Aerospace · Aerodynamics
Model Rocket Flight Computer & Telemetry
Intermediate 5 weeks 35-55 hours
Build an altimeter/flight computer that logs altitude, acceleration, and deploys recovery. Analyze flight data vs simulation. Exciting, buildable aerospace portfolio project.
Major
Aerospace
Focus area
Aerodynamics
Total hours
35-55 hours
What you'll need
- BMP280 barometric pressure temperature sensor module
- MPU6050 6-axis accelerometer gyroscope sensor module
- Arduino Nano V3 ATmega328P mini microcontroller board
- microSD card data logging module for Arduino
- LiPo battery 3S 11.1V for RC
- active buzzer and LED assortment kit for Arduino
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Steps
- Wire the pressure sensor, IMU, SD card module, and buzzer to the Arduino Nano.
- Program the flight computer to log altitude and acceleration many times per second.
- Test it on the ground by moving it up and down stairs.
- Simulate the flight in OpenRocket to predict altitude.
- Launch at a supervised model rocket event and recover the data.
- Compare flight data to the simulation and document it for your portfolio.
What to photograph for your portfolio
- Flight computer build
- altitude/acceleration plots
- flight vs simulation
- recovery deployment
- data dashboard
Resume bullet starters
Copy one, then swap in your own numbers.
Designed and built a model rocket flight computer & telemetry using Flight dynamics, embedded systems, sensor fusion
Applied data analysis and aerospace to implement, test, and validate the system end-to-end
Skills you'll show off
Flight dynamicsembedded systemssensor fusiondata analysisaerospace