Hello All,
Sorry if the post is not in the correct section.
I'm newbies and the only things I know it's how to make led with arduino.
I have a project for my weeding, I would like to know if I can launch lantern like thailand festival with arduino.
I would like to create robot or articulated arm with motor ( need to make around 50 articulated arm for this project ) to get up the lantern above the flame and release it after time defined ( 30s or 1min I don't know I need test )
The flame will be on the ground, I will create many torche with little jar and alcool, I can turn on all the flame manually but I cannot release all the lantern by my self in the same.
I will be alone just me My wife and pastor for this private weeding and I would like to launch around 50 lantern.
Use a small solenoid to release each lantern or group of lanterns. The solenoids could be controlled by a Nano with some I2C expaders like the MCP23017 16 bit expander and MOSFETs to handle the current required by the solenoids. You would need 4 MCP23017 chips to control 50 solenoids. Connect a Bluetooth module to the Arduino so that a phone could be used to actuate the launch.
Sorry to be precise I'am on north of Paris. Wind can be yes big problem but I would like to prepare everything to do it. I will change the date if Too much wind.
No not in same time but I can say around 15s gap between each or group of lantern.
What I need it's help about arm articulate or another automatic system.
I saw many articulate arm in aliexpress but I'am not sure how to proceed and if there is not another and better solution.
The problem that is the lantern must be in up position to fly so I must found a system to maintain the lantern.
for diameter I will check this in second time, there is lot of diameter available.
If I understand this correctly, the heat source stays on the ground. Meaning the moment the lantern lifts it no longer has a heat source to continue feeding the lantern lift. Furthermore, there isn't any weight at the bottom to keep the lantern in its upright position. This allows the top half of the lantern to be heavier than the bottom. There is more material on the top half.
I predict the lantern will roll over and fall to the ground within 30 seconds, depending on ambient air temp and wind conditions. Adding streamers to the bottom like a kite would help. However, that would limit your flight time even further.
Buy 1 lantern and verify your idea will work to your satisfaction before you go further. Once you are satisfied with that, we can discuss a launch system.
For what it's worth, I'm envisioning 3D printing a base ring tethered to the bottom of the lantern with monolithic fishing line. Develop a system that holds the ring and release it with a servo or solenoid.
The more you release at once, the fewer components you need to buy, the fewer DIOs you will require, etc., but the more complicated the mechanical portion may become.
Search the web for e-match or model rocket igniter. Lots of DYI on youtube. You could ignite them 5 at a time with a 12V battery. You would have them all lit in about 15 seconds. That's a lot of wire though.
The tube is not a bad idea. Attach a loose paper loop on the top of the lantern and have a dowel hold it up. Use a servo to remove the dowel and up it goes.
