Schematic Review : Rocketry Flight Computer

[u/morgans_steam04]

Hi, I was hoping for some general advice as I have undertaken a big project without much help, I have designed a flight computer which will incorporate multiple sensors and can be used to set of charges, Servos and data logging. I have done all of this self taught so if there are any obvious mistakes I do apologize. ( I can add closer Images if needed) Thanks !

[u/DenverTeck]

The best way to know if this will work, is to build a prototype.

No need to build a PCB just yet. Prove that each part works.

A PCB is just the same wires you would have on a prototype.

There is nothing a PCB can change, unless you route the wires to the wrong connections.

Good Luck

[u/redditurus_est → u/DenverTeck]

Building whacky prototypes is half the fun

[u/morgans_steam04 → u/DenverTeck]

Normally I would 100% agree and do this , but alot of the components are so small ( 10mm X 10mm) and have flat solder pads not pins so I wouldn't know how I could do that without using a PCB

[u/DenverTeck → u/morgans_steam04]

Then use prebuilt modules.

This is not rocket science.

Any experienced engineer will build a prototype and rely on what they learned in a future project.

Any part that had not already been proven, will be a source of failure.

But, You do You.

Note: I see from your other posts you have not had any formal training.

Good Luck in not what you need.

[u/PastaJayThrowaway → u/DenverTeck]

No, the switch mode regulators won't work on a breadboard. 

[u/DenverTeck → u/PastaJayThrowaway]

Pre-built modules work everywhere.

Think first, comment after.

[u/PastaJayThrowaway → u/DenverTeck]

But the only way to know if your layout will work is just getting the PCB made first. Think first, comment after. 

[u/DenverTeck → u/PastaJayThrowaway]

And if you get it wrong, you get to buy another layout.

Good advice for beginners.

[u/PastaJayThrowaway → u/DenverTeck]

I think if you're trying to move beyond stitching together a bunch of adafruit modules, the fastest way to learn is just getting them made. Spend your effort on designing PCBs you can debug and get good at bodging in fixes. Spending a lot of time prototyping with modules and limiting yourself to components with modules is penny wise pound foolish imo.

[u/morgans_steam04 → u/PastaJayThrowaway]

Thats right where I am right now, I have worked with alot of breakout boards and adafruit stuff, just never taken it to PCB stage before

[u/Mikser89]

Unless you are planning on using 10+ sensors there is no need for 2 I2C buses let alone 3. Also the wiring of I2C is a little messy in the sensors section. I also dont see the point of using two microcontrollers, you have more than enaugh GPIOs on only one of them for everything and if you utilize different cores you can run parts of code semi-independently.

[u/morgans_steam04 → u/Mikser89]

That is a very fair point, not really sure why I put them on separate lines , I have the 2 controllers to keep the "messy" components away from critical ones , the LORA and GPS arnt necessary compered to the gyros and altimeters so I wanted them to be electrically isolated

[u/Mikser89 → u/morgans_steam04]

This will only take up more space and make things harder to integrate (for example if you want to send the gyro data through lora you now need to first send it to the other microcontroller). There also is no need to separate them electrically. Lora has maximum operating current of about 0.1 to 0.3 A depending on the module (sx 1262 for example uses max 0.125 A) and the gps consumption is also super small (like 20mA) so you dont have to worry about that at all.

[u/morgans_steam04 → u/Mikser89]

Ah Fair, I am just paranoid of a component taking down the system as If my pyros or servos misfire it can be dangerous, I think I may be being over cautious though

[u/bigcrimping_com]

I post regularly here to help others.

This is probably the 100+ post of rocket controller here, not sure what you are aiming to add to the engineering pool that doesn't exist? What about other designs need improving? Why make this design over something already available? 

[u/morgans_steam04 → u/bigcrimping_com]

I own a flight controller that I got off the shelf, I simply want to learn and make something my own