Carina is from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, and graduated from Punahou School. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder and will be a senior this upcoming fall. Her current interests lie in aerodynamics and aircraft, and she is excited to design a fixed wing aircraft with her senior project team this fall. While she is still in the process of discovering her specific passions, she has been actively exploring different career paths and technical areas. Outside of academics, Carina enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, surfing at White Plains, and eating at Fukuya.
Home Island: O‘ahu
High School: Punahou School
Institution when accepted: University of Colorado Boulder
Project Site: Gemini Observatory, Hilo, Hawai‘i Island
Mentors: Anthony Sylvester, Hawi Stecher & Logan Sato
Project title: 3D Modeling and Importing of Gemini North Telescope into Unreal Engine for Mass Simulation
Project Abstract:
Large ground-based telescopes must be precisely balanced to ensure accurate pointing and prevent mechanical strain on the mount. When instruments are removed or exchanged, the weight distribution changes, and the telescope must be rebalanced. At the Gemini North Observatory, this balancing process is traditionally done manually and can be time-consuming. To improve efficiency, the observatory aims to streamline the balancing of its telescope by simulating the mass distribution of its instruments and mount subsystems before the addition or removal of components. This project involved creating and preparing 3D models of the telescope enclosure and mount subsystems in SolidWorks, including the development of missing or incomplete components. The objective was to import these models into Unreal Engine (UE), a real-time 3D visualization tool. For successful implementation, the import process for the 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models was researched, and trade-offs between model complexity and simulation performance were evaluated for optimal efficiency. The model’s orientation and structure were refined during preparation, minimizing the need for further adjustments or coding in UE. Moving forward, in addition to enabling balance simulations, the CAD models can serve as a reference for the structure of the mount subsystems and telescope enclosure. The models also provide the added utility of visual feedback for the software team when simulating telescope motion during software development. Furthermore, a controllable 3D model offers an engaging visual for the outreach team and supports promotional efforts for the Gemini Observatory.