High-Level Project Summary
Our project is a 2-D simple game that allows users to manage the JWST to its best position with maximum light focused on producing a perfect resolution image. The solar wind is introduced to disturb its place while the player needs to use a thruster to re-position it. Similarly, sudden change in the direction of sunlight diminishes the focus of the image which is to be recovered by rotating the JWST to its best-fit position. The progress level displayed in the game increases with the maximum focus of light. A player, to perform well in the game, must be able to manage the position of JWST to a perfect focus for a longer time. The image seen in the game is the image fetched from NASA itself.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
"James Webb begins a voyage back to the birth of the Universe." Our project, "The vision to Past" allows users to work with the James Webb Space telescope's model and provide an experience to well-position the telescope to obtain a high-resolution image. Our project is a two-dimensional game with sun, earth, and JWST interface. Users can position the telescope as their wish but are required to position them in such a way that it can absorb the maximum amount of reflected light and produce an image as quickly as possible.
What exactly does it do?
"The vision to Past", our 2-D game creates a user interactive environment and allows users to manage the JWST's model. The JWST is seen orbiting Lagrange's point away from the earth where solar wind sometimes changes its position. At Space i.e., at zero gravity, a small force affects a lot and hence, the solar wind can create a greater impact. So, using a thruster player needs to reposition the JWST back to its orbit. Similarly, sudden changes in the direction of light can diminish the focus of the image. So, players need to rotate the JWST to position it to its best fit and produce a high-resolution image (generated with random values of the web psf tool) which is the ultimate goal of the game.
How does it work?
The game works using normal arrow keys and following the instructions provided. One must be clear that the progress bar shown indicates the progress of light focused for the image to be produced. One must focus enough amount of light to produce a high-resolution image quickly. The JWST can be rotated using the arrow keys and the progress level can be checked on the screen itself.
What benefits does it have?
Our project targets to have several benefits. The first benefit is the completion of the challenge itself i.e., making people capable of understanding the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope. People can better understand the use of the telescope and to some extent its works with the help of the game. People can also better understand the condition under which high-resolution images are produced and learn about the position of the JWST too.
What do we hope to achieve?
We hope to achieve all the above-mentioned benefits. We wish people to better understand the working of JWST and also Lagrange's point of where JWST is positioned. We also wish people to understand several benefits of the telescope at present. It is essential for people to know the reason behind the huge time and expenditure on the project.
What tools, coding languages, hardware, or software did we use to develop our project?
We used Unity Engine for Graphics and UI & C# for game programming. We also used python and the web psf module provided by NASA for image simulation.
Space Agency Data
Image of Carina Nebula was used and we also used webpsf tool for simulation of images.
Hackathon Journey
How would you describe your Space Apps experience?
If we had to describe our Space Apps experience in a single word, we would just say it 'wonderful'. The experience was fascinating to us and the entire YSC team. It was fun to work together with all and share each and everything we know about James Webb Space Telescope. We all were experts in different sectors. Working together combining all the skills made us successful to address this wonderful challenge. The experience of this year's NASA Space App Challenge was memorable and we all will never forget it.
What did you learn?
We learned many things from NASA Space App Challenge this year. First and foremost, we learned bout James Webb Space Telescope. The capabilities of the telescope were amazing to us and it was a mind-pressing task to think about getting its work and functions understandable to the common people. However, the task was not impossible. We managed to interpret the information in a simpler form and then design a game such that people can understand the position and also himself or herself work with managing and positioning the telescope. We learned to work together in a group and we finally learned to distribute the knowledge we have among people.
What inspired your team to choose this challenge?
There were many challenges listed on the website and it was a difficult task to choose one of them. All the challenges were exciting and something new and it would be fun to work with all of them. However, this doesn't seem to be possible. So, our team needed to choose one. Therefore, we choose the challenge of learning through the looking glass which included information regarding the James Webb Space Telescope. This telescope was a recent material to this world and many people didn't know of it. Since the concept was trending, we were attracted to this challenge. Going deeper and understanding the function of this telescope would be more interesting. Moreover, the telescope can help us look past images of space which would be the most attractive point for people to look after. Due to all these reasons, we were attracted to this challenge.
What was your approach to developing this project?
We had a basic approach to research and make to this project. The first and foremost task our team did was research. We all researched the JWST together and all shared our part of the research. This multiplied the knowledge of JWST in us and then we went on to process and interpret the information in a simple form that could be understood easily by the common people. The next step was to create a paper model of the game we were about to make. After completion of this, the team finally prepared a game that is user-friendly and interactive which makes people understand JWST very well.
How did your team resolve setbacks and challenges?
The team didn't have to face as many problems as expected while going through the project. However, there were some minor bugs while creating the game. These were solved by continuous trial and corrections.
Is there anyone you'd like to thank and why?
We would like to thank the organizing team from Nepal for helping out to perform well in the event. Thank You!
References
Tags
#gamedev