The Lunar Explorer HAKUTO-R

I don't know why space rockets excite me. Tonight is the night of the landing of HAKUTO-R on the moon. This rocket contains some types of equipment for experiments; the Rashid rover (designed by MBRSC, UAE); a transformable lunar robot SORA-Q (JAXA and some Japanese companies and a university); an artificial intelligence flight computer (MCSS, Canada) and so on. HAKUTO-R was launched on 11th December 2022, and it will reach the moon's surface soon. The landing will be broadcast on YouTube tonight.

 

Interestingly, one of the companies that helped create the transformable lunar robot was Takara Tomy. They are the famous toy maker in Japan. Come to think of it, they certainly produce toy robots, but I never thought that toy companies could help create a robot for lunar exploration.

The landing time will be midnight here in Australia. I wonder if I will be able to stay awake until that time.
I hope HAKUTO-R can land on the moon safely and the experiment goes well.

The 3D Software I Am Curious About

I have used several 3D software, and have now used "ViaCAD" for a long time. I love this software very much. It has been helping me a lot. 3D software is one of my fun tools for computers. I bought my first computer because I wanted to use 3d software.

I do not know how many kinds of 3D software are common, but I often see the name "Fusion 360." Many people use it, and I could not help but be curious. Whenever I saw someone's creation drawn with Fusion 360, I could not stop thinking of getting one for me.

Fusion 360 has many functions and extensions. I am inquisitive because the 3D software I use does not have such functions. However, using the software is costly, and I must pay monthly or yearly. The software I use now was mine once I bought it, I did not need to pay anymore. I do not know what to do. I am lost.

I ordered a new computer, and it is coming next week. The new one has a powerful CPU and graphics board. It can render 3D graphics faster than before. Thinking of the new computer, my desire for Fusion 360 becomes stronger.

Maybe I should try the one-month free version, shouldn't I?

Making A Tiny Automaton in Frame

I have been making a marble run machine. It is almost half done. The next step is creating a new mechanism for the rest of the half part, but I am now stuck. I am still trying to think of a new idea.
The best thing to do when I am stuck is to do something different. On such an occasion, my husband said that two little frame-like trays remained, and he did not need them anymore. It would be a good opportunity for change, and I got two little trays.

These trays were originally for containing puzzle pieces. They look beautiful, and I did not want to waste them. All right, let me think about how I could use the trays.
Luckily, it took a short time to get an idea. I decided to make a tiny automaton using those trays. It is like a picture in a frame but an automaton.
Then, there is an issue, the size. The tray is too small. Is it possible to make small gears that are suitable for the tray?
I remember I bought a piece of thin plywood last month just in case I need to make something small. What a right time it was! I can use it for making gears. The inside of the frame is 8 cm square (3.14 in), and the depth is 1.35 cm (0.53 in). It is no problem, even if some parts stick out from the frame.

I want to make a flower automaton first. I know it takes work to design. I had made the flower automaton before. The mechanism of the first flower automaton was complicated, so I could not use the same design this time, which meant I had to think of a new one.

I am always pushing myself in this way. Yes, I know. I am amazed at my own inquisitive mind, even though it requires lots of effort, I cannot stop. However, this bad habit lets me challenge myself and learn new things. If I had not had this tendency, I believe I would have been making the same mechanism again and again, and it had not been improved.
I roughly drew two designs. I still need to find out which is the better idea. Are those ideas good enough to make?
I hope to write about my new tiny automaton on this blog if I can finish it.