This project is a collaborative effort between Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering students to design, build, and test a high-powered rocket capable of actively controlling its rotational motion during flight. The objective is to demonstrate a feedback-based control system that can both induce and cancel rocket roll using real-time sensor data.
The rocket's control system is designed to perform two primary flight tests. In the first flight, the system will intentionally induce a roll rate of 100 revolutions per minute (RPM) in one direction, stop the rotation, and then induce 100 RPM in the opposite direction. In the second flight, the system will activate an active roll-stabilization mode that continuously cancels rotational motion, maintaining a roll rate as close to 0 RPM as possible throughout the flight.
To accomplish this, the team is implementing a PID (Proportional–Integral–Derivative) feedback control system that adjusts control inputs based on real-time orientation data. The control algorithm runs on a flight computer built around an Arduino Mega. Sensor data is collected using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to measure angular velocity and orientation, and a barometric pressure sensor to estimate altitude during flight. All flight data is recorded to an SD card for post-flight analysis and validation of the control system's performance.
The project includes multiple launch phases. An initial test launch using a simplified rocket platform was conducted to verify sensor calibration, validate data collection systems, and compare real flight behavior with simulation models. The final launch will test the fully integrated control system and rocket design.
All rocket construction, testing, and launch operations follow the safety guidelines established by the Tripoli Rocketry Association to ensure responsible and safe high-power rocketry practices.
Active fin stabilization uses movable fins to control a rocket's rotation during flight. By slightly adjusting the angle of the fins, the system generates aerodynamic forces that can either induce roll or counteract unwanted rotation. In this project, a feedback controller reads rotational data from an IMU and adjusts the fin positions in real time to achieve a desired roll rate.
Other rockets may use different active control systems, including:
These systems can provide control even outside the atmosphere but are typically more complex, heavier, and harder to integrate into smaller rockets.
Project Lead
Programming Lead
PCB Lead
PID Control System Lead
