The University of Arizona chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UASEDS) formed a team of five individuals to submit a proposal for the Space Grant sponsored “Grant Us Space” program. This program is within NASA's Reduced Gravity program. Our proposal focused on testing a liquid lens in a microgravity environment. Liquid lenses can be used for a variety of purposes in areas where fast lens actuation is necessary, or where a less mechanical-intensive structure is desired. In mid-March, our proposal was selected, and we have been working steadily ever since.
During the month of April, our team focused on finalizing a design and determining the proper structure to hold our experiment. After speaking with Dr. Su Xu from the University of Central Florida (an individual who has published many papers on the subject), it was determined that the best liquid lens design for our purposes involved a two-fluid chamber with ferrofluid actuation. Dr. Xu published a paper with a similar design. In this design, the liquid lens aperture is 4 mm to avoid dealing with the effect of gravity. Since gravity is our primary concern, we decided to scale up this lens structure to a 15-25 mm aperture.
Just this past week, Kevin, Nathan, and Kyle spent some time in the machine shop constructing a liquid lens structure (picture below). The structure, when completed, will hold two fluids in the center where the differing diameters represent the area were the two fluids will go. The diagonal chamber will hold the ferrofluid and provide the actuation, changing the pressure in one chamber, creating a “lens” at the fluid-fluid interface.
This structure allows for an aperture as large as 19 mm. With the generous material donation from Dr. Xu from UCF, we should have all the materials we need to finish this lens structure and test its performance by early next week.
We are getting into finals week here at the University of Arizona, but progress will continue on validating the liquid lens structure and ensuring the SCOTS test will work as expected. The experiment’s structure and electronics are also another top priority. More information on these components will follow.
We are getting into finals week here at the University of Arizona, but progress will continue on validating the liquid lens structure and ensuring the SCOTS test will work as expected. The experiment’s structure and electronics are also another top priority. More information on these components will follow.
Posted by Kyle Stephens