Rocket launching robot - video now also on Youku available

Let's Make Robots Robots
1

Hi everybody,

Just working on the second version of my model rocket launching robot. The first version was remote controlled (see video), the second version is controlled by a 28-pin microcontroller from PICAXE.

 

The image above shows the PICAXE project board, the voltage regulator board, the control panel, the power dual h-bridge and the 27 MHz-receiver. The nose cone of the rocket will be equipped with a 27 MHz-transmitter, to transmit data from the rocket to the robot. The 27 MHz-transmitter/receiver is from a toy RC car. The transmitter was rebuilt space saving on a perfboard, modified to run with a lower voltage and additional equipped with a bright flashing LED to indicate the trajectory visual better:

On the servo will be a Sharp distance sensor and a directional antenna mounted, so it's possible that the rover not only launch the rocket automatically but also track back then the landing site of the rocket.

The two front wheels of the rover have already been manufactured:

To launch the rocket, the micro switch has to be in the right position and the pushbutton has to be pressed. After a short warning beep the count down starts, then again five short warning beeps before the rocket will be launched. The red LED indicates if the igniter is connected:

The robot is furthermore equipped with a small wireless CMOS cam, which transmits videos to a laptop in a range of approximately 50 m.

 

 

-------------

UPDATE

-------------

The robot got motors & wheels...

 Sharp distance sensor...

 

and it's rear wheel resp. rear ball...

The program for the robot is already written; as soon as the launch pad of the rover is finished, a test video will follow.

 

-------------

UPDATE

-------------

Decided to add bump sensors on the robot:

IR, sonar and lasers have blind spots with no coverage. And even Soviet Mars walking robot PrOP-M had bump sensors:

 

-------------

UPDATE

-------------

Using now the 315 MHz RX/TX Radio Frequency (RF) Link Modules from Sparkfun to transmitte data from the rocket to the rover:

 

-------------

UPDATE

-------------

My Estes RTF SkyTrax model rockets arrived today. I built in the transmitter. I use a 3.6 Li-Ion battery as power supply (from a small battery screw driver).The battery fits (after some modifications) perfect in the nose cone:

A bright blue flashing LED hopefully indicates the trajectory and landing site better...

400×500

Ok, who remember not Rambo's famous quote:

Hamid: What's that?

Rambo: It's blue light.

Hamid: What does it do?

Rambo: It turns blue.

:D

Additional a signal will be send to the robot. In the moment the robot only response with a beep and a flashing LED if the signal will be received. Transmitting of temperature, pressure, radiation, photo, video, position etc. would be thinkable.

375×500

The total weight of the rocket with battery, transmitter and C6-4 engine is 134 g. The recommanded max. liftoff weight for a C6 rocket is 113.2 g, so the rocket will not reach the estimated altitude of 213 m with a C6 rocket engine, approximately only 150 m.

 

-------------

UPDATE

-------------

Today I finished the rocket launching robot:

375×500

455×500

Ready for outdoor test run and rocket launch. Stay tuned for the video...

 

-------------

UPDATE

-------------

Outdoor test video of RLR - drive on rough surface, rocket launch and tracking of the rocket landing site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSD16a32keo

 

Launching model rockets and track back the landing site of the rocket

  • Actuators / output devices: one servo, 2 geared motors
  • Control method: autonomous
  • CPU: Picaxe 28X
  • Operating system: Picaxe basic
  • Power source: 9.6v nicd 1000mA
  • Programming language: Picaxe basic
  • Sensors / input devices: Sharp IR, home-made bumper switch
  • Target environment: outdoor
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://community.robotshop.com/robots/show/rocket-launching-robot-video-now-also-on-youku-available
2

Nice! Did you consider

Nice! Did you consider installing camera on the rocket itself? :))

What do you use for video capture? I have probably same wireless camera and reciever, but the capture device I bought was absolute crap, could not find any drivers for it :frowning:

3

Wow!

Oh man, this is so nice! I see that you are going for Google Lunar X Prize.

Thanks a lot for showing your work here, I cannot wait to see what more you make. Thanks!

4

Hi isotope,Yes, I

Hi isotope,

Yes, I considered to installing a camera on the rocket. You could also use a commercially available video cam model rocket like Estes Oracle Video Rocket or Estes AstroVision Digital Video Rocket (I think, this type is already out of stock).

I use a Chinese video capture, called "10moons".

5

Keep you updated

Thanks,

Will keep you updated :slight_smile:

 

6

very nice! do you make your
very nice! do you make your own rocket engines, or buy estes rocket engines?

7

Later I will make my own rocket engines
For first tests I will use commercial black powder model rocket engines, later I will make my own ACPC (Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant) engines and rockets.

8

Yeah, that mix is powerfull,
Yeah, that mix is powerfull, i’ve made some myself with KNO3 and sugar, also made a black powder one(very powerfull) never made rockets though, just strapped it to a small RC car :stuck_out_tongue:

9

MarkusB is going for the

MarkusB is going for the moon though.

Really!

10

that thing looks nice and dangerous :slight_smile:
like the wolrds wobbliest mobile ICBM platform :smiley:

11

Wait
Wait till you saw it in action, hehe :slight_smile:

12

Let’s say
Let’s say we try it. It’s a lot of fun anyhow :smiley:

13

Seriously trying to go to

Seriously trying to go to the moon is a lot more impressive than not trying!

IMHO :slight_smile:

14

Formulations
be careful what binder you use, and be sure to have an anti-static pad handy, most ACPC formulations have aluminum or magnalium in them, a little spark could ignite the mixture. I suggest using a Potassium Perchlorate, Sodium Salyclate and petrolium jelly fuel (Whistle mix) it is less sensitive to static and has more thrust than amonium perchlorate based mixes. Just be careful with Whistle mix as it is shock sensative, so you must press the engines. (Pyrotechnitian in training, lol) Go check out Pyroguide.com for some formulas, read up first, and BE SAFE

15

Thanks for the tips

Thanks for the tips. A very good idea in chemistry is always to start with very small amounts :slight_smile:

I while ago we did an experiment for a Moon firework rocket design to celebrate a sucessful landing. You know the relation of Chinese to fireworks…

Here is the video of the experiment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zVO4jr1lIU

 

16

Hey, I like your tactile
Hey, I like your tactile sensor array, very crafty.

17

New video

Just uploaded a first video of the robot - obstacle avoidance and ignition system tests.

18

Hi fine

Hi fine project…

May i know…

how much you had spent for the rocket?

19

The rocket

For the robot I have not selected a rocket till know. Probably I will go for Estes RTF model rocket SkyTrax, easy to fly and some place in the nose cone for the transmitter and battery.

For the first R/C controlled prototype I used a Chinese model rocket, around 25 RMB, including rocket motor C6-4. BTW, not so easy to get model rockets in China. It’s normally only allowed for educational use and reserved for schools and universities. And this in the country which invented the rocket :frowning:

20

This would look sweet as an

This would look sweet as an onboard camera:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Mini-DV-DVR-Sports-Video-Camera-MD80-Spy-cam-30fps_W0QQitemZ280479812033QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414de649c1#ht_4396wt_1084

 

for that price i guess it’s easily replaced :smiley: