My Design

I created the design for the world's first digitally-controlled heliograph using the 3D modelling program AutoDesk. AutoDesk generously provided me with a free student license. I based my design on drawings and photos of the old heliographs, but modified to use an Arduino micro-controller to convert text to pulses that were sent to a relay, which then controlled a solenoid to tilt the mirror and send pulses of light to a distant target.

I used a tilting mirror design, rather than a shutter design, because I thought it would require fewer parts.