Overview
I built ASCENT as dedicated launch pad electronics to safely handle ignition and stability for TVC rockets like HORIZON. I designed in an IMU-based safety interlock that blocks ignition unless the rocket is vertical, along with six-channel servo control for the launch tower. It's a completed supporting project, not a standalone product, but it's what let me push further on thrust vectoring and electronics in my later rockets.
Technical materials
What I learned
- Designed a dedicated launch-pad electronics board (ASCENT) with a high-current ignition circuit to fire model rocket motor igniters without adding ignition hardware weight to the rocket itself
- Built in an IMU-based safety interlock that reads launch-pad angle and blocks ignition unless the rocket is vertical, plus I2C expansion for a second IMU on the articulating tower
- Six-channel servo control for launch-tower articulation and rocket clamping, plus a regulated 8V rail (from a 3-40V-rated regulator) and logic GPIO for board-level communication
- Applied DFM risk mitigation for overseas PCB assembly - oversized trace widths and components run well under rated specs - to protect against manufacturing defects and thermal issues