Project

TVC System

This project is focused on a Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for a small-scale rocket. The project included a custom-designed PCB, system modeling and simulation, constrained CAD design for a motor gimbal, and C/C++ programming for the microcontroller.

CAD Simulation PCB

Final product

First TVC Launch

Achieved successful flight test with full TVC functionality. Maximum angle deviation under 10 degrees.

Final product overview — Rocket seconds before launch.

Final product side view — Final PCB configuration.

Final product close-up — FEA results of the gimbal design.

CAD

Gimbal Design

Initial CAD design of the gimbal system — First gimbal draft.

Alternative CAD design of the gimbal system — Testing different ideas.

Gear System Design — Gear layout for reduced slack.

First printed prototype.

Gimbal comparison — Second major iteration. Improved strength and airframe connection.

FEA results of the gimbal design — Running FEA simulations on the gimbal design. Temperature and stress distributions.

FEA result of the outer ring — Outer ring stress distribution.

Close up of the FEA results — Close-up of stress concentration point (ended up breaking in later on tests).

Three gimbals comparison — Third major iteration, upscaled to house a much larger motor (29mm) and maintain 10 degrees of range of motion in a 3 inch bodytube.

Static fire of the gimbal system, testing its performance under load.

Simulation

Simulink Modeling

PID response simulation 1 — Initial PID loop testing.

PID response simulation 2 — Improved PID tuning for faster response.

PID response simulation 3 — Further testing of PID parameters.

PID gains simulation setup — Part of the PID loop design.

Initial simulation — One of the first simulation iterations.

Second iteration of the simulation — Another early simulation iteration.

Optimization of PID gains — Using optimization toolbox to optimize PID gains.

Optimized PID gains — Optimized PID gains from the optimization process.

Final simulation — Final simulation. Includes mass flow rate, inertia changes, aerodynamics, and control inputs.

PCB

Avionics

ESP32 — ESP-32 S3 schematic layout.

BARO — BMP 388 barometer schematic.

IMU — ICM-42670-P IMU schematic.

PCB1 — PCB Layout iteration 1.

PCB2 — PCB layout iteration 2.

PCB3 — PCB layout iteration 3.

Final schematic — Final schematic layout.

Final PCB CAD — CAD of the final PCB layout.

LDO fix — Fixing an LDO short with a small piece of Kapton tape.

USB fix — Fixing USB connection issues.

Final PCB — Final working PCB mounted to the avionics bay.

Back to projects