Session: 15-01-01: ASME International Undergraduate Research and Design Exposition

Paper Number: 150993

150993 - Design of a High-Powered Rocket With Ground Target Acquisition System 

NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) hosts the Annual Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition, challenging student-led teams to design, construct, and fly high-powered rockets. These flight configurations must be single-stage rockets capable of collecting downward-facing footage during flight and remain in flyable condition upon recovery. Dual-deployment of parachutes must be supported and controlled via electronic recovery systems and motor-charge backups. The objective of the 2024 WSGC Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition is to capture a detailed image of a designated ground target at or after apogee while satisfying recurrent flight configuration parameters. In pursuit of optimizing the flight configuration to meet competition requirements, Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling techniques and flight simulation programming are utilized to design the flight configuration, predict flight performance, and enhance propulsion and recovery systems. The Ground Target Acquisition System (GTAS) obtains panoramic images with respect to the flight configuration, ensuring the ground target is captured during flight. This internal camera system is optimized through option analysis and field evaluations of various systems. When selecting the camera, the features deemed most important were low weight, minimal power requirements, high compactness, and ease of use. To protect the cameras from the airstream, custom designed housings were 3D printed out of ABS plastic. These housings conformed to the external surface of the a-bay to minimize drag. They were designed for easy removal from the coupler, providing easy access to the cameras inside. The housings were structurally sound and featured a clear lens for capturing images. Due to the lack of mounting holes on the circuit boards, a layer of foam was implemented between the cameras and the housings for proper location, and vibration and impact protection. Cutouts were located on the portion of the housings internal to the a-bay, which allowed for quick connection and disconnection of the cameras to the flight electronics. The dimensions and weight of each rocket component integrated into the flight configuration were entered into RockSim, a numerical flight simulation program, to form multiple models of the rocket throughout the design process. Following the competition launch, an assessment was conducted to evaluate the structural integrity of the flight configuration, efficiency of GTAS, and proximity of predicted versus actual flight performances. The integration of the GTAS within the flight configuration demonstrates the team’s capability to design, construct, and fly a high-powered rocket under given limitations. This competition provided an opportunity to directly apply engineering skills towards aerospace applications, supporting WSGC’s goal of assisting in training the next generation of aerospace professionals.

Presenting Author: Ellyssa Purdy University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Presenting Author Biography: Ellyssa Purdy graduated with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering with a minor in applied mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). She is currently working as a Research Technician in the Richard J. Resch School of Engineering at UWGB. Through her studies, she has developed a deeper passion and understanding for mechanical engineering and the benefit it has for humanity. Her industry experience consists of being a European Service Module Nonconformance Optimization intern at NASA Glenn Research Center. Ellyssa's research experience involves the utilization of biodegradable plastics in aerospace applications. She aspires to continue her education and research by studying aerospace with a focus on propulsion.

Authors:

Ellyssa Purdy University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Dalton Kowalkowski University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Unique Vang University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Caitlyn Hendricks University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Bryon Cobb University of Wisconsin-Green Bay