Astronomical science popularization explaining device

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of astronomical science popularization, and discloses an astronomical science popularization explanation device, which controls the movement of a telescope through a motor to ensure that the telescope can position and observe a target celestial body; the motor driving system ensures that the telescope can execute pointing and tracking according to user requirements; the laser indication system adopts a high-speed horizon theodolite design, is provided with a variable-color laser and is used for indicating a target celestial body in real time according to the output of the knowledge explanation system; the embedded hardware system comprises a master controller, a motor driver, a sensor and the like, and is responsible for overall operation and control of the device; the invention ensures the safe and reliable operation of the system. The laser transmitter provides a clear and stable laser beam, and the pointing mechanism can perform accurate adjustment, so that the laser beam is aligned with a target celestial body. And the celestial navigation and positioning module continuously updates the understanding of the system on the celestial sphere to realize the real-time tracking of the moving celestial body. And the safety protection mechanism protects the user and the equipment from potential hazards possibly caused by laser use.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application belongs to the field of astronomical popular science, and particularly relates to an astronomical popular science explanation device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the context of modern popular science, the traditional mode of astronomical knowledge dissemination has been difficult to meet the public's needs. Its lagging nature, lack of interactivity, and limitations in personalized learning paths often make the public feel passive and restricted in the process of learning astronomy. At the same time, the practical nature of astronomy requires learners to have practical observation and operation experience. However, traditional methods mostly stay at the theoretical level and lack effective guidance on practical skills, thus weakening the immersion and participation of learning. Therefore, there is a significant contradiction between the traditional mode of astronomical popular science and the pursuit of immediacy, interactivity, and personalization in modern society.

[0003] The rise of artificial intelligence technology provides a breakthrough for this dilemma. In particular, the development of large language models enables machines to have in-depth communication with users through natural language, not only answering astronomical questions in real time, but also pushing personalized learning content based on the knowledge level and interest points of learners. In addition, AI can also act as a virtual tutor, providing not only basic knowledge explanation, but also hierarchical explanation of complex astronomical phenomena or observation skills, enhancing the learning experience and scientific literacy of the public. This intelligent interactive mode effectively makes up for the lack of interactivity and personalization in traditional popular science.

[0004] At the same time, the development of laser pointing technology adds a new display means to astronomical practice. By directly marking the position of celestial bodies in the night sky, learners can quickly establish a correspondence between theory and practice, greatly improving the efficiency and interest of observation. However, most of the related products on the market are single-function, lacking comprehensive popular science devices that deeply integrate AI intelligent questioning and laser pointing. Therefore, the development of an astronomical popular science explanation device with intelligent, interactive, and practical functions is not only a trend of technological development, but also effectively promotes the popularization of astronomical knowledge and the improvement of scientific literacy of the public. SUMMARY

[0005] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present application provides an astronomical popular science explanation device.

[0006] The present application is implemented as follows: an astronomical popular science explanation device, characterized in that the device comprises:

[0007] The motor, sensor, and lens devices control the movement of the telescope through the motor, ensuring that it can locate and observe target celestial bodies; the motor drive system ensures that the telescope can perform pointing and tracking according to user needs;

[0008] The laser indication system is designed with a high-speed horizontal theodolite, equipped with a variable color laser, used to indicate the target celestial body in real time according to the output of the knowledge interpretation system;

[0009] The embedded hardware system, including the main control, motor drive, sensor, etc., is responsible for the overall operation and control of the device;

[0010] The main control software is responsible for receiving user input instructions and interacting with hardware in real time; it provides a user operation platform and executes instructions to adjust the position of the telescope, processes data from sensors, and performs data analysis, image processing or conversion; the main control software cooperates with the hardware system through algorithms and interfaces;

[0011] Network connection is a crucial part of the system, ensuring data transmission and instruction interaction between the main control software and the remote server; all observation data, user instructions and analysis results are transmitted through a secure network to ensure stable remote operation and real-time feedback;

[0012] The remote server is responsible for storing astronomical data and providing computing power for analysis and processing. It can use cloud services for large model data interaction and big data storage support, providing celestial body positioning and analysis and calculation results for users; through cooperation with the main control software, the remote server can provide support to ensure the reliable operation of the system.

[0013] Further, the laser indication system specifically includes:

[0014] (1) Laser emission unit

[0015] Design principle: A high-stability, low-energy semiconductor laser is used as the light source to ensure the clarity and durability of the laser beam; the laser emission unit needs to have adjustable wavelength and power to meet the needs of different observation conditions, and two semiconductor lasers of different colors are combined into one light path through a dichroic mirror;

[0016] Function realization: The laser emission unit is stably installed on the bracket and can accurately adjust the direction of the laser beam according to the instructions of the astronomical navigation system, ensuring accurate projection to the target celestial body;

[0017] (2) Precise pointing control mechanism

[0018] Design principle: High-precision stepper motors or servo motors are used for driving, combined with corresponding transmission mechanisms to achieve precise pointing of the laser beam in three-dimensional space; the mechanism needs to have high rigidity and low error characteristics to ensure accurate pointing;

[0019] Function realization: The pointing control mechanism is closely connected with the celestial navigation system. According to the celestial body position information calculated by the system, the pointing angle of the laser beam is automatically adjusted to realize accurate alignment with the target celestial body.

[0020] (3) Celestial navigation and positioning module

[0021] Design principle: Integrate GPS positioning, inertial navigation (gyroscope and accelerometer), and other sensor technologies to realize autonomous positioning and attitude sensing of the system. Combine celestial algorithms and star catalog databases to calculate the accurate position of the target celestial body in the sky in real time.

[0022] Function realization: The celestial navigation and positioning module continuously monitors the position and attitude changes of the system and updates the position information of the target celestial body accordingly. These information are transmitted to the pointing control mechanism in real time to guide the accurate pointing of the laser beam.

[0023] (4) Safety protection mechanism

[0024] Design principle: To ensure the safety of laser use, the system is equipped with multiple safety protection measures, including laser power limitation, automatic shutdown function, and user operation permission management, etc.

[0025] Function realization: Automatic detection of power failure prevents eye damage from the laser beam. The system has automatic detection function and automatically shuts down the laser emission as soon as abnormal conditions (such as collision, overheating, etc.) are found.

[0026] Further, the working process of the laser pointing system is as follows:

[0027] User instruction input: The user inputs the celestial body name or coordinate information he wants to observe through the interactive interface or voice instruction.

[0028] Celestial position calculation: The system calculates the real-time position of the target celestial body in the sky, azimuth and altitude angle according to the user input information, combined with celestial algorithms and star catalog databases.

[0029] Pointing adjustment instruction: The celestial navigation and positioning module sends the calculated celestial body position information to the pointing control mechanism, instructing it to adjust the pointing angle of the laser beam.

[0030] Laser beam emission: After the pointing control mechanism completes the adjustment, the laser emission unit emits the laser beam to accurately project to the target celestial body.

[0031] Observation feedback and adjustment: The user confirms whether the laser beam is accurately aligned with the target celestial body by observing its position in the night sky. If necessary, fine tuning can be performed through the system until the best observation effect is achieved.

[0032] Further, the embedded hardware system specifically includes:

[0033] The main control board is selected from a high-performance ARM architecture chip and carries an Android system, and is responsible for overall control and data processing.

[0034] The motor driving module adopts a TMC2225 driving chip to realize high-precision control of the stepping motor.

[0035] The sensor module integrates AHRS attitude and heading reference system sensors to monitor the device attitude in real time and ensure the accuracy of laser indication.

[0036] In combination with the technical solutions and the technical problems solved above, the technical solutions to be protected by the present application have the following advantages and positive effects:

[0037] The present application aims to develop a low-cost, lightweight and intelligent astronomy popular science explanation device by integrating AI technology and laser indication technology. The device can not only automatically answer users' astronomical knowledge questions, but also indicate the position of the target celestial body in real time, provide personalized learning suggestions and practical guidance, thereby greatly improving the effect of astronomy popular science and user experience.

[0038] The core components of the system include a laser emitter, a precise pointing mechanism, an astronomical navigation and positioning module, and a safety protection mechanism, which work together to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the system. The laser emitter provides a clear and stable laser beam, and the pointing mechanism can accurately adjust the beam to point to the target celestial body. The astronomical navigation and positioning module continuously updates the system's understanding of the celestial sphere, enabling real-time tracking of moving celestial bodies. The safety protection mechanism protects users and equipment from potential hazards that may be caused by the use of laser.

[0039] Through a clear workflow from user instruction input to laser beam emission and observation feedback, the system simplifies the process of observing stars, making it easier for users, whether they are amateur astronomy enthusiasts or professional researchers. The integration and optimization of hardware and software components further enhance system performance, ensuring high pointing accuracy, fast response time and long-term stability.

[0040] Looking to the future, there are many directions for the development and improvement of the laser star pointing system. The continuous progress of laser technology may lead to the development of more powerful and safer laser sources, expanding the operating range and capabilities of the system. Further optimization of the pointing control algorithm can improve the system's ability to accurately track fast-moving celestial bodies. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology can enable the system to automatically identify and track celestial bodies based on user preferences and historical data, providing a more personalized and intelligent stargazing experience.

[0041] In summary, the laser pointing system is a remarkable innovation that promises to revolutionize the way we observe and explore the night sky. With its combination of high precision technology, user-friendly design, and safety features, it is poised to become a valuable tool in the fields of education and research. As technology continues to advance, there is reason to expect that this system will play an increasingly important role in driving our understanding of the universe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0042] Figure 1 is a system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 2 is an end effector perspective view provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 3 is an end effector front view provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 4 is an end effector rear view provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 5 is an end effector left view provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 6 is an end effector right view provided by an embodiment of the present application

[0048] Figure 7 is an end effector top view provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 8 is an end effector bottom view provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, further detailed description will be made to the present application in combination with embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application, and are not used to limit the present application.

[0051] As shown in Figure 1 , an astronomical popular science interpretation device is provided by an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that the device comprises:

[0052] A motor, a sensor and a lens and other equipment, through the motor control the movement of the telescope, to ensure that it can locate and observe the target celestial body; the motor drive system ensures that the telescope can perform pointing and tracking according to the user's demand;

[0053] A laser pointing system, designed with a high-speed horizontal theodolite, equipped with a variable color laser, used to indicate the target celestial body in real time according to the output of the knowledge interpretation system;

[0054] Embedded hardware system, including main control, motor drive, sensors, etc., responsible for the overall operation and control of the device;

[0055] Main control software, responsible for receiving user input instructions and interacting with hardware in real time; it provides a user operation platform and executes instructions to adjust the position of the telescope, processes data from sensors, and performs data analysis, image processing or conversion; the main control software cooperates with the hardware system through algorithms and interfaces;

[0056] Network connection, a crucial part of the system, ensures data transmission and instruction interaction between the main control software and the remote server; all observation data, user instructions, and analysis results are transmitted through a secure network to ensure stable remote operation and real-time feedback;

[0057] Remote server, responsible for storing astronomical data and providing computing power for analysis and processing. It can use cloud services for large model data interaction and big data storage support, providing celestial body positioning and analysis and calculation results for users; through cooperation with the main control software, the remote server can provide support to ensure the reliable operation of the system.

[0058] The laser indication system specifically includes:

[0059] (1) Laser emission unit

[0060] Design principle: Use high-stability, low-energy semiconductor lasers as light sources to ensure the clarity and persistence of the laser beam; the laser emission unit needs to have adjustable wavelength and power to adapt to different observation conditions, and two semiconductor lasers of different colors are combined into one light path through a dichroic mirror;

[0061] Function realization: The laser emission unit is stably installed on the bracket and can accurately adjust the pointing direction of the laser beam according to the instructions of the astronomical navigation system, ensuring accurate projection to the target celestial body;

[0062] (2) Precise pointing control mechanism

[0063] Design principle: Use high-precision stepper motors or servo motors for driving, combined with advanced transmission mechanisms to achieve precise pointing of the laser beam in three-dimensional space; the mechanism needs to have high rigidity and low error characteristics to ensure accurate pointing;

[0064] Function realization: The pointing control mechanism is closely connected with the astronomical navigation system, automatically adjusts the pointing angle of the laser beam according to the celestial body position information calculated by the system, and realizes accurate alignment with the target celestial body;

[0065] (3) Astronomical navigation and positioning module

[0066] Design principle: Integrate GPS positioning, inertial navigation (gyroscope and accelerometer), and other sensor technologies to achieve autonomous positioning and attitude perception of the system; combine astronomical algorithms and star catalog databases to calculate the precise position of the target celestial body in real time;

[0067] Function implementation: The astronomical navigation and positioning module continuously monitors the position and attitude changes of the system and updates the position information of the target celestial body accordingly; these information are transmitted in real time to the pointing control mechanism to guide the accurate pointing of the laser beam;

[0068] (4) Safety protection mechanism

[0069] Design principle: To ensure the safety of laser use, the system is equipped with multiple safety protection measures, including laser power limitation, automatic shutdown function, and user operation permission management, etc.;

[0070] Function implementation: Automatic detection of power failure to prevent eye injury from laser beam; the system has automatic detection function, which automatically shuts down laser emission as soon as abnormal conditions (such as collision, overheating, etc.) are found.

[0071] The working process of the laser pointing system is as follows:

[0072] User instruction input: The user inputs the celestial body name or coordinate information they want to observe through the interactive interface or voice instruction;

[0073] Astronomical position calculation: The system calculates the real-time position of the target celestial body in the sky, azimuth and altitude angle according to the user input information, combined with astronomical algorithms and star catalog databases;

[0074] Pointing adjustment instruction: The astronomical navigation and positioning module sends the calculated celestial body position information to the pointing control mechanism, instructing it to adjust the pointing angle of the laser beam;

[0075] Laser beam emission: After the pointing control mechanism completes the adjustment, the laser emission unit emits the laser beam, accurately projecting it to the target celestial body;

[0076] Observation feedback and adjustment: The user confirms whether the laser beam is accurately aimed at the target celestial body by observing its position in the night sky; if necessary, fine-tuning can be performed through the system until the best observation effect is achieved.

[0077] The embedded hardware system specifically includes:

[0078] Main control, high-performance ARM architecture chip, Android system, responsible for overall control and data processing;

[0079] Motor drive module, TMC2225 drive chip, high-precision control of stepper motor;

[0080] Sensor module, integrated AHRS attitude and heading reference system sensor, real-time monitoring device attitude, ensure the accuracy of laser pointing.

[0081] Application field of the invention: public astronomy popular science, such as astronomy popular science interpretation scene, astronomy museum popular science activities for the public;

[0082] Product: can combine offline or online Ai interpretation function software to build complete and automatic astronomy popular science star pointing interpretation instrument.

[0083] 1.1 Astronomy knowledge interpretation system test

[0084] 1.1.1 Astronomy question identification module test

[0085] The focus of this test is on the astronomy question identification module to verify its ability to accurately distinguish between astronomy-related questions and non-astronomy-related questions. The invention designed a series of test cases to evaluate the recognition accuracy of the model in practical applications. These cases cover inquiries about astronomical phenomena, queries about astronomical knowledge, and non-astronomy-related questions. The test results (Table 5.1) show that the model can effectively distinguish between astronomy-related questions and non-related questions.

[0086] 1.1.2 Astronomy question answering module test

[0087] In order to verify the feasibility of the Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) method in the field of astronomy knowledge Q&A and its advantages compared with other large language models (LLMs), the invention conducted a comparative experiment. The experiment compared the performance of the RAG method developed in this study (hereinafter referred to as My RAG) and several general large language models in answering astronomy questions.

[0088] The invention prepared ten astronomy questions, covering basic astronomy knowledge, celestial event prediction, and time-sensitive questions. All questions come from the knowledge base input into My RAG. Each large language model answers correctly for one point, and answers incorrectly for no points. Detailed experimental content and results are shown in Table 5.2.

[0089] The experimental results show that My RAG performs better than general large language models in answering highly specialized and relatively obscure astronomy questions. In addition, due to the lack of real-time search capability of astronomical observation data, some large language models (such as GPT-3.5) cannot correctly answer time-sensitive questions (such as new astronomical achievements in 2023). This confirms that as long as the knowledge base is comprehensive, the RAG method is very suitable for astronomy knowledge Q&A.

[0090] 1.1.3 Astronomy data real-time retrieval module test

[0091] In the design and testing of the data query module, this invention verified the system's ability to extract relevant information from the real-time query module and ensured that the module could efficiently process user requests. Test results show that the module demonstrates high efficiency and stability in acquiring astronomical data and responding to user requests, ensuring that the model can provide real-time astronomical data and accurate answers in various scenarios. Specific test data is shown in Table 5.3 (original output is shown in Appendix A.5.2).

[0092] 1.1.4 Content Security Design and Testing

[0093] To verify the performance of each AI model in terms of content security, this invention designed cross-domain test cases, focusing on evaluating the model's ability to handle non-astronomical questions. The test cases are shown in Table 5.4 (original output is in Appendix A.5.3). Through typical non-astronomical questions such as "How to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes" and "Which country has the largest area," the differences in domain boundary control and scientific accuracy between this model, GPT-4o-All, Deepseek, and ERNIE-Speed-8k were systematically compared.

[0094] Test results show that this model strictly adheres to the boundaries of the astronomical domain, explicitly identifying queries that fall outside its scope, such as "How to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes" and "Which country has the largest area?". In contrast, other models directly answer these non-astronomical questions, with GPT-4o and Deepseek providing complete solutions. For scientific explanations, such as "The colors of the sun and moon," this model and GPT-4o provide rigorous scientific explanations, while Deepseek's answer is concise yet accurately conveys the core information. Overall, this model excels in domain focus and scientific rigor, making it highly suitable for applications requiring strict professional boundaries.

[0095] 1.1.5 Real-world application testing

[0096] To verify the practical application effectiveness of each AI model in astronomical observation guidance, this invention selected typical astronomical observation scenarios, such as telescope use and celestial object identification, and conducted comparative tests. The test examples are shown in Table 5.5 (original output is in Appendix A.5.4). Using five representative astronomical observation problems, the performance differences of this model, GPT-4o-All, and Deepseek in terms of professional guidance, data accuracy, and user-friendliness were systematically evaluated.

[0097] How to locate Jupiter and its moons using a telescope? 1. Determine Jupiter's position in the sky based on real-time query results: Jupiter is located at right ascension 4.967647548514974 and declination 22.364942147778255.

[0098] 2. Choose the right time: Jupiter is brighter at night, so the best time to observe it is at night.

[0099] 3. Use a telescope: Adjust the telescope's focal length and angle so that Jupiter is in the center of the field of view.

[0100] 4. Identifying Jupiter and its moons: Jupiter is bright orange and relatively large, making it easy to spot; its moons are smaller and less bright, but can be seen through the magnification of a telescope.

[0101] Test results demonstrate that this model excels in providing guidance for astronomical observations. In terms of professional depth, it not only provides operational steps but also real-time celestial coordinates, ensuring users receive comprehensive information. Regarding scientific accuracy, the model's interpretation of optical phenomena conforms to the laws of physics and uses professional terminology such as "erect-image prism." While GPT-4o and Deepseek's responses are not fundamentally flawed, their information is somewhat simplified. Notably, this model can dynamically calculate the visibility of celestial objects based on real-time positions, a capability not found in other models. From a user experience perspective, the model's responses are clearly structured, breaking down the complex observation process into numbered steps and providing practical directional descriptions and timing suggestions, enabling amateur enthusiasts to quickly master professional observation techniques. In conclusion, this model combines accurate data support, rigorous interpretation, and user-friendly guidance, making it highly suitable for astronomical education and outreach work that requires translating theoretical knowledge into practical skills.

[0102] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, and within the spirit and principles of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An astronomical science popularization and explanation device, characterized in that, include: Motors, sensors, and lens equipment, wherein the motors are used to drive the telescope to achieve the positioning and observation of target celestial objects; Laser designation systems are used to indicate target celestial bodies in the night sky in real time based on the output of a knowledge interpretation system; Embedded hardware systems, including main controllers, motor drives, and sensors, are used to realize the overall operation and control of the device; The main control software is used to receive user input and interact with the hardware system in real time, and to perform position adjustment, data processing and image analysis. The network connection module is used to enable data interaction between the main control software and the remote server, and to transmit observation data and command information; The remote server is used to store astronomical data, perform calculations and analyses, and return celestial positioning and calculation results to the main control software.

2. The astronomical science popularization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor is a stepper motor or a servo motor, and the sensor includes an attitude and heading reference sensor, which is used to monitor the attitude of the device in real time and correct the direction of the telescope.

3. An astronomical science popularization and explanation device, characterized in that, The laser pointing system includes: A laser emitting unit for emitting a laser beam with adjustable wavelength and power; A pointing control mechanism is used to achieve precise pointing of the laser beam in three-dimensional space via motor drive; The astronomical navigation and positioning module is used to calculate the real-time position of the target celestial body in the sky based on GPS positioning and inertial navigation. A safety protection mechanism is used to limit laser power and automatically shut down laser emission in abnormal situations.

4. The astronomical science popularization device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The security protection mechanism includes a power limiting circuit, an automatic shutdown circuit, and a user access control module to ensure the safety of the laser emission process.

5. A method for operating a laser pointer system in an astronomical science popularization and explanation device, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Receive the name or coordinate information of a celestial body input by the user; S2. Based on the input, combined with astronomical algorithms and star catalog databases, calculate the real-time azimuth and elevation angles of the target celestial body; S3. Send the calculated celestial position information to the pointing control mechanism; S4. The pointing control mechanism adjusts the pointing angle of the laser emitting unit; S5. The laser emitting unit emits a laser beam and aims it at the target celestial body; S6. Users confirm the target result through observation feedback and perform fine-tuning as needed.

6. The working method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step S6, the system performs a secondary angle correction based on user feedback until the laser beam is aligned with the target celestial body.

7. An embedded hardware system for an astronomical science popularization and explanation device, characterized in that, include: The main controller uses a high-performance processor to run the control program; The motor drive module is used to achieve precise driving of the telescope motor; The sensor module is used to collect the attitude and heading information of the device in real time and feed it back to the main controller.

8. The embedded hardware system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control program running on the main controller is a software platform based on the Android system, which can perform data processing, image analysis, and interface interaction with the server.

9. A network-interactive astronomical science popularization device, characterized in that, The main control software of the device transmits observation data and analysis results to a remote server via a network. The remote server performs big data storage and celestial analysis calculations, and returns the results to the main control software in real time.

10. The astronomical science popularization device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The network transmission employs an encryption protocol to ensure the security and integrity of user commands and observation data during transmission.

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