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Reliable timer release
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 2:40 pm
by SaskAlex
Well last year I made the first version of my current parachute deployment system. There are virtually no external parts, it's light (just 48 grams without parachute), and it hasn't failed me yet. I thought it was rather unique until I saw Air Command's video of their system, which is fairly similar.
I'm not much for computer animations, so I just took a bunch of pictures.
Re: Reliable timer release
Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:26 am
by wracing
Very Nice! Thanks for sharing.
Best - W
Re: Reliable timer release
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 12:35 am
by U.S. Water Rockets
Would this be the same system you use on your recent 1000+ foot launches?
That's really impressive that you have managed to break 1000 feet without resorting to all of the fancy technology that people have been trying to use for years and have failed. You better be careful because you're going to make everyone jealous! LOL!
Great work!
Re: Reliable timer release
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:45 pm
by SaskAlex
U.S. Water Rockets wrote:Would this be the same system you use on your recent 1000+ foot launches?
That's really impressive that you have managed to break 1000 feet without resorting to all of the fancy technology that people have been trying to use for years and have failed. You better be careful because you're going to make everyone jealous! LOL!
Great work!
Yes, this is the system I have been using on all my recent launches. I think the key to a reliable mechanical release is simplicity. And I don't think you can make any electronic system lighter than a simple mechanical one like mine. I think the advantages of fancy technology are that it can be easier to make it dependable, and they can have greater ease of use. I just finished my second year of electronic systems engineering, so I'm sure I'll be trying out some more high tech methods in the not-too-distant future. For now, though, I'm really happy with this system.
Re: Reliable timer release
Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 1:10 pm
by Tim Chen
Alex,
Do you have a timer on the boosters as well as one on the sustainer?
Re: Reliable timer release
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 7:22 pm
by SaskAlex
Tim Chen wrote:Alex,
Do you have a timer on the boosters as well as one on the sustainer?
Yes, the booster has it's own timer. The parachute just sits on top of one of the bottles making up the booster, and long elastic runs over top of it and to a timer on the side of the bottle. I don't care about the aerodynamics of the booster since it travels such a short distance, so it's a really simple set up.