Mach 30 Technical Roadmap

back [[Technology_Evaluation]]

h1. Structures and Mechanisms Card Storming

h2. Unsorted list of ideas

* DIGITAL FABRICATION OF COMPONENTS AND MECHANISMS

** could be a problem if it's used to make something that is itself controlled

* AN OPEN PLATFORM OF STANDARDS (Like LEGOS)

** vague, but shouldn't be a problem

* PAYLOAD MOUNT FOR ARDUINOS

** I have a hard time seeing how this would be a problem; nobody's using an arduino on an actual launch vehicle

* UPGRADED ELECTRONICS PAYLOAD STRUCTURES - LIKE FOR FIN-FACING CAMERAS

** payload adapters for launch vehicles are controlled

** "...including the articles identified in section 1516 of Public Law 105–261: satellite fuel, ground support equipment, test equipment, payload adapter or interface hardware..."

* FABRICATION IN MAKERSPACES WITH LOCAL TOOLS

** fine as long as nothing needs to be controlled

** or we invent a new way to build an ad-hoc network of people who obey export controls

* EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES

** The rules do specify that model/HP rockets need to have a minimum of metal components

** any advanced materials or techniques will inevitably run into USML or CCL rules

* SOFTWARE TOOLS - CODECAD AND OPENSOURCECAD (CADQUERY)

** already open source tools will be fine

** we might run into trouble if we create new software for modeling actual launch vehicles

* COLLAPSIBLE AND EXPANDABLE MECHANISMS (“ORAGAMI ROCKET”)

* THE “BLACK BOX” FOR MODEL ROCKET (CHEAP, DURABLE, RECOVERABLE, LIKE www.carbonorigins.com)

* HARDWARE TOOLS AND JIGS

* SCALABLE PARTS, AND THE ASSOCIATED STANDARDS FOR USING THEM

* SOFTWARE - STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS TOOLS (LIKE FEA, NASTRAN, etc.)

* (linked to propulsion as well) PROPULSION TEST STAND STRUCTURE

* (stretching outside the box a bit) SCALE MODEL OF A SIMULATED LAUNCH COMPLEX.  FULL GROUND OPS SIMULATION

* (linked in to aerodynamics as well) FIN DESIGN BASED ON J’S MASTERS THESIS (OPTIMIZING SUPERSONIC STRUCTURES TO PREVENT FLUTTER)

* STRUCTURAL TESTING (DESTRUCTIVE OR OTHERWISE)

* STRUCTURAL DESIGN BEST PRACTICES FOR MANUFACTURING, AND OPERATIONS, (AKA LIFECYCLE CONSIDERATION)

* STRUCTURAL INTERACTIONS WITH THE GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

* MATERIALS TESTING FORM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE (UV, THERMAL, (eventually) VACUUM

* STRUCTURAL INCORPORATION OF A “MISSION OBJECTIVE” (like rube goldburg, or scientific experiment)

* (linked to electrical/power)  HOW TO INCORPORATE POWER STORAGE INTO STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

* ADDRESSING REUSABILITY CONCERNS WITH RESPECT TO STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

* HIGH-RELIABILITY RECOVERY SYSTEM (MECHANISMS)

* (building on Legos idea) Modular model rocket kit (1 kit, several rockets; maybe based around "NARTREK":http://www.nar.org/model-rocket-info/nartek-skills-program/ missions)

* Structural Analysis software for both dynamic and static analysis

* Launch Pad design/structures

* Go extermely small size (Just how small can I get it?)

** sharing files, etc

** educational/entertainment

** very open source

* Evaluation/research of tools and machines required to build rockets at scale we are looking at -> Toolset analysis

* Make sure the materials research covers non-obvious choices (to us at least) like composites, etc

* Unconventional rockets, like rocket/jet-powered rotors