CanSat payload with Autogyro for descent in experimental rocket flights: Development, CFD analysis, and preliminary test on free-fall

Abstract

This research work develops the design of a CanSat payload assisted with an Autogyro system for a controlled descent in experimental rocket flights. The design, development, Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, and a preliminary test on free-fall had been carried out. The data obtained from this study and test allowed us to determine the relationship between the drag coefficient and the projected geometry of the CanSat by using CFD simulation and data such as speed and acceleration from the free-fall test. The results allowed us to propose an estimation for the drag coefficient behavior on the speed range studied.

The CanSat Compendium: A Review of Scientific CanSats

“…A similar challenge followed in 2021 with the "Autorotating Science Payload Relay", which called for entries that took inspiration from the aerodynamics of a maple seed [28]. These design competitions resulted in a selection of scholarly works which investigated the general design and integration of the auto-gyro recovery system [15], the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations for validating the CanSat design [29], and the biomimicry of maple seeds for creating a unique recovery vehicle [30]. Other competitions have focused on the creation of secondary glider vehicles that could be deployed from the primary CanSat to collect sensor readings in a circular glide path, with these competitions taking place most recently in 2017 [31] and 2020 [32], respectively.…”