Rocket computer

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Revision as of 07:03, 20 November 2009 by DavidCary (talk | contribs) (a tiny radio locator beacon)
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What kind of electronics are small enough to fit into a small hobby model rocket vehicle? Long and skinny, to fit in those rocket tubes.


DavidCary is designing a "small rocket computer" that can fit inside an off-the-shelf small model rocket, rather than requiring a "high powered model rocket". One that is as narrow as a 13 mm "mini engine", narrower than a 14 mm AA battery, much less a 18 mm "standard engine".

ideas:

  • accelerometer to log the accelerations during flight.
  • pressure sensor to measure barometric altitude
  • beeper to help find it
  • ...
  • What other electronics would be useful to put into a small hobby model rocket?
  • ...

Once has measured the maximum barometric altitude (and other data), how should it communicate that to us? Some communication options are:

  • Re-use the direction-finding beacon as a RF Morse code transmitter. Use ordinary radio to listen.
  • Put little blinky lights on-board -- blink out Morse code, or use a binary-clock-like lightbar or miniature 7 segment LED display.
  • Put a tiny LCD display on-board.
  • Drop the rocket computer into a "cradle" with a LCD display.
  • Put a standard socket on-board. Plug a cable between the rocket computer and a standard laptop. RS232 on RJ11? RS232 on TRRS plug? Micro-USB?.