Slug-Sight is an innovative vision system designed for the UCSC Rocket Team. It provides a comprehensive 360-degree view from the rocket, delivering a live video feed enhanced with real-time telemetry and computer vision overlays. The system leverages onboard computing and machine learning to estimate the rocket's position and visually indicate the location of ground targets relative to the rocket's current orientation. Onboard computing enables real-time data processing and decision-making directly on the rocket, a cutting-edge approach in modern aerospace systems.
- Onboard Computing:
- Advanced onboard processors handle real-time video, telemetry, and machine learning tasks directly on the rocket, reducing latency and enabling autonomous decision-making. This reflects a major trend in aerospace, where onboard computing is critical for next-generation autonomous and intelligent systems.
- 360° Live Video Feed:
- Immersive, panoramic view from the rocket during flight.
- Real-Time Telemetry Overlay:
- Live display of avionics data (altitude, speed, orientation, etc.) directly on the video feed.
- Computer Vision Target Tracking:
- Machine learning algorithms analyze the video feed and current rocket position to estimate and highlight the location of ground targets.
- Switchable Overlays:
- Toggle between different overlays, such as target location and telemetry data, for customizable viewing.
- Intuitive User Interface:
- Easy-to-use controls for switching overlays and viewing modes.
- Advanced Thermal Management:
- Utilizes phase-changing paraffin wax heat sinks, a brute force cooling system with dry ice and fans, and internal thermal insulation to protect sensitive electronics and maintain optimal operating temperatures.
- Video Capture:
- Cameras mounted on the rocket capture a 360-degree live video feed.
- Telemetry Integration:
- Avionics data is streamed in real-time and overlaid on the video.
- Position Estimation:
- Computer vision and machine learning models process the video and telemetry to estimate the rocket's position and orientation.
- Target Highlighting:
- The system identifies and marks the location of ground targets relative to the rocket's current view.
- User Controls:
- Users can switch overlays to focus on telemetry, target location, or both.
- Computer Vision & Machine Learning
- Real-Time Video Streaming
- Telemetry Data Processing
- Avionics Integration
- User Interface Development
Maintaining optimal temperatures for sensitive electronics and camera systems is critical during rocket flight. Slug-Sight incorporates a multi-faceted thermal management approach:
- Phase-Changing Paraffin Wax Heat Sinks:
- Instead of traditional solid metal heat sinks, we use paraffin wax heat sinks that absorb heat as they change phase, providing efficient and compact thermal buffering during high-heat events.
- "Brute Force" Cooling System:
- A dedicated container section holds dry ice, and a fan system actively circulates the resulting cool air throughout the camera and electronics bay, rapidly reducing internal temperatures when needed.
- Thermal Insulation:
- The interior of the rocket is lined with thermal insulation to minimize heat transfer from the external environment and retain the effectiveness of the cooling systems.
This comprehensive approach ensures the reliability and longevity of the Slug-Sight system, even in the extreme conditions of rocket flight.
- Enhance situational awareness for rocket launches.
- Provide actionable visual data for flight analysis and recovery.
- Demonstrate advanced integration of vision, telemetry, onboard computing, and machine learning in aerospace applications.
- Showcase the importance and capabilities of onboard computing, a rapidly growing focus in aerospace engineering.
We welcome contributions! Please see our System Design Document for more details, or open an issue to discuss your ideas.
The UCSC Rocket Team is dedicated to advancing student-led aerospace engineering through hands-on projects, competitions, and research. Slug-Sight is one of our flagship vision technology initiatives.