Skip to main content

Testing Quark , Quantum and Photon Flight computers

Quantum 
Access codes: 62581768

Tested good to 12000 and 13000 feet. Drogue at apogee and Main at 800 feet. 

Armed signal:  Series of single beeps spaced roughly 1/2 second apart. 

Photon 

Access code: 41738105

Tested good to 14000 feet.  Channels 1, 2 and 3.  Channel 1 setup as airstart 3 seconds, Channel 2 drogue and channel 3 main 1000 feet.

Armed signal:  Series of single beeps spaced roughly 1/2 second apart. 

Notes: 
  • The photon MUST be mounted vertically with the ARROW point upward on the board.  This restricts ebay design. 
  • The accelerometer must be still for ~5 minutes in order to allow calibration.  
  • Final accelerometer calibration must be done on pad with the rocket vertical. 

Quark

Eggtimer Quark setup for Drogue at Apogee and Main at 800 feet

Armed signal: continuous chirping

Quark quick jumper settings.  
Jumper 1 closest to buzzer
Jumper 1:  (On) + 1 second (OFF)  + 0 seconds after apogee for drogue firing
Jumper 2: (300/500)  (On) 300 feet (OFF) 500 feet
Jumper 3: (+500) (On)  +500 feet (Off)  +0 feet

Testing Apparatus:

Vacuum Pump and pressure pot with gauge.  Take sensor up to simulated height of ~10000 feet and then release. 

Testing procedure:

  1. Install Christmas lights as dummy loads on avionics channels
  2. Connect battery
  3. Setup avionics device to be tested either with jumpers of via wifi connection to 192.168.4.1
  4. Insert avionics in pressure pot.
  5. Actively arm the device if required. (quantum and photon)
  6. Wait for arming beeps. 
  7. Open Left valve in picture above and close right valve
  8. Turn on vacuum pump
  9. Wait for gauge to rise to desired pressure (check with pressure altitude chart)
  10. Close the left valve and turn off the vacuum pump
  11. Slowly open the right valve which should trigger the drogue.
  12. Allow pressure difference to reduce until the main is triggered.
  13. After all pressure has equalized, remove the top and listen for landing beeps indicating altitude.
  14. Remove power from the device and if equipped login and check the flight status.
Note:
On the quantum or photon there is false apogee detection which will often mean that the drogue does not trigger when you first release the valve, closing and opening it subsequently should trigger the drogue. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Characterizing 38mm PVC motors

A previous article described fabricating PVC motors using couplings and endcaps to secure the bulkheads.    Figure 1:  PVC fitting used to retain grains in 2" diameter PVC motor with cork liner.   In an effort to make the motors more flyable, the motors have been redesigned without those elements.   First attempts consisted of drilling a series of 4-6 radial holes and casting the rockite into the holes. This provide insufficient to retain the bulkheads in 4/6 tests, and none of the successful tests exceeded 150 psi.  Figure 2:  Note the forward bulkhead and nozzle bulkheads are extruded out from the pvc.  The next attempt was to cut a 0.25" section 1 1/4" PVC pipe, slit it and glue it into the end of the 1 1/2" pipe.  The Rockite was cast with this lip retaining it.  This was successful in 1/4 tests, but the successful test did hold 380 psi, and the other tests failed at above 300psi.    Here is the data from the...
7 comments
Read more

Making Nozzles in PVC Pipe fittings from Durhams Rock Hard Water Putty and Graphite plate

A single use rocket nozzle can be made using Water Putty and a graphite plate in a 2" PVC Pipe fitting.  Durhams water putty is a gypsum based putty that exhibits very little shrinkage while drying and is effective as a single use nozzle for motors up to 4" in diameter.  Supplies: 2" PVC Coupling 2" PVC to 3/4" threaded female reducer Water putty 1/4" thick graphite plate ~1"x 1" ( 3/8" ID fender washer can be substituted, but it adds additional complexity) Screwdriver or chopstick for mixing 2 spoons duct tape mixing cup Safety glasses nitrile gloves or equivalent Wear safety glasses and nitrile gloves  Use PVC primer to coat the surface of the reducer and the PVC coupling up to the ridge joint. Use PVC glue to coat the surfaces and then press the PVC reducer into the coupling.  Hold for at least 20 seconds so that the reducer doesn't float out of the coupling.  Cover the small hole in the bottom with duct tape to retain the putty, it i...
Post a Comment
Read more

New website to track projects

For over a decade profmason.com was a repository of over 200 electronics and robotics projects that I completed between 2004-2014.  In 2016, my web provider disappeared along with all access to the website.  After spending 2 years and 9 months trying to get the domain back from the Panamanian domain squatter who had bulk purchased my domain when it came up at the registry, I have decided to start a new blog to document my projects new and old. 
2 comments
Read more