The Rocket Test Stand Controller Project

I hope to use this blog to document the development my teams rocket engine controller. I am teaming up with my friend Dylan Romig & Rocket Lads to develop a rocket stand that we eventually hope to hot fire in the Mojave Desert. I want to bring to the table my expertise in LabVIEW control and PLC/Electrical design to build a pro-level fire control & monitoring system. 

I have 16 years of experience using LabVIEW in various platforms and techniques. I think the blend of computation power and rapid User Interface (UI) development will be perfect for this project. 

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Project Goals: 

• Develop a travel friendly PLC driven fire control box
• The box must have safety systems. (EStops, Reset controller, Contact relays) 
• Develop a tactile control plane and laptop UI 
• Create self-powered system for remote work 
•  Devices must communicate on off net local network
  
• Share codebase in revision control system.
  
• Teach team mates how to program LabVIEW

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Software/Hardware

• LabVIEW Community 2020 
• NI Modbus Library 
  • Client (LabVIEW) & Sever (PLC) 
• Productivity 2000 PLC 
  • C-more HMI

Photo Credit: Hot fire test - Dylan Romig