Platform Independent Launch Vehicle Avionics with GPS Metric Tracking

For this award, Tyvak proposes to develop a complete suite of avionics for a Nano-Launch Vehicle (NLV) based on the architecture determinations performed during Phase I. This system will address the unique avionics challenges of a dedicated small launch vehicle and will utilize heritage and lessons learned from Tyvak's CubeSat avionics systems, modifying and optimizing its existing products for use with this new class of launch vehicles. The major technical objectives are: - Provide broad compatibility with all known NLV systems in development - Determine and provide appropriate performance and reliability metrics while maintaining the low-cost/low-mass approach made possible by commercial electronic systems - Implement the latest network protocols with support for wireless systems in the NLV environment - Develop a GPS metric tracking system and perform requirement verification to meet range safety recommendations - Demonstrate the reliability of low-cost/low-mass/low-power/redundant automatic flight termination system (AFTS) by combining the latest generation of commercial miniature GPS systems with high performance computer systems currently used by Tyvak - Validate functionality and performance for the entire NLV avionics suite through a series of incremental tests, from vibration and thermal vacuum, through a stratospheric balloon flight, an inert test article flight, to final demonstration on a NLV proxy.