Gryffindor

No prototype developed

https://youtube.com/shorts/GqrYsX5e6aA?feature=share

Parkulater -Xplore and Xperience the Sun

Introduction

           Aiming to touch the Sun, NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe, the first of its kind, where the spacecraft which is the size of a small car is moving through the Sun's atmosphere opening the scope for a vast range of discoveries. ' Parkulater ' - the Parker Simulator is a web app which simulates the structure of solar system and other celestial bodies ,solar events , satellites etc. which specially focuses on the Parker Solar Probe , it's journey through space and conveys the data and other information received from the Parker to the users in an interactive manner. The app has a wide variety of features that enable the users to understand these data in a very simple manner. The ' Parkulater Pen' is another important part of this project  which generates 3D simulations or holograms in our rooms, presentation halls etc. without having the need to connect to a laptop or any other device.This project proves its significance by having an appreciable role in reducing global warming and climate effects. 

Parkulater

           Wide varieties of data are received from the Parker Solar Probe regarding the different activities like solar flares,solar storms etc. and about the Sun's atmosphere, which are a bit difficult for at least the common people to interpret and understand. Parkulater is a web application that simulates the solar system in a 3D manner where the positions and other details of different celestial bodies and planets ,satellites etc.can be tracked in real-time. The app focuses primarily on Parker Solar Probe and its data while the ' Solar Orbiter 'and other satellites can also be located using the app.The app allows real-time tracking of Parker, Solar Orbiter, other planets, Sun etc., ,can view different solar phenomena like solar flares, solar storms etc in a simple manner and multimedia effects are also available which helps to experience those solar events with audio, hologram visuals and vibrations etc.,the details of which are given below:

Above given is a sample UI of the proposed project. Different features available in this web application are described below:

1.Filters

Several filters are available in this application that allows the users to analyse position and other factors of different celestial bodies. Filters allows to enable or disable the sun ,moon ,planets, asteroids, meteorites , comets, satellites, orbits and trajectories of satellites etc. Users can also enable or disable different solar phenomena like solar wind ,Sun spots ,solar eclipse, solar flares, solar storms etc. This helps the users to focus on the specific feature they want to view ,for example they can enable solar storms and disable other filters if they want to focus only on solar storms. There are also options to enable different layers and structure of the Sun like corona, photosphere ,chromosphere and so on. These layers will be depicted using different textures and colours. Another option is available to view the different temperature regions of the Sun where each range of temperature will be represented by different coloured bands. The link given below is a sample model of how the app will be looking like:

https://theskylive.com/parkersolarprobe-tracker

Note: this is a model from theskylive.com to depict how the Parkulater app will look like after development is completed.

2.Track Parker Solar Probe

This feature helps to track Parker solar Probe in real time. In addition to providing the current position and other details of this spacecraft users can also get the details of this spacecraft between specific date and time range. Double clicking on any of the objects like satellites or planets will give small capsules of information about that particular object.

3.Parker's Journey

This tab provides a video like animation of the journey of Parker solar Probe .It also gives the basic information about the Parker solar Probe's structure ,its launching ,working and other obstacles this spacecraft faced in its journey through the space etc.

4.Track Solar Orbiter

Even though the app focus mainly on Parker solar Probe, it also provides the feature to track the position and other important information about the 'Solar orbiter'

5.Calculate

This option helps to calculate the distance between two objects, its velocity and other important parameters.

6.Solar Activities

This feature helps the users to observe different solar phenomena like solar wind, solar storms, Sun spots, coronal mass ejection,solar flares etc. in detail.These phenomena will be depicted using animations and different colours ( for eg: solar wind will be depicted like wind rays, sun spots will be depicted as dark black coloured spots and similar animations will be used for each phenomena).The data from the Parker Solar Probe will be processed using suitable algorithms which will generate respective animation for that particular event in the app UI . The data from these satellites , telescopes and other resources will be processed appropriately to generate movie like video of a particular solar activity or behaviour of the Sun between a specific date and time range as per the user's choice .

7.Multimedia options

This is one of the core features of the app.The solar events can be experienced through visuals ,audio and by touch also. The solar phenomena and other details can be viewed in 3D animations in this web app which gives a good visual experience.This project focuses on providing the same experience and opportunities to get knowledge about the sun and other celestial bodies equally to common people and differently abled people. The solar wind ,storms etc. can be experienced as audio for visually impaired people. The data from Parker are processed using necessary algorithm to generate sounds that increases with increasing speed and intensity of the solar wind and storms and vise-versa,thus recreating the roar of the solar winds. An option that reads aloud the data present on the screen about the particular object in focus is also added .

For people that are both visually impaired and deaf, the app provides features to experience the solar phenomena by touch. This is enabled through the use of a smart pen called 'Parkulater Pen' which is explained further in detail .Parkulater Pen is a kind of smart pen which is generated using suitable IC or microcontroller which has sensors and components that produce vibrations. On placing the tip of the pen on the app ,the pen scans the data of that particular point on that particular celestial object and recognise the solar phenomena and will produce vibrations accordingly. Different patterns of vibrations will be predefined for different kind of solar phenomena and according to its intensity and other parameters. A user who is both blind and deaf can feel those vibrations from the pen and recognise accordingly which solar phenomena is happening and at what level.

8.More research

This a kind of repository where more research papers and other detailed info about different space missions from authorised sources are added. Users interested to read in more detail about different missions can use this option.

9.Additional options

This app also provides the feature to send alerts to users , specific agencies etc. on the occurrence of a particular solar event through mails and other means if they wish to receive such alerts.See ' Impacts and Future Scope 'sections to know more.

Parkulater Pen

This is another important part of the project . It is a kind of smart pen which can project and generate the 3D simulation of solar system by itself and also generate vibrations .

The Upper part contains a lid as normal pens have and this part is the part that generates vibrations . The bottom part is the part generating 3D simulations which also has a projector.

On removing the lid, we can see the vibratory part that vibrates according to solar phenomena. This figure shows the different buttons present on the body of the pen.

Working : The Parkulater Pen is made up of suitable IC or microcontroller and sensors and other components that produce vibrations. A user who is both blind and deaf can use this pen to feel vibrations according to different solar phenomena. On removing the lid of the pen , we can see the vibratory part and when the user touches the screen of a laptop or computer on this Parkulater web app, it scans that particular point on that particular celestial body. The different data like position, velocity and other different parameters of each point on a celestial object is recorded as alphanumeric codes in a database (eg: AWS). Each alphanumeric code will be categorised on a range or band according to its magnitude , intensity and other parameters etc and specific vibration patterns will be predefined for each range of alphanumeric codes . When the user scans a celestial object with this part of the pen, it recognises the alphanumeric code of that point and it will produce the corresponding vibration pattern. Thus the user can sense the vibration pattern and understand which solar activity is occurring and at what intensity.

The bottom part of the pen has a different function.It is used for generating a real 3D like experience of the solar system. The projector present at the end of the pen will project the solar system in 3D or like a hologram in a room like halls, presentation rooms etc . without having the need to connect to a computer laptop or any other device.The different buttons present on sides of the pen are :

X- power button. Switches on /off the pen.

A- Audio button

MU - Menu button

R,L,T,B - right,left, top ,bottom

The pen is designed to use for blind and deaf persons. On switching on the pen(X) button, the pen will be switched on . It will project the app on the walls of a room. MU button will activate the menu button as on the parkulater app. And all the features of the app can be used by navigating to different options using the R,L,T,B buttons. The A buttion is for switching on audio -it can read aloud the informative messages about the celestial objects and also generate sounds according to the solar wind, storms etc. just like the web app does, thus enabling the pen to be easily usable for blind person also . And for person who is both blind and deaf,of course the other side of the pen will give vibrations to experience those phenomena.

The pen also has a charging port which charges with AC current.

Advantages of Parkulater Pen:

1. Pen works independently without having the need to connect to a computer or laptop or any other device.

2.Pen is very small in size and designs simple and hence portable to carry. In places where you cannot carry computer or laptop, you can carry this pen and have the same experience as the web app.

3. Pen is very simply designed with minimal no. Of buttons.

4. With this pen blind ,deaf and people who are both blind and deaf will have the same experience.

Tools Used : Blender can be used for 3D simulation of the solar system

Impacts and Future Scope:

This project helps to convey the data from Parker and other spacecraft to the public and also for the speciallly abled people alike in a simple and user friendly manner. The data can be used to alert public and concerned agencies in advance about upcoming events and Carrington events.The irradiance data can be used to find out where soalar radiation is more and hence find out regions having greater chance of ozone depletion and helps to take preventive measures for global warming.It also helps to find out places where solar radiation will be in abundance on earth and accordingly industries and public can plan the locations to deploy solar panels with more accuracy and hence give greater productivity .

The data from Parker Solar Probe is used to provide real-time tracking experience to users. Those data is also used to generate 3d animations and audio and vibrational effects for different solar activities.The data from Nasa SDO site (reference :7) is used for time filtered animation movies of solar behaviour.

My first hackathon and was really fantastic experience.Could gather lots of info about Parker and other solar missions.Parker is the first ever mission to touch the sun and sun is one of the unexplored regions of the space. Parker's journey will be leading to significant discoveries which will be quite mysterious and mysterious nature inspired me to select this challenge. Had to face lot of hurdles like lack of time, not having a computer to work on etc. But this hackathon gave me a chance to bring the best out of myself.

1.https://theskylive.com/parkersolarprobe-tracker

2.https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/spaceweather/index.html

3.https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/iris/multimedia/layerzoo.html

4.https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/parker

5.https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/search/?search=parker+solar+probe&sort_by=relevance&chunk=0

6.https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics/focus-areas/heliosphere

7.https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/

8.https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics

9.https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/search/?search=parker+solar+probe&sort_by=relevance&chunk=0

10.https://www.google.com/search?q=pen+images+free&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&prmd=isvn&sxsrf=ALiCzsYSD6nOlXnR16DiV87g45AAaDr09g:1664721413540&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj534PE4sH6AhWv-TgGHcJ3AxEQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ&biw=384&bih=726&dpr=1.88#imgrc=MV6yvHgnvCRG4M