Agustín de Betancourt’s Optical Telegraph: Geometric Modeling and Virtual Reconstruction
Fecha
2020-03-09
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Editor
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Resumen
This article shows the geometric modeling and virtual reconstruction of the optical telegraph
by Agustín de Betancourt and Abraham Louis Breguet developed at the end of the 18th century.
Autodesk Inventor Professional software has been used to obtain the three-dimensional (3D) model
of this historical invention and its geometric documentation. The material for the research is available
on the website of the Betancourt Project of the Canary Orotava Foundation for the History of Science.
Thanks to the three-dimensional modeling performed, it has been possible to explain in detail both
its operation and the assembly system of this invention in a coherent way. After carrying out its 3D
modeling and functional analysis, it was discovered that the transmissions in the telegraph were not
performed by hemp ropes but rather by metal chains with flat links, considerably reducing possible
error. Similarly, it has also been found that the use of the gimbal joint facilitated the adaptability of the
invention to geographical areas where there was a physical impediment to the alignment of telegraph
stations. In addition, it was not now necessary for the telescope frames to be located parallel to the
mast frame (frame of the indicator arrow) and therefore they could work in different planes.
Descripción
Palabras clave
optical telegraph, Agustín de Betancourt, geometric modeling, virtual reconstruction, historical technical heritage
Citación
Rojas-Sola, J.I.; De la Morena-De la Fuente, E. Agustín de Betancourt’s Optical Telegraph: Geometric Modeling and Virtual Reconstruction. Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 1857. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10051857