An interdisciplinary senior design course utilizing electronically guided model rockets

Electrical engineering graduates are faced with a wide variety of technological and managerial decisions. The ability of the engineer to interact with the entire spectrum of individuals involved in marketing a product is a critical component of the overall success of a project. A senior level design course is presented that integrates the numerous phases of project development in order to prepare the student for the industrial environment. The course consisted of designing and flight testing an electronically guided model rocket. An analysis of the rockets anticipated flight path was performed using a FORTRAN program which took into account such factors as stability, center of gravity, center of pressure, and engine thrust. The rocket was flight tested for three successful controlled flights and recoveries. Test flight results proved the design of the rocket to be very stable and respond quickly in flight