Part 2 here. The new receiver and servo arrived, allowing us to continue our work on the parachute system for Project Redirect. After installing these parts, we were once more ready to test. Our first test revealed new problems. Even after the upgrade, the servo still had trouble releasing. Also, the new springs made the…
Part one here We decided to try the spring powered parachute system one last time before scrapping the idea. We wanted to know if the length of the springs effects the power of the parachute system. The “power” of springs is measured in rate(lb/in). Rate is how much force (in lbs) it takes to compress…
This week we returned to working on the parachute system. With the new receiver, we were able to set up the release servo motors. After some testing, we realized that the servos we originally planned to use did not fit our specifications. Fortunately, we were able to repurpose some other servos we had on hand….
While we waited for the replacement receiver to arrive we decided to start studying for a 107 license. A 107 license is needed to operate a sUAS (small Unmanned Aircraft System) or “drone” for commercial purposes. We are unsure if this license is needed, but as it also allows greater freedom in sUAS operation we…
We returned to working on Project Redirect two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the test payload receiver had to be replaced (more about this here.) At this time, we are still waiting to receive the replacement. Once it arrives, we will be able to continue preparing for our next flight. More updates will follow…
Our original plan was to perform our first drop test of the parachute system on the 20th of December. The three failures of the parachute system print jobs (more about this here) used up much of our time, but we still had one more week before this deadline. To achieve this goal, we had many…
In preparation for our next flight, we spent this week working on the second generation parachute system. The second generation parachute system for the test payload will use four parachutes, two mains and two pilots (more about the parachutes here). The pilot chutes attach to the main chutes and will inflate with air more quickly,…
When we flew the FTS (Flight Test System) for the first time, we recorded the flight from the ground. While this was sufficient for recording that flight, we need more cameras to record footage from different view points during the next test. This footage is necessary to gauge the performance of the system that is being…
Part 1 here. Last week we continued work on the parachute system. This is one of the more important systems of the test payload and when completed will bring us much closer to our flight. Our plan was to upgrade the springs and perform more tests in an attempt to increase the power. However, after…
