|
NiteBow
Projects
Steve's BSD Diab-Glo Amazing Photo by Steve Jurvetson |
|
This all started as a challenge and a bet , I was told that LEDS could not replace standard strobes lights in rockets for light launches. Now I worked with Large LED signs company's and not only saw that LED made great signs(TV's) , but would in the long run would also lighting our homes soon at a greatly reduced cost, SO I took that bet!!! Now Strobes are very easy to see , but had a bad problem if your moving at 400 to 600 mph and at 1 two 2 flashes a second, you spent most the time waiting to see where it at!!! So why not have some light on all the time and add different colors to add a little bits of PAZZZZZ!!!! So heres what I designed up "Nitebow I" .A Rainbow colored adapter for Night launches Can be viewed from 360 horizontal degrees with only (12) LEDS Can be seen for a mile! (I found it every time, without really looking very hard). Uses LED that are so bright, that DOT has approved them for Traffic lights and the FAA has approve them for Runway lighting. Using a PIC microprocessor to control the sequence of the LEDs and a adjustable resistor to set the sequence speed in the field. using the Micro helped on the battery usage to the point of lasting over 4 hours on a single 9 volt battery. The hard part is getting clear tubing that matches any type a rocket airframe! Original NiteBow I in Action!
Has Reached 1 mile heights at Turkey Shoot, Springfest! Was the only Night Launch at Balls 2003, altimeter reading was 5480 feet and was clearly seen, in fact, I had many offers of motors to fly it on again ! |
|
NiteBow II Uses a fiberglass airframe to diffuse the LEDS and makes it viewable from all angles, it uses the latest in Intelligent LEDs . A real rainbow of colors and has been tracked 3/4 of a mile in a High wind (25 to 30mph) then recovered within 10 min.
This is a 38mm extender Version, with 18 LEDS with (1) 9v. battery
This is a 98mm extender Version, with 40 LEDS and 10 LEDS on the cone.
38mm NiteBow II UFO
38MM UFO Fly's and has Closure Failure @ TurkeyShoot 2005
then the High winds got it and slammed it into a trailer pole Click picture for a movie of it or
NiteBow III Use the same type intelligent LEDs only more mcd output and a large package ( now 10mm). After talking and showing a few friends some of the things that were now possible , I start to build a Night launch rocket that both the upper (nose cone) and booster would light up. Now working for BSD , I had allot of parts and pick the Diablo make, Having special Bulkplate and Centering rings made so I could use them like PC boards. Mounting the LED into the BP and CR and limiting resistors, they would be installed with (1) clear (lexan) CR . Just as a little add extra used (1) LED to each fin side, shining down along the fin center. Time to Test.
A few short test in Orangeburg, SC, on I357 and I220 Skid with perfect flights, so the next thing I knew was it was a product for BSD High Powered Rocketry and the First Night launch kit available on the market. Only 100 kits were made and all sold out in 2 months.
A 4" x 3' Night flyer for BSD rocketry called " Diab-Glo"
HEXER ( NiteBow IV ) OK in the past I have built many Night critters, some small
and a few HPR's, alot of Saucers ( all personal ) and a rocket that got to
production ( BSD's Diab-Glo ). I keep helping other with LEDs I have or helped
developed, all are Higher powered outputs( all the better ) and use them in
different ways for viewablity ( projected and reflective), now I use both to
gain the best viewing and sat down with the first Nitebow I proto type and
improved it with alot better software and drivers that could handle more LEDS (
5 amps worth ).
Is their a NiteBow 5? YES, and this one will be a product, SOON!
Night lauches were always lame with stobes and single LEDS, NEVER AGAIN!
|
