ESP32
Telemetry stack 1.0
After the inaugural Australian Universities Rocket Competition, Monash HPR decided that a more robust and all-in-one telemetry system was required. I took on this project as my first foray into PCB design. This PCB worked a charm, and successfully flew on several rockets before being superseded by a more upgradeable 'modular telemetry hub'.
modular telemetry hub
The modular telemetry hub served as an evolution from the Telemetry Stack 1.0 seen above. As a rapidly evolving team with quickly growing knowledge of electronics, there was a strong desire to prototype and try more sensors, GPS modules and radios. As such, I designed a motherboard system using an ESP32 as its microcontroller. Very cheap PCB's were designed and made to adapt existing prototype boards to be compatible with the mini-lock connector which allowed prototype boards to be flown safely without fear of disconnection during a violent rocket launch.
modular
Molex Mini-lock connectors facilitate the quick snapping together of prototyping boards. In this image you can see the motherboard in the centre with an IMU mounted on top, connected to the RFD900+ radio below and SAM-M8Q GPS above.
flight ready
Here you can see parts of the mini-lock telemetry hub mounted to an early prototype of the system used to mount hardware in the nose cone of a rocket. This prototype has run 24/7 for the past several months to provide a live data feed of basic telemetry for use in the software design of a ground station system.