GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

The Gyroscopic Rocket Capstone Proposal

Donald S. Corp, Maccoy G. Merrell
Waxahachie Global High School

GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

Table of Contents

Purpose.........3
Project Choice Reasoning and Career Applications3
Technical Paper Research4
Target Audience...4
Measuring Success...4
Methods of Feedback...5
Milestone Timeline..6
Mentor Information..6
Applications of Engineering Design Process...7
References8

GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

Purpose
Our purpose is to design and construct a working prototype of a rocket that can fly
without conventional stabilization fins. The rocket will be stabilized without active onboard or
remote controllers. This will enable us to fire relatively cheap, disposable rockets from via a
launch tube without the need of expensive onboard computers. Our method of stabilization takes
advantage of torque induced gyroscopic precession. Using motors, multiple gyroscopes will be
powered which will exert a perpendicular force along its axis, keeping the rocket oriented
upright.

Project Choice Reasoning and Career Applications

We immediately wanted to create our final project idea, which limited our options in
some ways. Our idea could not be too dangerous, and it had to be feasible with our limited funds.
We had both previously built model rockets and were interested in the idea of making a more
refined version, with certain modifications. Eventually, we refined this idea into a gyroscopically
stabilized rocket. This aligned perfectly with both of our intended majors. Donald Corp wants to
become an electrical engineer, and the systems we will be adding into the rocket will help
prepare him for his future field. Similarly, Maccoy
Merrell wants to become a computer engineer, which
will require the same experience in the same fields as an
electrical engineer. This career compatibility was
another factor that lead us into choosing our rocket idea.

GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

Technical Paper Research

Several subject for our technical paper could be pursued. Potential subjects include:

Is gyroscopic stabilization a valid replacement for stabilization fins?

What type of propulsion is most efficient for model rockets?

Can the placement of loads across a rocket effect the overall stability of its design?
Target Audience
The target audience of our

project

includes those interested in model

rocketry as well as large aerospace

firms

such as NASA. Our methods of

production and construction steps will

be

posted to a do-it-yourself website such as E-How. This will allow us to contact our target
audience through an in-depth method of designing this rocket at home.

Measuring Success
The success of our project will rely on the general success
of each successive prototype, the effectiveness of the system
under various atmospheric conditions (this will be measured by
pressure, humidity, temperature, wind speed, and general visual
weather conditions), and the ability for the rocket to stabilize
itself at different angles of launch, ranging from 0 degrees to 45
degrees. It will also include a goal of at least twenty hits on our
do-it-yourself webpage.

GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

Methods of Feedback
Our rocket will be equipped with telemetry systems that will include an altimeter,
accelerometer, and a gyroscope for determining orientation of rocket at a given time. These will
be contained in a retrievable capsule contained inside the rocket. Using these systems, we can
determine points of failure, the general instability of our rocket design, effectiveness at the
gyroscopic stabilization system at varying degrees of power, and the rockets potential resistance
force produced by the gyroscope
(this can be measured by the effect
wind has on the orientation of the
rocket). Human feedback will be
available by a survey posted to the do-it-yourself website asking how effective we were at
explaining how to build the craft, and if our rocket performed as described. This will allow us to
further improve the page and our overall explanation of our concept.

GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

Milestone Timeline
10/29

Gather control group parts

11/12

Test control group (finned and non-finned rocket)

12/3

Design and construct working prototype of stabilized rocket

12/17

Propulsion System Test

1/17

Internal Ignition System design and construction

1/24

Internal Ignition test (non-flight)

1/31

Internal Ignition test (in-flight)

2/11

Prototype tests at various angles (45-90)

2/25

Horizontal Launching Test (0-45)

3/11

Launch Tube Test

4/8

Construct Full-Sized final prototype

4/15

Full sized test and data collection

Mentor Information
Tim Toriz is an airline captain for a charter airline
and has extensive experience building remote operated
aircraft. He has built several of his own RC planes from
scratch and has been fling for years. It is for these
reasons we have chosen him for our mentor. His
experience with both gyroscopically stabilized vessels as well as their control systems, and how
they apply to scaled-down models will prove beneficial to our project. His insight will be
invaluable to our project.

GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

Applications of the Engineering Design Process

Our rocket will utilize the engineering design process through the use of prototypes. We
will develop several prototypes, making tweaks as necessary, in order to improve the function
and performance of the rocket. Using this method, we are utilizing the engineering design
process through the cycle of prototyping, analyzing, and redesigning. All parts of the rocket will
be sketched before initial construction with dimensions, as well as material choices. Then, the
designed parts will be constructed and assembled. The initial prototype will be tested then
improved according to our testing information. We will undergo this process several times,
before developing a final prototype. The final prototype will be constructed carefully with as few
errors as possible. This prototype will
then be launched and final testing
information will be taken, which will
be used in a final presentation of the
project.

Design

First prototype working drawings

Build

Construct prototype

Test

Launch rocket and collect data

Evaluate Design

Analyze testing results

Repeat

With new information in mind we go back to

the design phase

GYROSCOPIC ROCKET CAPSTONE PROPOSAL

References
NASA. Guidance System. Ed. Tom Benson. 19 October 2015. Electronic. 27 October
2016. <https://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/guidance.html>.
Steinmann, Paul. How Gyrostabilizers Work. 2016. Electronic. 27 October 2016.
NASA. Chapter 11. Typical Onboard Systems
October 2016.

CONTINUED. n.d. Electronic. 27