Shade was born and raised on O‘ahu, graduating from Kalani High School in 2023. He is currently a Sophomore studying computer science in the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. His career goals are aimed toward cybersecurity, although he has a passion in game development. Shade enjoys traveling and trying new things, especially food.
Home Island: O‘ahu
High School: Kalani High School
Institution when accepted: UH Manoa
Project Site: Gemini Observatory, Hilo, Hawai‘i Island
Mentor: Hawi Stecher & Emma Kurz
Project title: Development of a 3D Telescope Mass-Balancing Simulator Using Unreal Engine for Gemini North Telescope
Project Abstract:
Large research telescopes require precise mass balance so that pointing accuracy remains stable and mechanical wear remains low. At Gemini North, routine instrument swaps and maintenance activities alter the telescope’s weight distribution, forcing engineers to rebalance the 8-meter telescope several times a year. Traditional, on-site balance calibrations when replacing components are time-consuming, which can interrupt observing schedules and increase operational costs. To address this issue, this project developed an interactive 3D mass-balancing simulator built in Unreal Engine 5 with performance-critical logic in C++ and Blueprints. High-fidelity telescope assemblies exported from SolidWorks were translated into the engine, and the simulator provides intuitive controls for adding or shifting counterweights and computing center-of-gravity offsets in real time. To ensure performance and scalability, the project implemented Hierarchical Level of Detail (HLOD), allowing dynamic adjustment of scene complexity based on camera distance to optimize rendering efficiency. Additionally, the terrain around Gemini North was accurately represented by importing LIDAR-based elevation data from Mauna Kea, sourced from OpenTopography. This terrain integration will provide environmental context, enhance immersion, and potentially support future site-specific visual simulations. By replacing manual calculations with a workstation-based tool, the simulator is expected to shorten balance iterations from hours to minutes and provide a safe sandbox for training new staff.