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4" Avionics

Avionics for a 4 inch rocket

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CAD

Overview of System

The avionics system is composed of five modules interconnected through CAN bus. These modules are: Power, Sensors, GPS, Antenna, and Recovery. The backplate features PCIe slots, and connects all the modules.

Requirements and Design Goals

The primary goal of the 4-inch avionics system is to enable learning. This will be the first system of many.

Primary Functional Requirements

  • Don't be janky.
  • Fully open-source.
  • Assemblable by JLCPCB.
  • Incorporate all known best practices to enable scalability.
  • It will be a CAN-enabled system in a 4-inch diameter form factor.

Battery

The system will use a SRAD battery pack for custom-built boards, and COTS components will use a commercial battery pack. For the first launch, a 2s 2p pack inspired by this video will be used.

Improvements for the Next Version

  • USB Multiplexer: Controlled by a Raspberry Pi Zero. The backplate will host the MUX, enabling digital reboots and removal of USB ports except on the Pi Zero.
  • Programmable Power MUX: Allows remote rebooting of components.
  • Ethernet: Inclusion for data transmission.
  • Camera Transmission
  • USB Protection IC