ARLP (Automated Rocket Launch Pad)
Summary
After starting the rocketry club at my high school I began to realize rocketry was more than a child’s hobby. It could turn into an engineering haven with the right guidance. After having navigated through a political minefield to be able to launch the rocket on school grounds I thought the club needed to be able to launch a rocket from a farther distance than what the launcher cables allowed. I also thought why not make it more on the “high tech” side instead of having a few components in series ignite the rocket. ARLP uses the complex processing powers of a computer to enhance the launch experience of a simple(or not so simple) rocket.
Video
v1.0
v2.0
v2.0 In Action
Photos
v1.0
v2.0
Log
March 23rd 2011
ARLP v2.0 schematics and code are posted.
March 19th 2011
ARLP v2.0 is completed. v2.0 no longer requires the control board because the control station is now a single laptop with WIFI support. All electronics are now mounted under the launch pad inside a box which allows the full top surface of the launch pad to be used by the rocket. To properly supply the 2.5A router at 12V a GT Motorcycle battery for Exide is used to power the entire launch pad.
January 21st 2011
ARLP v1.0 is completed.
January 18th 2011
All physical construction is complete. The launch pad is raised on PVC legs. The launch pad connects to a control board where an ATMEGA88P clocked at 16MHZ talks to an accompanying computer via USB. For additional safety a door sensor is mounted on the board and the rocket cannot be launched unless its complementary “closing mechanism” is placed next to it. The microcontroller’s firmware is complete and the computer can communicate with the microcontroller. All that remains is to create a fancy user interface to launch the rocket.
December 21st 2010
PVC pipe is being cut that will extend the wooden stubs on the launch pad. The control board schematic and software are being designed.
December 12th 2010
The launch pad was nearly finished including both the wooden structure and the electronic components. All that remains to finish on the launch pad is to cut PVC pipe which would allow the pad to rest on a higher surface.
December 12th 2010
The launch control board’s frame was constructed.
Downloads
admin | 
December 12, 2010 1:41 pm
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