Here is the mechanics page of the
      new experimental prototype Digital Aurora Cam Controller. This
      device is designed to repeatedly press the Canon 10D's shutter
      button on the hand held remote autonomously, with the correct
      amount of force to just trip the shutter. Sensors on the device
      ensure proper push and release pressures and the RCX programmable
      Brick runs the camera through about 5 hours of automated night
      time exposures of the night sky, on a tracking mount from the
      film Auroracam, and initiates its tracking and
      rewinds automatically as well.

      
This is the digital age,
      and I will develop automatic and autonomous devices to take over
      the tasks that film based imaging required.

 

      

      
Here is a side view of
      the robotic device, the RCX micro computer is on the right connected
      to sense switches for button pressure on rewind and to initiate
      the exposure. The switch on the bottom of the RCX starts the
      hours long sequence, which fortunately counts down on the cameras
      top LCD display in seconds. Typical exposures are 5 minutes.
      The cable on the left is for activating the robotic barn door
      mounting.

      
Here's how it works. When
      the motor rotates the big gear to its stops in the lower position,
      an arm with a sliding assembly lowers a lever to stop the exposure.
      When in the lower position, a switch is closed to set the zero
      point.

      
The motor is driven CCW
      for .7 seconds to wind the gear CW and raise the arm to lift
      the lever and start the exposure by pushing the button. More
      detail below.

 

      

      
Top view. On the left you
      can see the Canon electronic cable release box, with a single
      button. For Bulb exposures, you only need to push it once, it
      is NOT a two step push in this case.

      
The lever is the central
      horizontal bar. When the right side is lifted about 2 inches,
      the left side which has the axle very near it only pushes down
      about 3/16 of an inch. This is enough to activate the shutter.
      Note one VERY important design feature is that even if the motor
      does not stop turning the gear, the lever will lift no higher
      and the button wont be crushed. Some designs with worm drives
      to push buttons will destroy the button assembly if the processor
      runs away! 

 

      
Here is an example
      of a single frame taken with the 10D on a nights run. 30 frames
      were taken of consecutive fields. CLICK TO ENLARGE 


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