A graduate and his job/hobby

Daniel Vagg

Work: System Architect | Parameter Space

Hobby: UAV to stratosphere

Yes, this could be you.

Presentation Overview

 

  • My background
     
  • Parameter Space
  • What I do
  • Why we do it
     
  • The Glider
  • The prototype
  • How it works
  • The plan!
     
  • The end

3 min

4-5 min

15 min (TOTAL)

3-5 min

20 min (TOTAL)

2 min

Background

  • Graduated BSc (Hons) Physics with Computing in 2011
    • 2 Internships (they are important)




       
  • Graduated MSc (Hons) Physics specialising in Space science and technology
     
  • Working in Parameter Space for ~ two years

 FeedHenry

  • Cloud computing
  • Also first glider 

 ESA

  • Data analysis
  • Solar flares

Parameter Space

  • Building a data analysis platform for Gaia

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Gaia will detect and analyse a billion stars
  • It creates a lot of data: > Petabyte
  • One Petabyte:
    • Put it on DVDs and stack them = 267.6m
    • Eiffel tower = 301m

Parameter Space

What I do (System Architect)

The Glider

  • High altitude videos = cool
  • Figured glider = better video
  • So...
    • I designed that
    • Tested it..
    • Flew it & Lost it (2nd time around)
       
  • CV stands out now
  • It was hugely satisfying
  • Rewarding in a few ways

Showing off its brains

My old phone..

 

Parachute release motor too

Ready to fly

Parachute

HD Camera

The problem with Ireland (illustrated)

The problem.

The Glider

Improved..

The Glider

Improved..

TWO WAY RADIOS

The Glider

How it works (overview)

  1. Rise
  2. Release
  3. Glide - Track
  4. Parachute
  5. Recovery

Weather balloon

3rd party payload

Better glider

The Glider

How it works (tech)

  • GPS
  • 6-axis sensor
  • Radio
  • Micro-controller
  • RaspberryPi

The Glider

The plan!

  • Reach stratosphere
     
  • Sing goodbye song to payload
    • (record it)
  • Release from payload
    • (record that too)
       
  • Track the other payload for a position
  • Fly toward that position
  • Send telemetry ALL THE TIME
     
  • Ignore all oceanic desires
  • Get home

Review of previous slides..

My current job:

  • Required:
    • Work experience
    • Space science masters
  • Opportunity was created at the end of the degree

The glider:

  • Required:
    • No degrees/experience - learned as I went
  • Did it because it was an interesting idea
     
  • Benefit:
    • Mentioned/Discussed in almost every interview
    • It's interesting, and demonstrates ideas/thought
      • Temperature gradients, heat capacity, understanding technology (GPS)
      • Interviewers love that
    • Nothing stopping anyone from doing something similar
      • In fact, you will all be doing something similar

The point:

  • Primary -> Secondary -> Third level -> ?
    • Education is a means to an end (approaching)
  • Reach out of comfort zone
    • You are in a good position to expand your knowledge
    • Space science is VERY broad, and almost entirely complimentary
  • Consider:
    • Expected lifetime
    • Home planet
    • A.I.
    • Detected life
  • Think big - you're capable of more than ...

The END

Thank you for your time

Summary: You can do it too

Name: Daniel Vagg

Email: daniel.vagg@gmail.com

It is well known that a vital ingredient of success is not knowing that what you're attempting can't be done

UCD Seminar

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