$96 3D-printed rocket that recalculates its mid-air trajectory using a $5 sensor
A proof-of-concept project showcases a low-cost guided rocket system, built for just $96 using 3D-printed parts and consumer electronics, capable of mid-air trajectory correction.
Full System Overview (5 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDO2EvXyncE&t=54s
Full Development Media and Documentation
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17zpks6_R59H0iXJaGkTrtp1SzIFFAQtY?usp=sharing
The Google Drive archive contains additional development media and documentation including:
- mechanical design and assembly
- system electronics and firmware testing
- launch tests and rocket motor development
- system flow diagram
- rocket specifications
- bill of materials and cost breakdown
This project is a proof-of-concept prototype of a low-cost rocket launcher and guided rocket system built using consumer electronics and 3D-printed components. The rocket uses folding fins and canard stabilization controlled by an onboard ESP32 flight computer and MPU6050 inertial measurement unit, while the launcher integrates sensors such as GPS, compass, and barometric modules for orientation and telemetry. The system was designed in Fusion 360, simulated using OpenRocket, and developed through iterative mechanical, electronics, and launch testing. The total hardware cost of the prototype is approximately $96.
This repository contains the core engineering components of the project:
- mechanical CAD files for the rocket and launcher
- firmware source code for the rocket flight controller and launcher system
- OpenRocket simulation files used for aerodynamic stability analysis
Source: Hacker News
