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Olympus Project V1.0
Read Me File
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Project Manual - Initial Release
7 October 2023
We are pleased to announce the release of the Olympus Project
Manual. This 132 page manual takes you step by step through the
development and construction of the the Olympus model rocket and
the design, construction and coding of the electronic payload.
There are plenty of drawings and pictures to show how the project
came together.
Included in the manual are detailed sections on the construction
and finishing of the Olympus rocket. There are sections that describe
the design process of the electronic payload using the A-PAM as a
foundation, then adding in the altimeter and IMU sensors. A detailed
code review of each section of code is included. We take a detailed
look at how to calculate the proper size vent holes to allow the
altimeter to function properly, as well as how ambient air temperature
can affect your altitude results. The project isn't completely finished
even after all of the construction is done, as we include a section on
how we can improve this version of the project in future builds.
There is an extensive appendix that includes a complete code listing,
a full parts listing, a section that looks at the similarities and
differences between the Scientific Method and the Engineering Process.
We also include an overview of how to create and use an Engineering
Notebook. Finally we even include a section on how to create the 3D
printed stand - including how to get two color printing from a single
extruder printer using the Cura slicer.
If you want to see how the project came into existance, are interested
in the thought process for the coding, or just want an idea of how to
build a research project, you will find the Olympus Project Manual a
valuable resource.
Don't forget to stop by our YouTube channel to view our series on the
Olympus Project. Visit us at https://www.youtube.com/@AustinAerospace
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Why We Created the Arduino Primary Avionics Module (A-PAM)
If you do a search for model rocket electronic payload, you will see
a lot of entries for medium to high power, large diameter rockets.
Joe Barnard of BPS space has been doing some really fantastic stuff
with electronics and rocketry including thrust vector control and
powered landings just like a Falcon 9 rocket. You can see videos of
his accomplishments on his YouTube channel at
https://www.youtube.com/c/BPSspace.
These types of rockets are large, typically 80mm (3.1 inches) in
diameter or larger. You may see videos of these rockets where an
Arduino Uno board is contained inside. These rockets are flown in
large open areas, including deserts and dry lake beds. These larger
rockets also use larger propellants, typically in the High Power
Rocketry (HPR) range of H and above impulse level. Not only do
these motors require you to be certified in HPR before you can buy
them, the motors themselves tend to be rather expensive.
Now imagine the high school student interested in conducting
rocketry related electronics project. It can be very discouraging
to watch these videos and realize that you simply cant do what they
are doing because you dont have the place to launch the rocket, you
need a HPR certificate, its too expensive, or any number of
barriers. I wanted to change that.
Another common factor among custom made electronic payloads is that
often the payload is designed for a specific mission. This means
that each time a new mission is developed a new specialty payload is
needed.
I have been involved in rocketry since the mid 1970s, but electronics
is completely new to me. However, microcontrollers manufactured by
companies such as Arduino have made modern electronics readily
accessible. After playing with the Arduino Uno, Mega2560 and the Nano,
I realized that these can be used in much smaller rockets, using much
smaller and inexpensive motors.
My goal is to develop a system that could be used by high school
students. It would involve proven rocket designs that could be flown
on school yards. That meant it needed to be small, much smaller than
what you typically see. That meant fitting everything into a body
tube with a diameter of about 42mm (1.65 inches), or about half the
size you typically see. This would allow it to use D or E powered
black powder motors.
I also wanted to create a system that could be reused, thereby
reducing the need to constantly recreate new electronic payload
designs. It would need to be flexible and upgradable. I wanted the
design to be a starting point; one that students could take and
modify to allow them to conduct real science. It also had to be
inexpensive.
With all of this in mind I began designing the Arduino Primary
Avionics Module (A-PAM). The module provides a microcontroller, a
data recorder and a status lamp. It is housed in a payload bay that
is printed on a 3D printer. The CAD drawings are readily available
on TinkerCAD (https://www.tinkercad.com/things/7pel9mfXqzs) to
allow anyone to take the design and make it theirs.
The Olympus Project is our second project making use of A-PAM. It
is designed to demonstrate how the A-PAM can be used as a foundation
for an electronic payload in a research project. It does this by
creating an engineering project that studies the the G-forces and
roll rate of a model rocket body tube during flight. The CAD drawings
for the payload bay, sensor bay and adapter can be found at
https://www.tinkercad.com/things/iY6COkklnYd.
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The Rocketry Research Journal
Our main site is the Rocketry Research Journal. This blog and web
site can be found at https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com. Below we
list what you can expect to find on this site. There is no charge for
any of the information or software you find on the site. Please feel
free to download our reports, software, technical manuals, etc.
What Is on the Site
The web site provides a portal to a number of the resources we have
available. They include:
* The Rocketry Research Journal blog features articles on recent
projects, news from the world of rocketry (both full size and
miniature) and more. Check back frequently for the latest updates.
* The Austin Aerospace Education Network (AAEN) has been developing
the open source Flight Logs Database Program. The software can
track your rockets from initial construction, then track all
flights and record any maintenance needed or performed. It can
calculate altitude, record any 3D prints used on the model, store
the plans and even report CATOs to the MESS (Malfunctioning Engine
Statistical Survey) site. If you are a NAR member and looking at
completing your NARTREK submissions for the Bronze, Silver or Gold
levels, it can help with that as well. Theres even more the
software can do for you. Read more about it on the Flight Logs
Software page.
* Our second software project is the Rocketry Research Assistant.
This database is intended to be used to track your model rocketry
engineering and research projects. Created using LibreOffice Base
it is in the very early stages of development.
* View our Tech Reports. At the time of this report there a total
of seven reports available. They cover the basics of model
rocketry, an introduction to doing research, single station
altitude tracking, two station altitude tracking, how to adjust
your electronic altimeter to account for temperature changes, how
to use a spreadsheet to calculate altitude and tips on getting
started using an Arduino micro-controller.
* We have a section that focuses on the Arduino micro-controller and
how it can be used in model rocketry.
* We have a section set aside for 3D printing. Currently we have an
article on using 3D printing to build a Dyna-Soar Titan II model
rocket.
* There is a page for Model Plans. There are two plans currently
available, but more are on the way.
https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com
Download Latest Version
Olympus_Avionics_V1.0.zip (8.8 kB)
