[roc-chat] Re: ROC Launch Control System

Ok, I'll put together a couple of concepts that should give us a good idea of what we are looking at. The technology is available and we have time to investigate what we want and what we can do. There is a good deal that is need to be done before we can start a final design.

1. SAFETY!!!
2.  A wish list (all ideas even the outlandish, pie in the sky kind, you would be surprised how many good ideas are inspired by crazy comments) hold nothing back.
3. SAFETY!!!
4. Environmental the lake bed is: Hot, Cold, Windy, Dusty, Salty, static electricity, very sunny(UV) and sometimes wet! We need to run test on just how hot will a box with active electronics get at June ROCStock or Aug. launch (most commercial temperature grade electronics are rated to 85C or 185F)? Freezing is hard on batteries etc.
5. SAFETY!!!
6 .Useability how easy are they to operate, handling, setup, maintain, etc. Gorilla proofing is no joke it has to be gorilla proof! That is why we need local arming and shunts.
7. SAFETY!!!
8. Power how much power do we need? Be aware our current system is mostly a passive system it uses little or no power while sitting waiting for launch. A new system that is wireless will need power all the time. Parts of it can be put to sleep to save power and this will help, but power management will be a priority after SAFETY!!!.
9. SAFETY!!!
10. Cost!
11. SAFETY!!!

I don't know who would like to keep track of the wish list but here is what we have so far.
1. Wireless system individual pad controller with shunt and local arming a safe distance away from pad.
2. Data collection battery status, how long has rocket been waiting on the pad, etc.
3. Automate the pad assignment and check in process ( I said outlandish).


James and Ron before you read this I what to encourage all ideas to be put on the table to weight the pros and cons.

Not to offend but:

"One thing I've pinged around with Ron is the idea of a Wireless relay.
It would hookup to the existing ROC/TCC relay boxes and just act
as a cable replacement."

This is a very bad idea without adding safety shunts and local arming here is why.
The wireless relay electronics can get stupid, static, software...etc..
The driver transistor or MOSFET can fail, shorting ON 80% of the time.
I'm sorry to offend but it's a bad very unsafe idea. I would rather see new cables and connectors installed. The current launch boxes were designed for cables leave it that way! If you want wireless then design a system based on wireless from the beginning.

At some point we will have to make some kind of decision because while the launch system has a flawless record due in part to a all wired system, it will become less reliable and less safe as the cables deteriorate. I was shocked at what tape on the break in the outer insulation had done. What if in the future the inner wires break or fray? So, we have time lets us use the time wisely and make a well informed decision. The easiest and cheapest is replace the cables and connectors. The is no halfway: a car is a great land vehicle and a boat is a great water vehicle, and you can make a car a boat and a boat a car but it will never be great at ether task.

Thanks I hope I didn't offend too much the Wright brothers argued all the time and look what they did!

Thanks
Richard C Hall
TRA# 11515  AF6IH