Engineering 100-980

Go / No-Go Testing

Test all critical aspects of the system (rocket and sensor board), showing that both operate as required. Specifically, tests include:

1. Bench Test

Validate that the system works while sitting on the workbench and that all sensors are calibrated.

• Data plots must indicate passing of this test
• Video should show the LEDs indicating when the sensor package is waiting for the time delay and when it is taking data
• If your board has a buzzer, the video should also highlight the buzzer going off at an appropriate time

2. Pendulum Test

Attach the sensor board (with battery) to different lengths of strings. Take data while the sensor board swings back and forth. Tips for the pendulum test.

• Show that the measured 3D acceleration can be used to determine the angle and velocity of the sensor board as it swings
• Show that the period of the pendulum is as expected from an analytical solution

3. Spike Test

Verify that each sensor that you are utilizing can detect and respond to a large change in a small amount of time (“spike”) in its measured variable. You will need to use some creativity to design and execute your own methods to produce a clear “spike” for each sensor. To create a “spike”:

1. Begin by collecting a few seconds of stable baseline data
2. Perform the chosen action to make the “spike”
3. Let the system return to equilibrium

The goal is to observe how each sensor reacts to large, fast variations and confirm its responsiveness. For each sensor, you must create plots that clearly show a “spike” and explain what you did to get this “spike”.

4. Elevator Test

Find a building that is at least 8 stories tall and ride an elevator from the bottom floor to at least the 8th floor. The sensor package must be taking data during the elevator ride and should be placed on the floor so that it is measuring the acceleration of the elevator. There should be at least two stops on the way to the 8th floor, so the stopping and starting can be noted and correlated with the pressure data.

• The pressure must be converted to altitude
• The acceleration should be integrated to be converted to velocity and the velocity integrated to be converted to altitude
• The altitude derived from pressure must be differentiated to convert it to velocity and the velocity differentiated to convert it to acceleration
• Plots need to show the results of this test

5. Simulation Test

Show that your rocket with the sensor board incorporated will reach at least 500 ft and will not exceed 1200 ft with one of the recommended motors. The exact motor that your group would like will be specified with this test. Plots will prove that this test passed.

6. The Final Test

This is a full dress rehearsal of launch day. It is similar to the bench test, but your rocket and payload should be essentially finished. Record one continuous video of your team doing exactly what you will do at the launch site, in the same order, from a powered-off payload to a rocket that is ready to go on the pad.

The video must show:

1. Powering on the payload and starting data collection, using the same switch, button, or jumper you will use on launch day.
2. Confirming the payload is working before it goes in, using the LEDs (or buzzer) to show that it is waiting for the time delay and then taking data.
3. Inserting the payload into the nose cone or payload bay and securing it. This should be quick and should not require any tools, tape, or wiring you won’t have at the field.

4. Preparing the recovery system: packing the parachute with your chosen method (see Parachute Packing Research below) and stowing it and the shock cord in the body tube. Leave room for recovery wadding below them and point out where it will go (see the note below).

   Recovery wadding: You won’t receive wadding until launch day, so you don’t need it for this video, but your rocket must have room for it. Wadding is flame-resistant paper that protects the parachute from the hot gases of the motor’s ejection charge. On launch day:

   • Wadding goes in first, pushed down the body tube so it sits right above the motor mount, between the ejection charge and the parachute
   • Crumple each sheet loosely; it should fill the tube from wall to wall without being packed tight, so the ejection charge can still push everything out
   • The shock cord and parachute go in on top of the wadding, and the parachute must never touch the motor end directly
5. Fully assembling the rocket (nose cone on, everything secured) as if you were about to walk it to the pad.
6. Confirming the payload is still working once it is sealed inside the rocket: you should be able to see the LEDs or hear the buzzer without taking the rocket apart.

After filming, take the payload out, pull the microSD card, and show the data that was collected during the video:

• Plot every sensor you are using against time for the whole recording
• Point out the moments from the video in the data (e.g. powering on, inserting the payload, handling the rocket)
• Show that your sample rates meet the requirements above and that no data was lost or corrupted

Parachute Packing Research

A parachute that doesn’t open will destroy your payload, so the way you pack it matters. Before filming, each team must:

• Research three different methods of packing a model rocket parachute
• Briefly describe each method with a pro and a con (e.g. how reliably it opens, how much space it takes up, how easy it is to tangle, how quickly it can be packed at the field)
• Explain which method you chose and why in a sentence or two
• Cite where you found each method

Use your chosen method in the Final Test video and include this research in your Go/No-Go presentation.