PARSEC Caltech Rocketry

Mechatronics

“The present age is as truly the age of servomechanisms as the nineteenth century was the age of the steam engine or the eighteenth century the age of the clock.” Norbert Wiener — Cybernetics, 1948
Flight thrust-vector-control linear actuators from Curtiss-Wright
Zoe Lee ('29) with the flight TVC linear actuators - courtesy of Curtiss-WrightFIG‑01

The Mechatronics team builds the moving parts of Icarus. Our members use mechanical, electrical and software skills to bring Icarus to life and control its flight.

Our primary project is working on the thrust vector control (TVC) system. This system allows us to precisely gimbal the engine in order to control the attitude of the entire lander, translating the Controls team's commands into fast responses that a lander like this requires.

We are also responsible for the reaction control system (RCS): the cold gas thrusters that manage precise adjustments to the vehicle's attitude. With fast response valves, we can fire nozzle blocks to control pitch, yaw and roll with bang-bang control.

Team interests

  • Actuator and mechanism design
  • Power electronics
  • Pneumatics and fast-acting valves
  • Prototyping, bench testing, and characterization

Responsible engineers

Projects

In development

Icarus TVC system

The gimbal and actuation that vector ICICLE's thrust — the primary steering authority during flight and landing.

In development

Icarus RCS

Reaction control thrusters for attitude adjustment throughout the mission.