Camera Heat Test

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Objective:
Since the GoPro cameras most likely failed due to sun heat during the 2017 launch, we will simulate the environment using a heat lamp, testing whether the cameras will record until its battery depletes, or will automatically shut down prior due to excessive heat.

Method:
We will set up the cameras in their cases and their respective positions in the payload box. The side cameras (labeled #2 and #3) will be connected to one fully charged power bank (10,000mAh), and the top camera (labeled #1) will be connected to another fully charged power bank by itself. The cameras will start recording before we set them in their cases and into the payload box. A heat lamp will be hung from a steel pole, and its heat will be directed towards the top camera. A thermometer connected to the back of the top camera (since the battery is there) is also on the steel pole within the camera’s field of view so that it can record changes in its temperature, so that in case it fails, we can determine what temperature it failed at by viewing the last recorded footage. We have previously determined for the top camera (GoPro Hero 3+ Black) to run at 720p at 120fps and the side cameras (GoPro Hero 3+ Silver) to run at 1080p at 60fps. The memory cards are all 64GB.

Results:
Distance between top camera and heat bulb: 0.260m

Top Camera (#1, GoPro Hero 3+ Black, 720p at 120fps)
39.8GB used, 184 min (3 hours and 4 min) of video recorded before the camera automatically shut down


Side Camera (#2, GoPro Hero 3+ Silver, 1080p at 60fps)
59.4GB used, 343min (5 hours and 43 min) of video recorded before battery power bank depleted


Side Camera (#3, GoPro Hero 3+Silver, 1080p at 60fps)
59.4GB used, 340 min (5 hours and 40 min) of video recorded before battery power bank depleted



Conclusion:
The top camera failed after 184 minutes of recording (including the one hour the heat lamp was turned off during lunch break). It was initially too hot to the touch and took over 30 minutes for it to cool down. There was a slight smell of burnt electronics. The side cameras recorded until the power bank depleted. They also recorded about 15 minutes more than the 5 hours and 26 min written on the screens at the beginning. We were unable to determine the temperature at which the top camera shut down, for the thermometer kept on reading 87.1F. (It was later revealed that the thermometer just needed new batteries) At one point when we used a different thermometer, the temperature was around 50C (122F). We are waiting for a bright, sunny day to test camera performance outside.

Pictures:

Top Camera

Side Cameras












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