Space Sweeper

GitHub

https://github.com/Rebecca-J7/Space-Sweeper

Inspiration

• Space Junk - unused or forgotten satellite modules in space still orbiting Earth
• Accumulation of space junk potentially leads to cascading collisions
• Collision with space debris causes damage to operation satellites, posing a risk to spacecraft and astronauts

Why It is Important

• The module will help identify and remove masses of space junk
• Helps reduce the Kessler Syndrome - where the chain of reaction collisions in earth’s orbit creates space debris that makes orbit unusable
• Similar implementation could be done to tackle waste build-up on earth

What Our Project Does

• Scans for the nearest object /trash
• Travels towards that trash while continuously scanning for more trash/objects
• Sweeps up the object/trash
• Mission Accomplished! We made more space in space!

How we built it

• Arduino Kit
• Arduino IDE
• Cardboard, tape, straws

Challenges we ran into

• Getting the motion sensor and motor to work at the same time
• Figuring out how to turn the vehicle
• Assembling the module: how to move and balance the vehicle with only one motor

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

• Implemented code to have the motion sensor and motor to work fluidly w/o hindrances
• Implemented code to have the module detect the closest object and steer towards it
• Created components/parts of the module from scratch (cardboard, tape, straws, etc.)

What we learned

• The different pros and cons of different motors: we had to choose wisely which motor to use for different functions
• Being efficient with our motors (1 for straight movement, 1 for detecting direction changes)
• Our first time creating a sensor-driven vehicle with Arduino!

What's next for Space Sweeper

• Implement GPS to track the positions of objects/junk
• Figure how this would transfer to a floating/flying component

Tracks we're joining:

• Best Hardware
• Most On Theme
• Most Sustainable
• 1st Overall
• 2nd Overall
• 3rd Overall

Built With

• arduino
• c++