Research Projects

Embry-Riddle Future Space Explorers and Developers (ERFSEDS) will be attending a rocket competition in Utah this coming June, and they will receive extra points for the competition if they have a research project (not built by their club), Inside of their rockets. In collaboration with ERFSEDS, the Society 4 S.P.A.C.E. team would like to send a small satellite attached to a quad-coper as the research project (payload) for ERFSEDS rocket.

This project consists of building a quad-rotor that can fit in the space constraints of a rocket. This Rocket will reach an altitude of 10,000 to 20,000 ft. The Quadcopters objective will be to collect atmospheric data as it descends. The plan is to create a new chassis for the quad-copters electronic components and arms that will allow the quad copter to fold its arms inwards to meet the required space constraints.  After launching the rocket, the quad copter/satellite will be deployed at the maximum altitude and begin collecting data once jettisoned from the rocket. Once reaching 1,000 feet the quad-copter will be programmed to deploy a parachute. Once it has reached a safe velocity, the engines will engage at around 400 feet (the maximum altitude for any civil autonomous or r/c vehicle) and the quad-copter will be autonomously navigate to a prearranged location. Flight planning will be done using the open source application Mission Planner. In addition to the critical components of the quad-copter, our design will integrate a number of other data by collecting sub-systems currently being used in the weather balloon project designed by the Society 4 S.P.A.C.E. team. These sensors will be able to collect pressure, temperature, humidity, wind and video. This project will provide it’s user with a better understanding of rocket propulsion system, UAVs in high altitude/velocity, and the effect of launch on the payload. The A.S.R.V will also drastically improve the data retrieval process, because it will bring the data directly to the user so the user does not have to search for it.