On Friday 10th of January, the minor 2013/14, requested by DARE, proudly presented DARE’s first actively stabilized rocket.
This year’s project, “design, construction and testing of a Stability Augmentation System (SAS) for a sounding rocket” culminated with the successful development of the V7S rocket, a modified version of the original CanSat Launcher V7 which now mounts a canard-based SAS. This system actively controls the orientation of the rocket, bringing more efficient flight paths with higher apogee than those of their passively stabilized counterparts.
One of the major breakthroughs achieved by this year’s Minor group is the development of a robust non-linear controller algorithm, which is based on the novel State-Dependent Riccati Equations (SDRE) and is able to accurately guide the rocket according to its desired orientation.
Another important achievement is the development of a precise and powerful simulation tool. Simulations have shown that the controller would raise the apogee of the V7S by 9.2% and would reduce its ground track by 24.7%, as compared to the original CanSat Launcher V7.
The progress made by the Minor group starts a new era of advanced controlled rockets for DARE, which will go higher and further than ever before.
Minor students together with Prof. Chris Verhoeven (right) showing the V7 with SAS system.