Control Amenable Modelling and Characterization of an Autonomous High-Power Rocket with Movable Fins
2022-26-1214
05/26/2022
- Event
- Content
- This paper proposes a new dynamic model for a high-power rocket actuated with reaction movable fins. A model rocket achieving an altitude of three kilometers is designed. A solid propellant using potassium nitrate and sucrose, also known as-rocket candy, is considered for the mission. The mathematical model is developed using first principles. For the mission characterization, a new graphical user interface platform is developed using Matlab. This facilitates the designer to specify the mission parameters for the rocket and the propulsion system with the corresponding characteristic plots for visualization and analysis. The inertia matrix, center of gravity and the center of pressure of the rocket are accurately obtained through the CAD (computer-aided design) modelling. Then the orientation of the rocket is manipulated through the reaction due to movable fins, and is analyzed by performing simulations throughout the complete flight path i.e. for the boost and coast flights. The overall system represents a complex nonlinear multi-input multi-output (MIMO) dynamics having six degrees of freedom. The Newton-Euler formulation is used to develop a dynamic model along with the quaternion equations for the orientation. The control amenable model is then achieved in two steps. First, the operating points are calculated through optimization penalty method at desired trimming conditions and then at each of these trimming points, a Taylor-series linearization is carried out to yield a linear model. For a range of different flight velocities, multiple linear models can be readily obtained. This multi-model approach can then be used to exploit some robust and model based control techniques for the autonomous flight, which are planned in the future.
- Citation
- PRAJAPATI, S., Thakar, P., and Markana, A., "Control Amenable Modelling and Characterization of an Autonomous High-Power Rocket with Movable Fins," SAE Technical Paper 2022-26-1214, 2022, .