Adjustable Rocket Launch Pad

The WVU Experimental Rocketry team was in need of a way to counteract the wind, which would cause the rockets to veer off course, making recovering rockets an issue. This device's purpose was to ease the recovery process by adjusting for the wind speed and direction from the launch site, prior to liftoff. 

This prototype launch pad makes use of both a stepper motor and a servo in order to achieve the desired goal of counteracting the wind. With the servo stacked on top of the stepper motor, the device is able to tilt the rocket from 0 to 90 degrees to counteract the wind speed and then turn directly into the wind using the stepper motor. 

The device is a modified Estes Launch Pad which makes use of a CAD designed and 3D printed connecting joint that joins the stepper to the base as well as to the servo on top. An Arduino and driver are used to connect all the elements and inputs to MATLAB direct the device how to move based on the given wind parameters at the time of launch.