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Version: FILS English

Radu: Measuring the Speed of Light

Radu: Measuring the Speed of Light in a 6x1 setup.

info

Author: Sainenco Luchian (1221C)
GitHub Project Link: https://github.com/UPB-PMRust-Students/project-LucaSain

Description

In 1850s Fizeau measured the speed of light in a 8km setup using a gear. The key point of the measurement was that the light would travel the distance from the source and back slower than the aperture of the gear. Today, using high reflectivty mirrors, electrical motors and high precision laser cutting we can repeat Fizeau in a 3x1m setup.

Project Development Blog: LucaSain's Blog

Motivation

I went to ELI-NP Winter school and I enojyed the labs we had there so I decided to build my own "lab application" to measure the speed of light just like Fizeau did in 1850 but using modern technologies.

Architecture

Radu

Main Functionality

  • 200mW 640nm Laser releases a beam
  • The beam passes through the aperture of an aluminium disk
  • The aluminium disk is rotating at about 7000rpm by an electrical engine (calibrated using PID)
  • Next the beam reflects off a setup of high reflectivity mirrors
  • Using a final mirror, the beam is reflected back the path and through the aperture
  • A diode detects the intensity of the laser beam and is used to sample a signal
  • By analysing the discrete signal the speed of light can be computed

We distinguish three main components:

  • Control panel (interface)
  • Control systems
    • Motor control (PID)
    • Optics control

More about these in the hardware part

Log

Week 5 - 11 May

  • Tested the LLM capabiltiy and changed the project theme.
  • Theoretical setup and architecture for the actual project.

Week 12 - 18 May

  • Tested the disc with a VFD. Won the the first place at SCSS FILS ETTI with the experimental setup.
  • Tried to build a AC driver circuit for the motors.
  • Found a decent DC motor and driver (thanks to RoboBadgers). Will replace the second PID laser sensor with a Hall sensor.
  • 3D design the case for the dashboard. (tbd by Tuesday)
  • 3D design holders for the small calibrating mirrors. (tbd by Monday)
  • Print the hardware to integrate the DC motor into the Grinder case.
  • Ordered a new laser because the old one burned during the experimental setup.
  • Designed holders for the high reflectivity mirrors.
  • Add pictures with the Diode Amp Circuit. (tbd on Monday)
  • Add pictures with the mirror setup. (tbd on Monday)

Week 19 - 25 May

  • Setup the Motor Control via PID by Tuesday
  • Setup the Laser Optics Setup by Tuesday
  • Setup the Signal Capturing using the esp32 by Wednesday
  • Build the Dashboard by Friday
  • Wireless connectivity by Sunday (ESP-NOW and WiFi)
  • MQTT data transfer by Sunday

Hardware

The hardware will be built around three chips made by espressiff.

Control Panel Component

Control Panel

This is the control panel for the whole setup.

  • Two 4 digit common anode display will be used to display the measured and the theoretical RPM for the motor.
  • One potentiometer will be used to manipulate the speed of the motor.
  • Two potentiometers will control the calibrating mirrors.
  • One pair of switch + button (+ led for status) will arm and control the power status of the motor.
  • Another pair (+ led for status) will arm and control the power status of the laser.
  • The LCD display will show the signal captured through the diode.
  • Everything driven by the ESP32-Wroom.

Motor Control

This is the Motor System.

  • A high power H-bridge will drive the motor
  • A power supply is needed (aluminium disk at 7000 rpm will eat some juice) A grinder can be powered directly by AC. A dimmer circuit is needed
    • I no longer have a VFD. Tried to build my own VFD, the bought IC was broken. Ordered a dimmer circuit with pwm control and got a good DC motor.
  • A small power laser and diode detector will be used to measure the real speed of the motor A Hall sensor can be used here for more accuracy.
    • A closed loop is thus created, making PID control possible.
  • Everything driven by the ESP32-S2.

Optics Control

This is the Optics Control System.

  • A Class 3B (250mW) laser is used as a beam source (a class 3 B laser is dangerous. Wear protecting glasses when it's running).
  • Stationary high reflectivity mirrors (about 98% reflected intensity) will reflect the ray back and forth
  • Mobile high reflectivity mirrors will be used to focus the beam back into the aperture (calibration will be done manually).
  • Diode detector will be used to focus the beam onto the detector diode.
  • Everything driven by the ESP32-Wroom

Schematics

Op amp diode circuit Disc cad file Disc 3d view file 1 Disc 3d view file 2

Bill of Materials

DeviceUsagePrice
ESP32-WROOM (x2)Controllers36RON
ESP32-S2Controllers13.07RON
High Reflectivity MirrorsMirros for increased optical path90.25RON
Class 3B laserLaser ray68RON
4 Digit LED Common Anode (x2)Display the measured and theoretical speed of the motor3.95RON
Push button with holdStart/stop the laser/motor2.77RON
ON/OFF SwitchArm/Disarm the laser/motor1.99RON
Relay moduleArm/Disarm the motor power supply7.99RON
SG90 Servo (x4)Manipulate the calibration mirrors12RON
Potentiometers (x5)Set the speed of motor/manipulate the mirrors calibration1.49RON
Red laser moduleMotor Speed Measurement2.99RON
Photodiodes (x2)Motor Speed Measurement and Sampling of the signal??? Searching for this
High Power H-BridgeMotor Control99RON
DC 7000 rpm motor/(or Makita Grinder)Rotation of the aluminium disksponsored by RoboBadgers
Aluminium diskRotation of aperturesFree, Recycled
5V DC Power SupplyClass 3B Laser Power SupplyFree, Recycled
Motor DriverMotor Speed PWM controlsponsored by RoboBadgers
Red LED (x2)Motor and laser statusFree, Recycled

Software

sofwarepurposedocumentation
esp-idf-hal/esp-halesp32 based-devices haldocumentation
pidpid control for motor rpmdocumentation
esp-wifi/esp-wifi-syswifi and esp-now bindingsdocumentation
minimqmqtt librarydocumentation

Inspiration

  1. LLM on ESP32, IT'S POSSIBLE
  2. Fizeau Experiment

Extra References

  1. InfluxDB
  2. RabbitMQ