Is it practical to launch a model rocket and have it land in a controlled manner, like Falcon 9, using hardware on the level of arduino and open-source software?
Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
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Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#2The control software is within hobbyist range, if you're prepared to crash a lot of rockets during testing. But the hardware is hard -- you need a throttleable engine.
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#3I haven't heard of anyone doing this as a project, I bet it would be a challenging, and I think it would be awesome for you to try it.
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#4I’m pretty sure that your problem isn’t going to be the software but rather the engine and the rocket itself.
Hobby rockets use simple solid fuel engines you’ll need to build an actual liquid rocket engine with controlled thrust that can be reignited the rocket it self also need to be large enough to be aerodynamically controlled and hobby rockets tend to be too light so they’ll simply tumble in the wind.
While you don’t need to build something the size of a falcon 9 for propulsive landing you’ll need something way larger than any hobbiest rocket I know of for sure.
If you just want the control part then simulating it is likely going to be a better use of your time, you can even build your own auto-pilot for something like Kerbal Space Program it won’t be the real thing but it would at least be achievable.
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#5Be really careful. Adding guidance to a hobby rocket may classify it as a missile, and you will need to start looking into ITAR.
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#6I’m pretty sure that your problem isn’t going to be the software but rather the engine and the rocket itself. Hobby rockets use simple solid fuel engines you’ll need to build an actual liquid rocket engine with controlled thrust that can be reignited the rocket it self also need to be large enough to be aerodynamically controlled and hobby rockets tend to be too light so they’ll simply tumble in the wind. While you d…
It’s undesirable for many reasons but could a small rocket be made to work if you made it really heavy? Of course one would be just pissing away efficiency but would a small heavy software-controlled model rocket work?
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#7It isn't quite a model rocket, but there is an interesting video of someone making a single-fan drone using thrust vectoring. Not quite like a Falcon 9 but the same idea, vertical take off and landing, and shaped like a rocket.
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#8This guy [0] does it with regular solid fuel rocket motors. Since the engines cannot be throttled, I think he has to try and light them at just the right moment, which does not seem particularly easy...
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#9BPS.space is attempting it.
Test Launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQt-9SSJ51c
Test Landing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXy-x6lkQvQ
Re: Ask HN: Is it practical to create a software-controlled model rocket?
#10People definitely do thrust vectoring and control systems on model rockets, like this system: https://bps.space/signal
This could theoretically be used to land vertically, though that hasn’t been achieved.