Fineas - Test Flight 1

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that explosion was so cool, poor guys, it was like ava's first flight

Great video! Your production value is awesome.

Hi from Space Enterprise at Berkeley! I didn't get to go out there this time but I hope you were able to meet some of our team! When you put "idk what to put here" I felt that sooo much too hahaha especially with what I'm working on, even numbers of things helps a lot

There are a couple things that I see that could be changed resulting in a more successful flight test. 1. Bring the hinge for the fins further forward to take some of the “snap” away from the fins at aggressive AOA. 2. Update servo horn from plastic/nylon to a aluminum arm. maybe use 440 rod with ball links. Do not use piano wire and z bends and glue, the aerodynamic forces will be too great and the setup has a lot of slop if glue fails. 3. Limit the travel of the fin or use a expo curve to soften the movement as velocity increases. Slowly increase deflection each flight (All knowledge is from time as a RC builder and pilot not to oversimplify but this is the same control method as RC aircraft)

0:05 So never go above half full, got it! thanks!

The subnautica soundtrack in the intro caught me off guard :)

I almost clicked away when you said sponsor. That company seems pretty nice. Also, I thought the flight went pretty well. Flew up, wiggled its fins and had parachute deployment.

Torquing on the fin pivot point tends to create an ossolation that is difficult to dampen. Put a control pin near the front of the fin and cut a slot in the servo wheel to drive it.

Ok I usually never comment but the YouTube algorithm NEEDS to know this is the stuff I'm looking for. I've been following you for more than a year! 10/10 👍

I love how this started off like a documentary and ended like a good old BPS Space video with Joe doing something goofy, Can we have more of this is awesome :-)

My dad worked on rocket guidance systems for General Dynamics starting in the late 1950’s to the mid 1980’s. One system he talked about, he called “dithering” where the fins shook at a small angle with a certain rate, when they wanted to change direction they would just pause at one or the other angles +/- then back to shaking/dithering. You could possibly use electromagnet switching to get rid of the mechanical linkage?

THAT WAS AWESOME! I hope the next flight goes all right! Well, unless you can control the pitch, then you go all left too if you want, idk

the shots at 6:33 and 7:01 of it trying to correct itself and falling sideways are amazing, reminds me of shots of sn10 falling

Amazing video Joe!! Cant wait to see the next flight of Fineas!! Loved the new concept of aerodynamic guidance and also loved the new way of vlog type coverage!

You have a very interesting problem here with the PIDS. You will either need to write an algorithm to adjust the PIDS over the flight during powered lift or when you are flying at low speed you will have no issue as illustrated then when the speed picks up and the controls become super effective your algorithm will overcorrect and it will freak it out. I would say redesigning the fins to move the actuation point all the way to the back and the pivot to the very nose of the fin. Gets the best Mechanical Advantage at high speed and provides better servo precision. Then either go for full-on speed for the tune only or sacrifice high-speed control unless you can switch the rates between the two. Then the rocket looks like it should be great!

These new videos are something else man. You are incredible! One of my favorite creators out there man

"Launching rockets in the Mojave makes you wish for a nuclear winter." Man, it's beautiful out there. And so many folks working on their passions that there is a dedicated site to do so. I didn't know such a place existed. Very cool! I really enjoyed the video, Joe. Thanks!

This is why you should support BPS on patreon

I really appreciate the use of Subnautica music with your video. Love it! Would the rocket perform better if you have moving flaps on the back of the fins vs having the whole fin actuating?