Drew Samtmann's Portfolio - External Dual Facing Camera

External Dual Facing Camera

As my first major project that would contribute to the actual structure of the rocket, I worked as hard as I could to make this completely new camera system the best it could possibly be.

Project Type
Independent Work on College Design Team

Date
Feb. 2024 - April 2024

Progress
Completed

After solidifying the paint job process, I began looking for a new project that I could work on. This is when OLVT leadership gave me the green light to, as an independent project, create a new system that consisted of two small cameras pointing up and down along the side of the rocket air frame during flight to capture parachute deployment.

However with a launch less than two months away and needing to order parts that may not show up for weeks, I would be cutting it pretty close to get this done on time. After working on it for weeks trying to perfect it in as many ways possible, a member of OLVT leadership, two days before the launch said that the project would have to be scrapped and used for future launches because we still hadn’t come up with a way to program the cameras. I asked for one more day before scrapping it, and on that day I was able to Jerry-rig an old composite cable to a tv, strip the wires, then gently probe each cameras circuit board to receive a video signal that would allow me to program the cameras. Because of this, OLVT was able to launch a dual facing camera system on Skipper 1E twice and capture breathtaking footage of the launches, landings, and parachute deployment.

The design consists of a well on top for two RunCams to slide in back to back, a tray for the cameras’ circuit boards which were stacked on top of each other, and four countersunk holes for screws that secure the mount to the electronics bay which sits inside the switch band where it attaches. For power, my initial idea was to have it immediately power on, and start recording when it slides into the air frame by having two XT30 connectors line up with each other, but for several reasons, this idea was scrapped. Instead, wires to power each camera individually come out of the bottom and terminate into a JST connector that links to a lithium ion battery. However, in between the wire camera and the battery there is also a screw switch, allowing the camera to be turned on at the pad to conserve space and keep it’s temperature low.