Fueling Duke AERO’s rocketry success

Meet Duke AERO’s project, Duke University’s high-powered rocketry team. They embarked on a challenging mission to build the Blue Reaper rocket for the prestigious Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico.

To enhance their rocket’s performance and safety, they sought a reliable Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for their airbrake system. After thorough research, they approached us for a potential sponsorship.

The quest for perfect IMU

In their pursuit of excellence, team Duke AERO identified the need for a high-quality IMU that could deliver accurate data rapidly and withstand the intense physical parameters experienced during rocket flights.

They recognized that SBG Systems had previously sponsored another team at the competition, providing them with an INS for their airbrake control solution.

Intrigued by our reputation, they decided to explore the possibility of a partnership.

First impression

During their initial contact with us, the Duke AERO team had a positive experience. The young team reached out to Jack Mawson, who is the head of sales for North American region.

This initial interaction left a lasting impression for us and for Duke AERO’s team it ignited an interest in the potential collaboration.

This is what Josh Kramer, from team Duke AERO, had to say after meeting Jack, “Our initial call was extremely informative, and our contact (at SBG Systems), Jack Mawson, gave us a great rundown of the company and its products.

He was excited at the prospect of helping our team, and we had a great first impression”.

Apart from the favorable first impression, Duke AERO was impressed by our suite of navigational sensor products, which seemed ideal for integrating into their rocket’s electronic systems.

Our commitment to sponsoring collegiate teams and engaging with students also resonated with Duke AERO’s values.

Integration

After carefully analyzing the student team’s requirement, Jack suggested Ellipse-D as a perfect fit for their control system. The team was satisfied by our IMU’s compatibility with their control systems and were impressed with the Software Center’s ability to make corrections to the data with ease.

Commenting on the performance of our product, Josh said, “the Ellipse IMU/INS units are incredibly high-performance devices, and the live flight data was used in conjunction with other sensors and microcontrollers to control in real time a precision variable-drag air-braking system. The SBG product was intuitive to use and the corresponding SBG Center software made for easy adjustments”.

The Software Center has real time preset configurations and can operate in different modes. There is no specific rocketry application, but they found the airplane mode to be the most suitable for their use. The rated acceleration or vibration capabilities of the Ellipse units were perfect for their needs and performed excellently in a high-power rocket launch.

However, there were challenges during the integration. The technical support team timely addressed every question that team had regarding the hardware and resolved the faulty cable issue.

Impact of Duke AERO’s sponsorship

We at SBG encourage innovation and nurture young talent. SBG sponsors numerous student-led projects, demonstrating our commitment to educating and developing future industry leaders.

We empower students to explore their passion for aerospace and engineering in real-world scenarios through sponsorships and technological assistance.

Our high-quality sensors empowered the development of their airbrake module, enhancing the rocket’s performance and safety.

The partnership also provided valuable exposure to advanced aerospace technology, benefiting the team’s members both academically and professionally.

Duke AERO’s Successful launch: Mission accomplished

The launch was successful, and we couldn’t be happier. May the Duke AERO team reach new heights and expand their horizons as they continue their journey in aerospace excellence.

We wholeheartedly support their endeavors and eagerly await the positive impact they will have on the future of aerospace.