Thrust Vector Control of Solid Propellant Model Rocket

Rocket technology is one of the most complex engineering problems, and it was the game changer for humankind in the 20th and 21st centuries. Controlling the rocket during flight is a mathematically challenging task. Since a rocket has many subsystems, it must work mutually for a successful flight. In this work, the control system for changing the direction of the rocket during the flight was studied. In order to control a rocket, it must have its fuel burning, which will produce the required thrust. By controlling the direction of thrust, the moment acting on the rocket can be controlled according to the flight plan. This method is called Thrust Vector Control (TVC). This work is based on controlling the thrust direction of a solid propellant model rocket. The major benefit of TVC is that it can be used even when no air is present in the surrounding of the rocket. Therefore it can be used for outer space missions. Initially, a MATLAB/Simulink model is made to simulate and study the rocket's orientation by controlling the thrust direction along the pitch plane. In order to verify the designed control system, a hardware prototype was developed, and hold down tests were conducted on the model rocket.