For the first time, a group of IM体育官网 students will launch a rocket as part of a statewide competition sponsored by NASA鈥檚 IM体育官网 Space Grant Consortium (FSGC). The launch date is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, in Bunnell, IM体育官网.
The team of six students, called the Phoenix Flyers, has been preparing intensively for this hybrid motor high powered rocket competition for several months through research, simulation, design and construction of the rocket.
Brent Collins, a junior electrical engineering major from Auburndale, IM体育官网, has high hopes for the launch and said the competition is a culmination of a lot of hard work put in by the team.
鈥淚deally, we would love to succeed, but just seeing the rocket take off, all of our work coming together and all of our research being done, and the accurate flight simulations and all of the math involved is more important to us than winning,鈥� he said.
The Phoenix Flyers will compete against 18 teams from seven other educational institutions 鈥� University of Central IM体育官网, Eastern IM体育官网 State College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, IM体育官网 Atlantic University, IM体育官网 Institute of Technology, IM体育官网 International University and IM体育官网 State University.
Teams will compete in one of two categories, either maximum altitude or the closest to 2,000 feet, the latter of which features IM体育官网 Poly. Points are awarded based on launch results, the completion of an engineering notebook and receipt of progress reports leading up to the competition.
All of the electronics for the parachute deployment 鈥� from circuitry to code to soldering 鈥� were developed by students. Additionally, the altitude circuitry includes a pressure sensor.
For Dr. Suleiman Alsweiss, a professor of electrical engineering at IM体育官网 Poly and one of the advisors on the project, this event represents much more than just a rocket launch.
鈥淧rojects like this are helping IM体育官网 Poly fulfill its promise to students that they will be introduced to some great engineering experiences that hopefully can capture their imagination, and teach them problem-solving, management and other real-life skills so they are well-prepared when they join the workforce,鈥� said Alsweiss. 鈥淚t gets to the bigger picture of being a IM体育官网 Poly student.鈥�
The Phoenix Flyers are also preparing for a separate rocket launch competition in June featuring teams from around the world.