Hi everyone in the AISLER community!
We are Project RAVEN (Rocketry and Aerospace Vehicle Engineering in Norrbotten), the student rocketry team at Luleå University of Technology’s Kiruna Campus in Sweden. Since 2020, our multidisciplinary team has been designing, building and testing a hybrid sounding rocket with the goal of competing in EuRoC(EUROPEAN ROCKETRY CHALLENGE).
Our rocket uses a hybrid propulsion system with paraffin wax fuel and liquid nitrous oxide as oxidiser. Through regular testing, we continuously improve our engine, systems and electronics to prepare for flight.
Our Project
One of our current projects is the redesign of our hybrid rocket engine test bench electronics.
Over time, our previous test bench had grown through many iterations, with new sensors, valves and electronics being added as new requirements appeared. While functional, the system became increasingly difficult to maintain, troubleshoot and expand.
To solve this, we started developing a new electronics system focused on modularity, reliability and easier future upgrades.
Our Electronics
With the help of AISLER, we designed a custom Arduino Portenta H7 interface PCB to create a cleaner and more modular electronics system.
The PCB connects the Portenta Breakout Board to the rest of the test bench, replacing a large amount of direct wiring with clearly labelled screw terminals. This makes the system easier to assemble, troubleshoot and modify during testing.
Like many first PCB revisions, ours wasn’t perfect. Extended testing revealed weaknesses in the grounding and power distribution, and one board eventually failed. Although it meant redesigning the PCB, it gave us valuable experience and helped us improve our approach to reliability and PCB layout.
Favourite AISLER Feature
One of our favourite AISLER features has been the online PCB viewer, which made reviewing designs before ordering quick and easy. Combined with the fast turnaround time, it allowed us to iterate faster during development.
Looking Ahead
We are currently working on the next revision of the PCB while continuing development of our new test bench. We are excited to keep improving the system and sharing our progress with the AISLER community.
A big thank you to AISLER for supporting student engineering projects like ours!
