Canard Control Module and Custom PCB

Designed a canard control module for a sounding rocket, integrating flight control surfaces with the avionics system for active stabilisation during ascent.

I also built a custom PCB that drives three servos with the ESP32S3 as the microcontroller and is designed to be wholly powered by its own 3s Li-ion battery, integrated into the rocket’s network protocol. All of this fits snuggly into a 60mm x 52mm package!

Here are a few additional technical specifications for my board:

Features a CAN 2.0 bus to communicate with the rest of the rocket.
3 Servos Channels.
Uses an ICM20608-G IC, a 6 DOF accelerometer and gyroscope for roll rate feedback.
Uses an MMC5983MA, a 3-axis magnetometer for more accurate roll positioning.
SD card for data logging of measured roll rates and their corresponding actuator control outputs.
Uses SPI to talk to the IMU, Magnetometer and a logging SD Card
A lot of LEDs to add to the rocket “Christmas tree” effect :)

The design of the power system for this PCB required a lot of consideration, conversations and revisions. Here are some highlights:

The battery voltage is regulated down to the maximum servo voltage of 7.4V through a SiC437 buck converter.
Logic power can be from the rocket or the battery, regulated to 4V using a SiC437 then cleanly to 3.3V with a SC4215.
My PCB is designed to be wholly powered by its own 3s Li-ion battery, but can switch over to use the rocket’s power if the primary battery voltage is lost. This switchover is automatically performed by an LTC4412 ideal diode controlling double-backed MOSFETs independently of the microcontroller.
Care was also taken to space the DC-DC converters from critical components to minimize the effects of switching noise during operation.