Project Artifacts

The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is used to display all relevant data from the Launch and flight control systems as well as the Avoinics board on the rocket. All commands are issued via the GUI and sent through a TCP connection to the Microcontroller Board. The GUI was written in C# and is used on a large touch screen and multiple monitors at Mission control.

The Microcontroller Board links the GUI at mission control to the Launch and Flight Control System. It contains all the controls needed for preflight and take-off operations as well as logging of all data collected. The Microcontoller utitlizes a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) to mange all of the tasks it performs. The Microcontroller links to the avoinics board on the Rocket via RS232, the FPGA board via SPI, and the GUI via a TCP connection.

The FPGA Board acts as the gateway between the Microcontroller and the I/O Board. Commands are sent from the Microcontroller via SPI to the FPGA which then actuates the I/O Board accordingly. The addition of this FPGA allows for greatly expanded I/O capacities, redundant control in case of failure of the Microcontroller, and distribution of responsibilities away from the Microcontroller.

The I/O Board links the FPGA to all the peripherals needed to control the preflight and take-off operations. The I/O Board performs all the level shifting of the 3.3V logic from the FPGA to the appropriate voltage needed by each peripheral. It also handles the power distribution to each subsystem of the Launch and Flight control system.