solar cells (2)
Provides power to battery and capacitor
Curve and shape cause auto-rotation in flight
Wing spine (3)
Provides support for
the light, thin wing 1 3 2

7. The Design Components Sensors a Power b d c Infrared Sensor
Glolab DP-001
Vibration sensor
SQ-SEN-200 Omni-directional tilt
and vibration sensor (a)
Power
Flexible Solar cells (b)
Silicon Solar
4.5” x 1.5” (3V at 50 mA)
Battery
Sanyo 3V RLITH-5
Capacitor (c)
Panasonic 5.5V a b d c

8. The Design Concept Video
Dramatization. Objects not to scale.

9. Proposed Component Diagram
Power collected from solar cell.
Energy stored in DC battery.
Simultaneously senses infrared signals and ground vibrations.
Sensor outputs directed to microcontroller.
Signal transmitted to central unit.

10. Application of the Lift Equation to Auto-Rotating Wings

11. Simplifying the Area
Equation of area in terms of the total length of the maple seed.
Constant wing shape in order to introduce a coef. that represents that common shape.
Combining these two equations and substituting a known area, length and width:

12. Obtaining the Final Equation
We now combine the approximated lift equation with the simplified area to get lift as a function of length
&
Note: CI= lift coef. , ρ= air density , ω= angular velocity

13. Optimization Center of Gravity Inside head
Maximizes use of entire wing length

14. Optimization Use rounded edges
Initial prototypes failed due to stress concentrations

15. Prototype Design

16. Prototype Design Detail
Exploded View
1 - Wing
2 - Solar Panel
3 - IR Sensor (2)
4 - Vibration Sensor
5 - Micro Controller
6 - Spine
7 - Head

17. Fused Deposition Modeling Prototype
Overall Length – 6.75”, Seed Length – 1.5”, Wing Width – 1.75”

18. Final Bill of Materials & Cost Analysis
Total Cost per Seed: $92.52

19. Future Plan In the next two weeks before final presentation:
WE ARE HERE
In the next two weeks before final presentation:
Final components decided upon
Cost analysis completed
Shape prototype will be completed and tested
Design ready for construction

20. References http://www.signalquest.com/sq-sen-200.htm

21. Acknowledgement
Dr. Jonathan Clark - FAMU/FSU College of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering
Use of the STRIDE Lab
Mr. Matt Christensen – Harris Corporation