Zenith Rocket Avionics

We are the Sirius technical group from the University of Sherbrooke, a passionate team specializing in the design, manufacturing, and launching of high-power rockets. Although we are a new team, with only one launch under our belt, we have already proven our expertise by achieving a perfect flight on our first attempt.


Our goal for the coming months is ambitious: we have undertaken a project aimed at breaking the world altitude record with a student rocket, powered by a liquid combustion engine. This challenge represents a unique opportunity for our team to apply our engineering knowledge while contributing to the advancement of aerospace technology in an educational context.




Main Avionics


The Flight Computer Board is the core of our system. It integrates two accelerometers, including one capable of withstanding and recording up to 200g, providing crucial data during high-G maneuvers. Additionally, it features two altimeters for accurate altitude readings, a GPS module for precise positioning, and six e-match channels to handle ignition events for parachute deployment and stage separation. This board must be compact, robust, and capable of processing real-time data with high reliability during the entire rocket flight.


The Power Supply Board ensures stable and efficient power management for the entire stack. It provides both 5V and 3.3V regulated outputs, with the flexibility to handle battery inputs ranging from 1S to 3S LiPo packs. Designed to be lightweight and efficient, this board is essential to power all the critical systems, including the sensors, microcontroller, and communications modules. It also incorporates power protection features to safeguard the rocket’s electronics against voltage fluctuations and power surges during launch and flight.


The Telecommunications Board allows the rocket to maintain a strong communication link with the ground station. It features a 900 MHz LoRa module with a 30 dB amplifier to ensure long-range, stable, and low-latency data transmission. This system allows us to monitor the rocket's status in real time, retrieve telemetry data, and track its position throughout the flight. The board’s design must balance signal strength, power consumption, and durability in the harsh environment of a rocket launch.



Liquid engine control avionics


The Liquid Engine Control Board is designed to manage and monitor our liquid-fueled rocket engine during static tests and flight operations. It can read the pressure inside the engine's propellant tanks to ensure safe and efficient combustion. The board controls high-torque servomotors to operate valves with precision, allowing for real-time adjustments to the propellant flow. It includes an e-match channel for engine ignition and can record key performance metrics such as thrust during static tests. This board is critical to optimizing engine performance, ensuring safety, and capturing valuable test data for further development.


The Alimentation Board for the Rocket Engine Control Block provides stable power to the liquid engine control system. It converts battery inputs from 1S to 3S LiPo packs into four essential voltage outputs: 3.3V to power the control electronics, 5V to drive the load sensors, 12V to supply the pressure transducers, and 8.6V to operate the servomotors controlling the engine's valves. This board is critical for ensuring the reliable operation of the liquid engine system under demanding conditions, supplying power efficiently while minimizing weight and maximizing durability.


The Engine Telecommunications Block ensures a reliable communication link between the rocket’s liquid engine system and the ground station. It features an XBee Pro module operating at 2.4 GHz with a 27 dB output power, providing long-range and robust data transmission. This block allows us to monitor critical engine parameters in real time during static tests and flight, including tank pressure, valve positions, and thrust performance. We selected the XBee module for its proven reliability, having successfully used it on a previous rocket project. The system’s robust communication capabilities are essential for ensuring safety, collecting valuable test data, and making on-the-fly adjustments to the engine's performance.




We would be honored to discuss a potential collaboration with PCBWAY in more detail and to answer any questions you may have. While awaiting your response, we sincerely thank you for considering our request and remain at your disposal for any further information.




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