Development, Build, and Testing of a Servo-driven Fin-based Active Roll Control System for Model Rockets

We designed, built, and launched a large model rocket with actuated canards capable of actively stabilizing the rocket in roll. In cooperation with Sun Devil Rocketry (SDR), custom flight software was developed. The rocket was successfully launched and recovered twice. The primary purpose of this project was to rapidly gain experience in high powered rocketry and controls engineering. Although ultimately unsuccessful in achieving controlled flight, the lessons learned from this project will be passed down to inform future SDR rocket controls projects.