College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences

EGR 476C - PROJECT DESIGN PROCEDURES

NASA ORION Heat Shield Spectrometer
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Project Description
Problem Definition
Proposal Phase
Detailed Design Phase
Integration and Testing
Final Product
Team Members

Activities:

Multiple checkpoints have been agreed upon for the successful implementation of this project’s scope. Preliminary stages of the project cover topics such as research of the technology used as well as research into the physics of spectral analysis. MATLAB plays a crucial role in interfacing with the provided optical hardware. Part research has also presented new challenges for end product design and layout. In the early stages of the project, consultation with NASA our representative has helped anchor our understanding of the challenges we would face.

Milestones:

Research project technologies and end goal.

Completed
Research and select a micro spectrometer.

Completed
Verify proper operation and communication with Spectrometer in MATLAB over USB.

Completed
Replicate operation and communication in MATLAB over RS232.

Completed
Design FPGA / EPLD logic layout and identify necessary components.

Completed
Research and Identify flight-ready logic components required for data collection.

Completed
Locate prototyping clones of flight hardware for initial fabrication and hardware testing. Completed

Tools:

Our team has been provided one Ocean Optics STS micro spectrometer. To interface with this device, RS232 conversion cables have been provided as well as a custom RS232 breakout cable to provide 5.0V power to the device. NAU provided oscillators, wave form generators and power supplies have been necessary for testing device operation as well as remote signal simulation.