INFORMATION QUEST

This is a new category of help request, akin to the CDTs of recent issues but more research-related. I will periodically ask for specific information about various subjects that affect subsequent design decisions. In many cases, such questions will be directed to the relevant project group, but since we don't actually HAVE any of those yet, this is a way to get some research started...

As with the CDTs, if you want to take on one of these just send me a note and I'll confirm the assignment. At this point, since we're not into serious projects yet, the only motives are education and getting involved (and getting credited in these reports, of course!). Also, since these are more research-related, they are not limited to students here at UCSD...

--> Can someone, preferably with automotive interest or background, start finding out what standards and laws exist that govern trailering? Specifically, we need to know the following: o Is 8'6" width now OK in all 50 states? All roads? Canada? o What wheel dia/width is spec'd as a function of weight? o What about hitch size and other specs? In addition, I'd like to know what kind of issues we face by attempting to make it a 4-wheeler when the "landing gear" are deployed, specifically with regard to turning. We could do 2 wheels, but that doubles the stress on the aft bulkhead and greatly increases tongue weight.

--> I need someone to research the names "Tufram" and "Everslide," both of uncertain spelling (HINT: that's what Soundex codes are for in the TUS Trademark database). Dave Berkstresser mentioned these some time ago as special kinds of anodizing processes for aluminum that contain teflon and resist marine corrosion. Is this true? Who does it? What other surface treatments can be applied to various metals to marinize them? Questions like this can sometimes be most cheaply answered with a few phone calls to vendors (incidentally, please report any phone or other out-of-pocket expenses -- we'll reimburse you).

--> Are you interested in the pneumatic system? If so, one of the first questions involves the P-V calculations, including the stresses encountered in raising internal cabinet pressures to a few PSI above ambient. This is a good job for someone who has just been through the theory course on all this: how will ambient temperature change affect pressure, what kind of CFM and duty cycle specs will we need on the pump, how big a reservoir is needed, is having a Schrader valve for bicycle pump backup even remotely realistic given the volume involved, can all enclosures be effectively decoupled via check valves without confusing the data collection, and what pressure range do we need to spec on the transducers that monitor it all? I have a McMaster catalog here once this gets to hardware issues, but first we need some theory!
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SATELLITE WEATHER IMAGES
I need more data on this, but an article in the latest Ocean Navigator suggests that direct reception of TIROS weather satellite images (in addition to the planned HF weatherfax) may be realistic for the Microship. They transmit around 137 MHz, and a turnstile antenna for high-angle gain, coupled with a suitable demodulator and PC software, could give us real-time images of the area we're in. I can already acquire weather maps and abstracted, enhanced data via the Accu-Weather Forecaster software on the Mac, though at sea it will involve the cost of a connect path to a dial-up service. More on this as it develops... today I read up on the various weather fax and satellite receiver products and found a number of choices.