We decided to create an application to produce two simulations. Each simulation would be of a rocket that has a moment due to the centre of mass not being quite on the main axis

• In the first simulation there is no guidance system
• The second has an active guidance system.

The guidance system’s sole purpose is to reduce rotational speed. It does not attempt to keep the rocket pointed ‘up’.  [We do envisage at some point, some attempt will be made to have a stabilisation system that can attempt to counter the drift in direction of the rocket].

The video simulations are best watched in full-screen mode as the rocket is quite small. It is small because we positioned the viewing platform a large distance from the rocket, so we could get a good view of the majority of its launch.

 

 

The specifications of the rocket are:-

Engine: Single D engine

Rockt Length: 584mm

Rocket Mass: 221 grams

Guidance System: KATE [Kinetic Attitude Thrust Engine]

Location of Guidance System: 250mm from tail

 

The code that was used to produce this simulation is freely available at:-

https://github.com/joeman155/JJROCKET_SIMULATIONS

The KATE System

The is the name that has been given to the system to provide stabilisation. It will be described in detail in future posts.