Senormodeler
- Jun 25, 2014
- 12
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2014
- Messages
- 12
Hi,
I have an idea for a project that I'd like to get help with, but I'm not an electronics builder of any kind. This forum seems to be filled with very smart, very creative people, so I thought I'd bring my idea here and ask for guidance.
I'm building a model of the Voyager Space probe (http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/has/kit_has_54002.shtml) and I thought it would be cool if the model sat on a digital counter that tells you the current distance that Voyager is from Earth. So it would be a counter that is constantly running. I did a quick search online and I didn't find anything like this already.
I think the constraints of the project are:
1.) what kind of digital display is it? LED, digital, etc. I kind of like the idea of old school red digital numbers. Kind of like this: http://www.shopvoxx.com/product/rca...qfHSYL4T5NFpIlDzZRVAoNpR5ikv2DrIqpThXSFPw_wcB
But i'm not sure how easy or hard that is.
2.) The bigger issue is probably how you make it possible for the number to get larger and larger without running out of space. Obviously, Voyager is far away and getting farther. So how do you convey that through the digital counter without it being limited by how far it gets. Meaning, how do you make it so that this thing can keep running as long as it's powered and not have a cap.
3.) Also, I would want to be able to plug in a starting number that approximates the current distance at the time that the counter is activated so that it is somewhat accurate (giver or take a few hundred miles).
4.) Should it be AC or DC powered? If it's AC, then I don't have to worry about changing batteries, which of course would mean that the counter would be interrupted, and I'd have to reset distance and make sure it's accurate again. Sounds silly, but it would be great if I didn't have to do this.
So, I have no idea how to build this, and really don't have the skills. I'm good with models, and building things in general, but ideally I'd find someone here that is interested in collaborating with me on this. I'd of course pay a nominal fee for parts and labor. This is a gift for my wife, who's a bit of a sci-fi nerd like me.
If interested, please let me know your thoughts or ideas!
Thanks.
J
I have an idea for a project that I'd like to get help with, but I'm not an electronics builder of any kind. This forum seems to be filled with very smart, very creative people, so I thought I'd bring my idea here and ask for guidance.
I'm building a model of the Voyager Space probe (http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/has/kit_has_54002.shtml) and I thought it would be cool if the model sat on a digital counter that tells you the current distance that Voyager is from Earth. So it would be a counter that is constantly running. I did a quick search online and I didn't find anything like this already.
I think the constraints of the project are:
1.) what kind of digital display is it? LED, digital, etc. I kind of like the idea of old school red digital numbers. Kind of like this: http://www.shopvoxx.com/product/rca...qfHSYL4T5NFpIlDzZRVAoNpR5ikv2DrIqpThXSFPw_wcB
But i'm not sure how easy or hard that is.
2.) The bigger issue is probably how you make it possible for the number to get larger and larger without running out of space. Obviously, Voyager is far away and getting farther. So how do you convey that through the digital counter without it being limited by how far it gets. Meaning, how do you make it so that this thing can keep running as long as it's powered and not have a cap.
3.) Also, I would want to be able to plug in a starting number that approximates the current distance at the time that the counter is activated so that it is somewhat accurate (giver or take a few hundred miles).
4.) Should it be AC or DC powered? If it's AC, then I don't have to worry about changing batteries, which of course would mean that the counter would be interrupted, and I'd have to reset distance and make sure it's accurate again. Sounds silly, but it would be great if I didn't have to do this.
So, I have no idea how to build this, and really don't have the skills. I'm good with models, and building things in general, but ideally I'd find someone here that is interested in collaborating with me on this. I'd of course pay a nominal fee for parts and labor. This is a gift for my wife, who's a bit of a sci-fi nerd like me.
If interested, please let me know your thoughts or ideas!
Thanks.
J