A SOUNDING ROCKET ACTIVE STABILIZATION CONTROL EXPERIMENT

摘要

The ASCENT-1 project incorporates a passively stable Viper L-3 rocket with an innovative active stability system design by Edward J. Krohne. The project is a proof of concept of the active stabilization system and control matrix involving roll, and pitch and yaw stabilization, on a 13-1/2 foot long sounding rocket. The rocket achieved an altitude of 14,000-ft AGL on its first launch with the passive stability system consisting of 3 stationary delta aft fins. This passive stability will be retained as a fail-safe mechanism for the newly designed active stabilization system. The addition of active stabilization will maintain and optimize the rocket's vertical flight by correcting for roll, pitch, yaw, and angle of attack, increasing the altitude achieved. The most challenging task has been understanding, developing, and writing the control system matrix. Inertia information from three rate gyros and three accel-erometers will be translated through the control matrix and a circuit board, and compared to pre-programmed desired values. These are transferred into electronic signals that are sent to four servos linked to the active fins that then correct the vertical flight of the rocket. The control system is currently in the development phase, and the roll stabilization component is the portion that will definitely be ready for proof with this flight of the rocket. The remainder of the control matrix will be subsequently written, and can be tested in later flights.