Propulsive Landers, Georgia Tech’s Hovering Rocket Club

Propulsive Landers is a student organization at the Georgia Institute of Technology composed of 90 members spanning across 9 majors, with the objective of becoming the first student team in the world to achieve hovering, vertical take-off, and landing (VTOL) of a hybrid rocket. Within the organization, the group is divided into 5 subteams: propulsion, avionics & guidance, navigation, and control, structures, marketing, and administration.

On our mission to become the first student team to achieve VTOL of a hybrid rocket, we can divide our objective into a series of well-defined short and long term goals that guide our progress to make sure that our technical challenges are addressed systematically. These goals are as follows:

Short Term Goals:

Milestone #1: Develop a functioning Monoprop Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that will serve as the avionics and algorithms test bed for the final rocket.
Milestone #2: Develop a functioning 2500 kilogram-force hybrid rocket engine for ground testing and the hovering rocket.

Long Term Goals:

Milestone #3: Develop a functioning thrust vector control system with 15 ± 1 degrees of rotation for the hybrid rocket engine.
Milestone #4: Develop a functional throttling mechanism and control system that can throttle down to 40% of nominal thrust and hold constant for at least 2 seconds.
Milestone #5: Hover 5 meters above ground in a controller manner for 10 seconds with payload.
Milestone #6: Demonstrate a successful landing from a height of 15 meters with payload.
Milestone #7: Controllably ascent the vehicle from the ground to 50 meters above ground level, then demonstrate a successful landing with a 10 meter diameter circle.

In the long run, Propulsive Landers hopes to not only be a student organization that provides experiences relevant to industry and academia, but also an opportunity to explore the field of propulsive landing as a student at Georgia Tech.

An engine system for one of our rockets we are currently building.

Currently, our teams are hard at work designing the first project, a Monoprop UAV. We are pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology by developing algorithms to hover a hybrid rocket using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as test platforms. Their ultimate goal is to simulate vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) operations, allowing them to test and refine complex control systems. By practicing these maneuvers, they aim to enhance the stability and control dynamics of rockets during various phases of flight, a key challenge for future rocket missions.

The project focuses on several technical elements, including the use of control algorithms like PID and predictive control to achieve precise attitude adjustments. Thrust vectoring, which allows real-time throttle adjustments to respond to disturbances, is being tested along with aerodynamic stability considerations such as center of mass and lever arm design. The engineers are also working on perfecting descent and landing controls by managing descent velocity with precision. Sensor fusion, which integrates data from multiple sensors like IMUs, GPS, and barometers, plays a critical role in improving flight control and stability throughout the research.

Two A&GNC leads discuss technical ideas for building the rocket engine.

In just a few weeks, the A&GNC (Avionics and Guidance, Navigation & Controls) team has made significant progress on their current project, a monoprop UAV that will serve as a test bed for rocket systems. The team has developed a comprehensive physical architecture for the system, created a fully functional dynamics model, tested various sensor fusion algorithms, and designed schematics for their PCBs. In the coming weeks, they plan to advance their PCB designs, develop the necessary firmware, fine-tune their flight algorithms, and begin assembling the components. The Structures team has been involved with the design of the Monoprop UAV and Vibration Table. Currently, parts are being printed for analysis. On the research side, they have begun a literature review and are formatting their first paper. The Propulsion team has been working hard to develop the requirements and preliminary design for our reaction control system thrusters. In the next few weeks, they are excited to begin researching and designing the injector and a reliable ignition system for the engine.

A general meeting for the propulsion team where we went into propulsion basics.

Propulsive Landers is an inclusive organization dedicated to exploring the fundamentals of aerospace, event organization, and marketing, with the ambitious goal of becoming the first student team to achieve the hovering, vertical takeoff, and landing (VTOL) of a hybrid rocket. Its multidisciplinary approach invites students from a wide range of majors, from aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering to industrial engineering and business, offering diverse opportunities for involvement. With research as a core pillar, the organization provides unique opportunities in hybrid propulsion and system algorithm development, filling gaps in existing literature. Ultimately, Propulsive Landers offers a rich environment for any student at Georgia Tech curious and eager to learn, regardless of their previous academic background.

Propulsive Landers' pursuit of hybrid rocketry will advance significantly with the support of PCBWay. As the team works towards designing and constructing hybrid rockets and a hover vehicle, they often face challenges in procuring and fabricating parts that meet their strict budget constraints and ambitious timelines. With access to PCBWay's rapid prototyping services, Propulsive Landers could expedite their design cycles while offering more of their members invaluable hands-on experience in design and fabrication processes.

Partnering with PCBWay would provide the tools and resources needed to refine flight computers, making the systems more robust, efficient, and capable of achieving the team's ambitious goals. Through this collaboration, Propulsive Landers aims to secure a brighter future for aerospace innovation among student teams worldwide.

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