HART ECE Launch System

C++
3D Printing
System Design
AVR Microcontrollers
Embedded Systems
PCB
Enclosure
Communication
Hardware

The High Altitude Rocket Team requested a new launch system for the team's use. The system consists of a launch box, pad box, and several antennas. The launch system is capable of igniting amateur rocket motors wirelessly and displays live telemetry information for the rocket. The system also contains a wired backup ignition method. Both boxes are battery-powered and built ruggedly for field use. The boxes communicate with each other using 915 MHz wireless communication modules RFM95W from Adafruit. These modules are controlled with team-designed custom PCBs and software. The processors used on the PCBs are ATmega328P. These processors also control audio and visual indicators of the system arming status. The telemetry system utilizes a Raspberry Pi, capacitive touch LCD, and an Altus Metrum Teledongle to communicate with the rocket's flight computers. The telemetry system operates on the 433 MHz band. All wireless communications are run through directional yagi antennas. One of the largest accomplishments to date is getting the launch system approved for use at the full-scale launch of the team's rocket. This launch is scheduled for June 17th-19th in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The launch system has been verified wirelessly at half a mile for ignition as well as telemetry. The system passed a 2-hour battery life test. Five members of HART were given the system for the first time and a set of instructions. All five members were all able to set up the system, ignite and e-match, and connect to a flight computer in under 10 minutes. The team faced many challenges along the way. In particular, the wireless communication modules originally designed around proved unreliable during testing and required a late-stage design change. The telemetry system also overcame some obstacles in interfacing with the team's selected flight computer. The team is proud of the project and hopes the following years of ECE students can improve on the design. The team believes that an enclosure redesign to better prevent intrusion of dust and water would be valuable due to the intended use environments. It is also recommended that future teams design for convenience of charging of the batteries of the system to prevent disassembly for recharging.

1 Lifts 

Artifacts

Name Description
Project Summary Video Our final project summary video.   Link
Project Document An exhaustive piece of documentation detailing many aspects of our project and development cycle.   Download
Executive Summary This is a short document summarizing the team's experience throughout the project. Discussed the project's motivation as well as timeline.   Download