Rocket Equipped with Sensors to Model Trajectory
Department of Engineering, Harvey Mudd College
ENGR080 - Experimental Engineering |
2016
Claremont, CA |
Our four-person team built a rocket and designed a sensor package to compare inertial measurements through redundant systems. This rocket, using G77R-M, G79W-M, and I205W-14A motors, achieved an altitude of over 1.5 miles and a velocity of 649 mph. We wrote a 6-degree-of-freedom model using MATLAB and gained experience in NI LabVIEW. Our sensor package included an inertial measurement unit consisting of gyroscopes and accelerometers, a differential pressure sensor from which we calculated velocity, an absolute pressure sensor from which we calculated altitude, and photoresistors and photodiodes to measure rotation rates using the sun as a point of reference. Analysis of these redundant systems allowed us to compare flight-critical information including apogee, maximum velocity, and maximum acceleration. From this project, I gained valuable experience in circuit design and debugging, data processing, and error analysis. The video below shows footage from our launch days, which were held at the end of the course. On these days, our sensor package collected data for us to analyze through our models.
Our team was awarded the J. R. Phillips Award by the Engineering Department for best demonstrating the development of experimental technique and engineering judgment.
Further technical information can be found in our team's final report.
Our team was awarded the J. R. Phillips Award by the Engineering Department for best demonstrating the development of experimental technique and engineering judgment.
Further technical information can be found in our team's final report.
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Skills Developed: NI LabVIEW, IMUs, circuit design, error analysis
Greatest Failure: Reflecting on this experience three years later, I wish I had done more in the mechanical design area. I focused a lot on big-picture ideas and analysis implementation and wish I had helped more in the mechanical construction of our rocket.
Greatest Moment: Seeing the results of our model. With little ability to test our sensor package prior to a launch, we relied on our circuitry to remain robust for the launches. It was so rewarding to see our model meet our expectations, not knowing beforehand how things would shake out.
Greatest Failure: Reflecting on this experience three years later, I wish I had done more in the mechanical design area. I focused a lot on big-picture ideas and analysis implementation and wish I had helped more in the mechanical construction of our rocket.
Greatest Moment: Seeing the results of our model. With little ability to test our sensor package prior to a launch, we relied on our circuitry to remain robust for the launches. It was so rewarding to see our model meet our expectations, not knowing beforehand how things would shake out.