Iowa State USLI -- Amazing Test Flight!

[DTH Rocket]

Hey, it's been awhile since I've been on the Rocketry Forums, but I was recommended to make a post about what we're doing for NASA's USLI competition.

In case you are unfamiliar with USLI, it is a competition for university teams to design, build and fly a high power rocket to an altitude of one mile. The team also designs and builds a scientific or engineering payload to fly with the launch vehicle. Teams are scored based on a number of criteria, including closest to a mile, payload criteria, launch vehicle criteria, outreach activities, and most importantly, milestone design reviews.

Our team (Iowa State) is doing a controlled descent vehicle, which will eventually be a powered quadcopter helicopter with a controllable camera (GoPro). The nose cone is an acrylic hemispherical dome that the camera is housed in. After apogee, on the way down at 1000 feet the payload deploys with the main parachute. Initially the payload has its own parachute, but if everything looks okay, eventually the payload will be able to release the parachute and fly under helicopter power.

Payload concept animation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksdmhXeXbQY

We built our rocket to fly on the largest motor they would let us (We're using an L1115). What an awesome motor!

Last Saturday we drove over to Illinois for our full scale test launch. It went well for the most part. The only major issue was that we *forgot* to use shear pins in the payload, and it deployed at apogee. With, um, 19 mph winds, it recovered 7 miles away! Good thing we had a tracker in it!

The onboard video turned out great. It is surprisingly steady for how windy it is. The only explanation I can think of is that the quadcopter arms sticking out give it a higher moment of inertia, resisting rotation.

At 1080p and full screen it looks the best.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3ILbSIlc50

Here is the full video, (including lower quality onboard video):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbb_lED1Ts



I will probably post some build pictures on this thread a little later, but otherwise there are some posted on my blog.

[troj]

Great to hear!

If you guys ever need a launch site to the west, let me know.

I'll see you in Huntsville in about a month!

-Kevin

[rifleshooter]

You're the luckiest man in the world to be able to work on this project.

I hate you.

<j/k>

I'd have to say that I'd bet the Army would be interested in rocket deployment of helicopter drone vehicles.

Think of the combat value of a small maneuverable drone entering the target area from a great distance away, very quickly - normally a team has to launch the drone, which puts them close to the FEBA (Forward Edge of the Battle Area). Something like that likely requires combat support, which means the resources of like 40-100 guys in the mission to protect the drone launch team.

[David987Fox]

Glad to see you guys got everything back. I was out looking for my lost wild child when you guys recovered. That wind was nuts!

[The Astronaut Farmer]

Here is a video I got from the ground of you guys. Nice launch! Sorry about the wind noise!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxudO-OtBgg&context=C433a6abADvjVQa1PpcFOAsfiZIC8g6ahfx_ wb48malSOyPhg_p-g=

[New Ocean]

Risky to fly with that amount of wind! Good thing you got it back with footage.

[Hazmat54]

Hey! ISU alum here. Long time Tripoli member. You got any contact info? Trying to fight off overtime hours and get a level 2 rocket built. Peoria area. Hometown is the Quad Cities. Saw your web site after the St. Louis University guys launched around here.

Scott Friesth
BS 1977
TRA #01776

[powderburner]

OK, I have to ask----how did you get that air-to-air shot, was that from your "helicopter" vehicle after deployment from the mothership, or did someone fly up there in something as a chase aircraft?

Looks like some nice work, BTW


Dave Landgraf
BS Aerospace Engineering
ISU 1975

[DTH Rocket]

OK, I have to ask----how did you get that air-to-air shot, was that from your "helicopter" vehicle after deployment from the mothership, or did someone fly up there in something as a chase aircraft?

Looks like some nice work, BTW


Dave Landgraf
BS Aerospace Engineering
ISU 1975

That is a still frame taken from the video. It is from the payload that accidentally ejected.

[Handeman]

The onboard video turned out great. It is surprisingly steady for how windy it is. The only explanation I can think of is that the quadcopter arms sticking out give it a higher moment of inertia, resisting rotation.

Actually it should be pretty steady. It is falling through the air mass and moving with the air, there is no wind relative to the unit as its coming down. Unless there is turbulence, it should be nice and steady, even in high speed winds.

[flynfrog]

Nice flight from a former isu grad

[The Astronaut Farmer]

Do you guys plan on having a tracker on the payload parachute or are you labeling it a lost cause? Seems like it'll drift into the trees in Alabama pretty easily without any weight on it. I guess if its a small parachute its not much money lost.

[DTH Rocket]

At 500 ft it'll release, hopefully that's not enough to drift over the horizon and get lost. But whatevs, the Iowa State Space Society (our parent club) has an entire BOX of assorted parachutes. It won't be missed if it gets lost. Only concern is for our hosts, the Braggs. We don't want to litter their fields.

[EddieJ710]

Very cool! Look forward to talking to you guys again at FRR!

-Eddie J.

[The Astronaut Farmer]

You might want to consider putting some oversized quicklinks on the parachute. They weigh a lot, and will work fine if you are currently overshooting the mile mark and if you have extra space in your rocket. Otherwise you're probably losing that parachute haha.