Avionics
The Avionics Subteam designs and integrates the rockets' various electrical systems, often including altimeters, accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, pitot probes, and telemetry systems. We develop electronics for all of Rocket Team's major projects.
The Avionics Subteam designs and integrates the rockets' various electrical systems, often including altimeters, accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, pitot probes, and telemetry systems. We develop electronics for all of Rocket Team's major projects.
Our goal is to introduce students to electrical hardware and software while also building increasingly commercial-grade data collection platforms.
Our goal is to introduce students to electrical hardware and software while also building increasingly commercial-grade data collection platforms.
Current Projects
Current Projects
Universal Flight Computer (UFC)
Universal Flight Computer (UFC)
Our primary flight computer project since 2019 has been our Universal Flight Computer, or UFC. The UFC was proposed as a solution to the problem of having to completely redesign our flight computers from the ground up whenever a single component change was desired. The UFC is a multi-card stack connected by a single backplane via a PCIE physical layer.
Our primary flight computer project since 2019 has been our Universal Flight Computer, or UFC. The UFC was proposed as a solution to the problem of having to completely redesign our flight computers from the ground up whenever a single component change was desired. The UFC is a multi-card stack connected by a single backplane via a PCIE physical layer.
The cards that constitute the UFC are divided by function, a card for our on-board sensor suite, a card for our radio and GPS communications, a card to deliver power and regulate battery voltages, etc. This allows us to redesign and change one card at a time, without needing to completely redo the entire computer. If we have a new sensor we want to try out, for instance, we can just replace the card containing our sensor suite.
The cards that constitute the UFC are divided by function, a card for our on-board sensor suite, a card for our radio and GPS communications, a card to deliver power and regulate battery voltages, etc. This allows us to redesign and change one card at a time, without needing to completely redo the entire computer. If we have a new sensor we want to try out, for instance, we can just replace the card containing our sensor suite.
One of the primary benefits this affords us is that we can also add completely new functionality on top of the strong foundation we have created. The UFC can be used as a testing base for many experimental modules such as pitot tubes, air data, any sort of active control surfaces, in-flight testing of GNC algorithms, and any sort of academic experiment. The UFC can not only supply power to these modules but can also provide sensor data and a telemetry link to the ground station.
One of the primary benefits this affords us is that we can also add completely new functionality on top of the strong foundation we have created. The UFC can be used as a testing base for many experimental modules such as pitot tubes, air data, any sort of active control surfaces, in-flight testing of GNC algorithms, and any sort of academic experiment. The UFC can not only supply power to these modules but can also provide sensor data and a telemetry link to the ground station.
Ground Station (Wings)
Ground Station (Wings)
Wings is the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Rocket Team's third-generation custom ground station desktop application that can receive, process, visualize, and store live telemetry from a rocket. We began the development of Wings in 2022 using Rust backend and TypeScript frontend.
Wings is the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Rocket Team's third-generation custom ground station desktop application that can receive, process, visualize, and store live telemetry from a rocket. We began the development of Wings in 2022 using Rust backend and TypeScript frontend.
Live telemetry is received through a serial port interface, which is currently tuned for RFD900 radios. One of the primary benefits of such a customizable ground station is that adding new radio interfaces is very easy, which enables us to rapidly expand our capability and functional range. Incoming telemetry data is then stored and processed so that it can be displayed in auto-updating graphs. A telemetry simulator is also included to help ensure parts of the system are working.
Live telemetry is received through a serial port interface, which is currently tuned for RFD900 radios. One of the primary benefits of such a customizable ground station is that adding new radio interfaces is very easy, which enables us to rapidly expand our capability and functional range. Incoming telemetry data is then stored and processed so that it can be displayed in auto-updating graphs. A telemetry simulator is also included to help ensure parts of the system are working.
Stored data can be exported to a custom developed flight profile format. Flight files can be imported and re-exported at a later time for further analysis in other programming environments, such as Python or MATLAB. Wings is also late-night compatible with a toggleable dark mode.
Stored data can be exported to a custom developed flight profile format. Flight files can be imported and re-exported at a later time for further analysis in other programming environments, such as Python or MATLAB. Wings is also late-night compatible with a toggleable dark mode.
Past Projects
Past Projects
RF Projects
RF Projects
Avionics has completed several RF projects including a mesh radio network between our SAC rocket, deploy-able payload, and ground station, as well as "Air Traffic Control" a controller designed to provide a WiFi downlink from our many radio receivers.
Avionics has completed several RF projects including a mesh radio network between our SAC rocket, deploy-able payload, and ground station, as well as "Air Traffic Control" a controller designed to provide a WiFi downlink from our many radio receivers.
The largest of our RF projects was our 30-foot communications tower which was created to facilitate a more stable connection to distant rockets for the purpose of giving a higher recovery chance.
The largest of our RF projects was our 30-foot communications tower which was created to facilitate a more stable connection to distant rockets for the purpose of giving a higher recovery chance.
Communications Tower
Midwest FC 2019
Midwest FC 2019
The Midwest competition frequently includes bonus challenges that require advanced avionics and thus our flight computers for the this competition have many innovative features. Midwest 2019 featured a PIC24 MCU, in-rocket flight state detection and a custom ejection charge continuity check circuit in a "PCB is the sled" form factor.
The Midwest competition frequently includes bonus challenges that require advanced avionics and thus our flight computers for the this competition have many innovative features. Midwest 2019 featured a PIC24 MCU, in-rocket flight state detection and a custom ejection charge continuity check circuit in a "PCB is the sled" form factor.
Our team has also developed a low profile prism system that allows a single camera to simultaneously capture upward and downward facing views from the rocket. with a minimal increase in drag during ascent.
Our team has also developed a low profile prism system that allows a single camera to simultaneously capture upward and downward facing views from the rocket. with a minimal increase in drag during ascent.
IREC FC 2019
IREC FC 2019
The IREC flight computer is designed to collect critical flight data such as altitude, acceleration, orientation, and GPS position, and transmit it to the ground station. This year we pioneered using a custom transmitter setup capable of 8W transmit power.
The IREC flight computer is designed to collect critical flight data such as altitude, acceleration, orientation, and GPS position, and transmit it to the ground station. This year we pioneered using a custom transmitter setup capable of 8W transmit power.
This flight computer also collects data from our pitot probe system shown below in order to get very accurate airspeed and Mach number data, which is critical in calculating the aerodynamic loads and performance of the rocket.
This flight computer also collects data from our pitot probe system shown below in order to get very accurate airspeed and Mach number data, which is critical in calculating the aerodynamic loads and performance of the rocket.
Avionics Lead: Leticia Sakata (sakat002@umn.edu)
Avionics Lead: Leticia Sakata (sakat002@umn.edu)
Would you like to attend a meeting? Check out the team calendar to find out when the next one is!
Would you like to attend a meeting? Check out the team calendar to find out when the next one is!