Condensed Knowledge... mmmmm....

Installing grunt, node and nvm on OSX

May07
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

I had problems using grunt with a project so i figured out the steps and outlined them here.

  1. Get nvm(node version manager) 
    1. curl https://raw.github.com/creationix/nvm/master/install.sh > install.sh
  2. Make the install script executable and run it 
    1. chmod +x install.sh
      ./install.sh
  3. Use nvmto install the latest node.js (0.10.5 at this time) 
    1. nvm install v0.10.5
  4. Use npm (node package manager) to install grunt-cli 
    1. sudo npm uninstall -g grunt
  5. Add grunt as a dependency to the project
    1. cd into your project directory
  6. npm install grunt@0.4.1 --save-dev

That’s it! All done!

Posted in Codez - Tagged , , , ,

Updates!

Apr09
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

Weight training

I am back to working out regularly and have lost some fat and gained several pounds of muscle. I’m so glad to be back in the gym. I almost forgot how happy it makes me to conquer different weights and challenges i pose for myself.

Some of my interesting stats:

  1. Bench press – 185 x 10 x 3
  2. Incline bench press – 135 x 10 x 4
  3. Angled leg press – 360 x 10 x4
  4. Deadlift – 135 x 10 x 4
  5. Squat – 185 x 10 x 4

Fun stuff

I also tried to go shooting yesterday. I got my girlfriend’s civic stuck in some very shallow soft sand. How embarassing. I guess the wind has been picking up a lot lately and my normal route was covered in 6 inches or so of very fine sand so I got stuck. We were able to get the car out after about an hour.

Car stuff

Olivia (my datsun 510) is pretty much done. I am going to be backfilling a lot of posts about it as i get some time. It’s going to take a while LOL. Tons of info and pictures of disassembling, upgrading and putting the engine back together. I still need to fix a few items before i take it back to the dyno for a serious tuning session. I think i want to go GTX3071r on that beast.

Travel

I’m on my way to Maui in 3 weeks. I really need a vacation!

Black Sky

Been reading a TON of info and I am happy to announce there will be some building happening soon! I’ll obviously post as I have cool stuff to put up.

kthxbai!

Posted in Uncategorized

Solar system rendering with OpenGL on OS X

Mar11
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

I tried looking at a few tutorials while I was on a plane flying out to North Carolina this weekend. I found that most tutorials were incomplete, didn’t properly explain what they were doing with each call or there were problems porting the code over to OS X. I took some basic calls that were being used and modified them to work on OS X (from a basic cube rendering tutorial that I read).

I was able to render the sun, the earth and the moon. The moon orbits the earth which orbits the sun. I am having trouble getting the colors to render on the planets though for some reason. I was able to figure out a few other things too, which are not mentioned anywhere from reading the OpenGL Super Bible. There is a method you can use as a callback for when a key is released (glutKeyboardUpFunc). Pretty handy if you want to move until a key is released.

As I get time I’ll continue updating the code and adding more stuff. I’ll add info here too the more that I learn. I haven’t made it to textures or lighting yet (but i think lighting may be one of the issues in regards to not having color on my spheres).

Bye!

Posted in Codez - Tagged , ,

OpenGL / C++ programming on the Mac

Mar06
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

I’ve been meaning to get back into programming with my favorite language. It’s been a really long time. When I say “my favorite programming language”, I’m referring to C++. I really miss using a strongly typed language. I miss includes. I miss header files, linked libraries and being able to control execution rather than writing a script that is run based on a url… because face it. Php is just a scripting language that is abused to act like an application on the web.

Last but not least. Can you guess the entire reason i even started programming?

If you said “to create games” then you would be correct. Well, you can’t very well create games in PHP. You can create web apps, sure, but you’re so limited. I like the free-range absolute awesomeness that is C. So here I am. Making a resolution to take another crack at C++ and have some fun doing it.

Back when I was writing C++, everything was text based and procedural. I aim to take what I have learned in the many years since then about event driven programming and apply it to future projects in C. I could never grasp pointers and graphics programming, but today i looked at some code and broke it down. I understood and it was not that hard. I think I have passed a milestone.

Wish me luck.

Posted in Codez - Tagged , , ,

Argh! I’m so out of shape…

Feb12
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

So I haven’t worked out in…. i actually don’t know how many months. 2 years ago I was 155lbs and bench pressing 4 reps of 285. I have been feeling like i really need to start working out again because I’ve been slacking for too long. I decided to pick a simple routine, that’s easy to follow and doesn’t take a lot of time to complete. I had some stipulations though, i needed something that was all or mostly compound exercises that incorporated most of, if not, the entire body.

I decided to start with the so called “300 workout” from menshealth.com.

I am starting off with lighter weight, less reps and plan to move up to the full workout within 3 weeks. Most likely I will be adding 10lbs to each exercise per week and continue above the 135lbs that they use for most of the exercises since last time i worked out, i was around 185 with each of those. I believe if I can complete the workout in a reasonable amount of time at or around 225lbs (4 x 45 plates) then I should be back at my old fitness level.

The plan from there is to move back to my old routine, which i will outline in another post. Without further ado, here are my (pitiful IMO) results:

  • Weight: 147lbs
  • Time to complete: 17:41
  • Wide grip pullups: 24
  • Dead lifts: 35 @ 115lbs
  • Push ups: 35
  • V-ups: 24
  • Floor wipers: 4 @ 115lbs
  • Kettle bell clean and press: 20 per arm @ 25lbs
  • Pull ups: 3

Kind of sad. I used to do floor wipers at the end of my workout with 135 and i could do 50+… it didn’t even make me tired, i remember wondering if it actually did anything LOL. My arms were so tired I couldn’t hold the weight up safely anymore, which is why i only did 4.

Posted in Working Out - Tagged , ,

Things I need to do

Feb11
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters
For Reference
  1. Read NFPA 1122: Code for Model Rocketry
    1. http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=1122
  2. Read NFPA 1127: Code for High Powered Rocketry
    1. http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=1127
  3. Keep a copy of this handy (for links)

Things to do now

  1. Apply for a BTAF low explosives use permit

Things to do later

  1. When the testing is completed, file an authorization with the FAA for air space
Posted in Black Sky

Altimeter / Accelerometer

Feb08
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

I’ve spent some time looking at how many altimeters work and deciding on a few different designs. I would like to record my speed and altitude through the whole flight. These are some parts I am considering for the altimeter.

Here are some drawbacks to the GPS method:

  1. There is a ceiling of 11 miles (58,080 feet)
  2. There is a speed barrier of 515 meters per second (1,152 mph)
  3. You must wait to acquire a signal prior to launch (~45s cold start)

The biggest issue I see is the ceiling… so it may make sense to either have the altimeter log both GPS and pressure readings or just pressure readings. I can cross-reference the data from the GPS and pressure to extrapolate a line to get a more accurate reading from of altitude though, so I am leaning towards both. The GPS module is only 24 grams, so it’s light.

Here are some items I have that I am going to try and use for the altimeter:

GPS:
EM-406A GPS Module (which I already have)

 

Pressure Sensor:
223-1098-1-ND Miniature pressure absolute sensor (down to .14psi!)

 

Microcontroller:
I picked up 10 of these: ATTINY24A-SSURCT-ND.

 

Memory (for logging):
I picked up 5 of these: 1265-1035-1-ND

Stay tuned for some drawings/schematics.

Posted in Black Sky

Imogen Heap @ Wired (Midi controller gloves?)

Feb08
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

Though this was pretty awesome. You can skip back to listen to her explain about them but i enjoyed the performance more, so i set it to start at the beginning of the performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6btFObRRD9k#t=812s

Posted in Cool Tech - Tagged , , , ,

Engine test rig sketches

Feb06
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

Here are some sketches and information about the test rig I’m designing. These are rough and I need to  figure out  how large of an engine it should accomodate prior to actually building it, but it should work fine.

Pressure Sensor
The pressure sensor I’m looking at is the Omega PX303-3KG5V. It boasts measurements from 0-1000psi with an output of 0.5-5.5v and should work well.

Data Capture
Data capture, processing will be handled by an Arduino ATMega256 unless i switch to an FPGA board or something else. I just want to use whatever is the best fit for the job, so I haven’t made a clear decision with this one yet. If I use the Arduino, I know i can throw something together in a day or two that will log data to an SD card or through the serial cable to a laptop and I’m already familiar with the Arduino. I would have to learn Verilog if I want to switch to an FPGA.

Construction
Originally I was going to use aluminum because of it’s strength to weigh ratio, but I can’t weld aluminum yet and steel is cheaper. Heavy(ish) gauge steel is cheap so I’ll probably just use that for now. Considering this is a rough first draft, design will likely change prior to implementation.

Measuring Thrust
Thrust will be changed into hydraulic pressure via a plate the engine will push against. The plate will transfer the pressure to a wheel cylinder from a car. The pressure on the wheel cylinder will (attempt to) compress the brake fluid, which will transfer pressure to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor will send a signal to the data capture device. The data capture device will start logging the sensor volage against time since first signal. This should give me a useable matrix of data that I can put into the data analysis program.

Data Analysis
Data analysis will be done using SciLab (open source for MatLab).

Fuel
For now, the fuel I am considering as the best possible choice is APCP. It’s (relatively) stable, easy to acquire and can be molded to whatever size I design.

Sketch of the assembled test rig

Sketch of the assembly process/individual parts

Posted in Black Sky - Tagged , , , ,

Project “Black Sky”

Feb06
2013 Written by Benjamin Walters

Ever since I was a child, I have built small model rockets and been interested larger liquid and solid fueled amateur rockets, aeronautics and their related fields. As I have grown up, my interests have shifted to loftier goals but all the while staying centered around the fields that initially sparked my interest in science/physics/aeronautics (and recently the possibility of ASTRONAUTICS).

I don’t think I am smarter than anyone else, I just think that I have taught myself a skill that colleges try to teach you. The entire point of the school system is to endow you with the tools required to teach you  one thing. How to learn. I feel that I have taught myself an efficient way of learning that stems mainly from the internet and public resources, such as books, libraries, etc. I try to apply this skill I have learned on my own to anything I am interested in; cars, programming, art, welding, rockets, math, etc.

A conceptual project that sparked a lot of discussion from me and my friend Jay is building an amateur rocket that can makes its way into space. There have been a lot of discussions between us that involve co workers, friends, family, and random people. Topics we’ve discussed have ranged from liquid vs solid fuels, testing engines/designs, data capture, guidance, legality, etc.

I have found myself at a point where I feel my knowledge, confidence and experience in the necessary fields/skills are high enough to actually start! The first step is to design and create an engine test rig to measure timed burns, specific impulse, thrust, etc. I came up with a rough design I am going to start refining and bang out some measurements to check it’s feasibility… then it’s on to the engine build process.

The name for the project (“Black Sky”) came to me while I was watching a video from the launch of the QU8K rocket and saw the sky change from a light blue to black as it pressed upward through the atmosphere. I love the idea of some day seeing a “black sky” from video captured from a rocket I have designed.

That’s pretty much it. I am going to start tagging/documenting the build process soon. This is basically an introduction to the project and statement of intent. So let it be known…. i’m gonna get it!

 

Posted in Black Sky
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