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Chapter 1
[Excerpt from AirSwimmer Official Video]
Are you looking for some fun? Have you ever imagined that you can make a fish fly in the air? If your answer is “yes”, here is what you are looking for. This is a series of tutorials guiding you on how to build a Bluetooth-controlled flying fish from scratch.
Here is a video excerpt of the prototype designed and built by City University of Hong Kong:
[Excerpt from CityU EE Summer Camp Video]
Getting Started
There are two helium-gas-filled fish-shaped balloons and several Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) shown in the above figures. How would you relate these two things?
You probably know the answer – design an electronic system and mount it on the balloons, so that you can control the fish wherever you like.
Of course, the required components are not solely balloons and circuit boards. So, let’s get started with an overview.
NOTE: The components here are only for preliminary testing, instead of a full set. The detailed specification will be added in a later chapter.
Components List
Fish-shaped balloon:
1. Helium balloon as big as Air Swimmer x 1 (length: ~52 inches, height: ~32 inches, width: ~30 inches)
2. Helium gas
3. Double-sided adhesive foam tapes
4. Transparent adhesive tape
5. String
Circuit components used at the testing stage are listed here:
Now if you have all the components ready, let’s move on to the next step of motor testing with Arduino!
If you don't have them yet, or having difficulties in gathering all, just DON'T WORRY! You are free to make changes and try different things with what you have!
I'm sorry to pour cold water on what looks like a fun project, but...
Helium is a non-renewable resource and we are reaching the breaking point of the supply chain, filling baloons and just wasting it into space is not clever.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/05/24/humanity-is-thoughtlessly-wasting-an-essential-non-renewable-resource-helium/#621a657c29f8
Cheers
Comments
Add a commentSeptember 24, 2019 07:38
I'm sorry to pour cold water on what looks like a fun project, but...
Helium is a non-renewable resource and we are reaching the breaking point of the supply chain, filling baloons and just wasting it into space is not clever.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/05/24/humanity-is-thoughtlessly-wasting-an-essential-non-renewable-resource-helium/#621a657c29f8
Cheers