R-DAS

We are the first known group in the UK to have downloaded R-DAS data to a Palmtop PC running windows CE V2.0. We were also the first group in the UK to fly a GPS board to gather in-flight GPS data. So far the results are excellent from the flights onboard the Eclipse rocket, and we shall be flying the unit in a new payload bay built for the Tomahawk launch vehicle, so that it can carry the R-DAS Unit and other experimental payloads. The unit will also be used in conjunction with our GPS unit onboard the Pegasus series of launch vehicles. Please click here to download Rob O'Brien's Level 2 flight data DOWNLOAD.

We were also the first group in the UK to fly a GPS board to gather in-flight GPS data. Unfortunately, as a rocket launches, GPS lock is lost at MAX-Q and is regained at apogee. Fortunately we have resolved this issue, and are awaiting flight tests of our Re-radiation and amplification device to verify the fix to this problem. 

Expansion Units

R-Das Specifications

Acceleration transducer -50..+50 g, 0.1 g resolution (using the newest accelerometer of Analog Devices, the ADXL150)
Pressure transducer 20..105 kPa, 0.09 kPa resolution (Motorola MPXS4100)
6 user available analog input channels, 0..5V, 10 bit
Maximum sampling rates of 8 above channels is 200 samples/second per channel
4 user available digital input channels
2 output stages for pilot and main parachute deployment
  • Configurable current supply: from capacitor discharge, R-DAS own power supply, or separate battery
  • Configurable current: 1 A using current regulator (perfect for Davey Fire), or maximum current
  • High power FET output stages with very low internal "ON" resistance (<0.03 Ohm) for high current igniters
  • Continuity check with LED's
G-switch and/or breaking-wire arming (selectable make or break contact)
Loud beeper for status indication
512 Kbytes FLASH EEPROM (mapped as: write protected 64 Kbytes boot code, 64 Kbytes program code and 384 Kbytes nonvolatile data storage)