Rocket Balloon Concept

roboman · Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:54 pm

You could also use a small locator transmitter and a directional receiver to find the transmitter. The beacon could be mounted in the payload section, or even the nosecone, if there isn't a payload section.

The beacons are pretty inexpensive, and schematics are all over the internet... The receivers are fairly inexpensive, too. These systems are commonly used for tracking animals in the wild, so the beacons have to be fairly small.

Technician1002 · Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:25 pm

roboman wrote:You could also use a small locator transmitter and a directional receiver to find the transmitter. The beacon could be mounted in the payload section, or even the nosecone, if there isn't a payload section.

The beacons are pretty inexpensive, and schematics are all over the internet... The receivers are fairly inexpensive, too. These systems are commonly used for tracking animals in the wild, so the beacons have to be fairly small.

The directional antenna is not small. It often resembles a rooftop TV antenna depending on frequency for size. Higher frequency, smaller antenna.

roboman · Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:11 pm

I never said the receiver was small... only the transmitter. I've gotten a chance to try out one of these systems, and I found the receiver to be a fairly good size, with the antenna being the largest component. As long as your rocket isn't floating miles away, a small, low power version of the system used for tracking animals.

However, the beeper is probably the most economical option, as well as the simplest.

NatoHub · Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:01 pm

Ok, if you wanted to make a time release balloon, couldn't you use a shitty digital watch with an alarm? You could connect electric fuse (the ones used to launch model rockets) wires to the little speaker connections, so you could set a ~5 second alarm and then you would need that igniter to somehow allow the chemicals to mix and fill the balloon. And strap all that in a rocket.

Long explanation, but it's simple. You think that would work? Because I'm not gonna try.

roboman · Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:06 pm

NatoHub wrote: You think that would work?

No. Unless you had a large, high-powered rocket, there's no way you would be able to fit all of that into a rocket powered by a single G motor or less.

NatoHub · Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:18 pm

A pocketwatch without the band is very light and an electric match is pretty much weightless.

roboman · Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:25 pm

NatoHub wrote:A pocketwatch without the band is very light and an electric match is pretty much weightless.

It's not the weight that is the issue; rather, it's the size of the whole unit. Remember, you still have to have room for a parachute and wadding, both of which take up most of the space in the body tube. Besides, the complexity of the setup would make it rather unreliable.

NatoHub · Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:31 pm

I've never done it so I'm not sure, but can't you build your own model rockets with cardboard tubing and wooden fins? It seems like you could make one with more room inside. And you could use multiple rocket motors.

Even if it was a complete failure, it would be hilarious.

I kinda want to do this now, but screw that balloon idea, that was stupid from the start.

roboman · Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:24 am

NatoHub wrote:I've never done it so I'm not sure, but can't you build your own model rockets with cardboard tubing and wooden fins? It seems like you could make one with more room inside. And you could use multiple rocket motors.

Even if it was a complete failure, it would be hilarious.

I kinda want to do this now, but screw that balloon idea, that was stupid from the start.

Of course you can build your own. However, there is absolutely no way to know if it will be stable, or even fly. Unless you use a program, like Rocksim, to test out your designs, you could be putting yourself and everyone around you in considerable danger.

maverik94 · Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:58 pm

Can't you just use the tracking smoke? All you do is follow the smoke as it falls. Also, you can attach extra streamers to the shock cord to make the rocket more visable.

Moonbogg · Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:26 pm

Maybe get a tiny speaker siren thing that operates on a tiny watch battery and simply turn on the siren before launch. After landing you just follow the sound. This could be done for nearly free and no weight at all.

EDIT: Maybe even just find a loud mini watch and attach it and just turn the alarm on.

inonickname · Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:07 pm

You could buy one of the cheap key finding things. You know, the ones you get for a few dollars that dingle when you whistle, clap or something like that. Once the circuitry was extracted it would be lightweight and easy to use, and no huge loss if your rocket lands somewhere undesirable.

I build my own rockets, but it's not as simple as loading a tube with BP. You need to ram a nozzle, make a core, ram the BP with a hydraulic ram (to remove any voids), create plugs, payloads, stability etc. Make one mistake, and your rocket will explode.