$96 3D-printed rocket that recalculates its mid-air trajectory using a $5 sensor

lukan

So this is basically a DIY mini rocket clearly advertised to be used in an asymetrical war. I do not expect this project to remain on github for long.

throwaway290

Insanity. Airbus fighter jets, open-source rockets on github...

mikkupikku

Straight up admitting that it's meant to implement MANPADS is certainly a choice, I hope the author doesn't get himself in hot water.. ITAR or something.. (Would be cool to see an ATGM variant too!)

codethief

As the YouTube comments say: > This guy really wants that defense contract.

Mizza

This is bonkers. Video on GitHub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDO2EvXyncE I'm impressed by the kid's engineering and gumption, but I think he's a bit.. misguided, if you'll pardon the pun. The video ends with shots of Russian drone war, and, bizarrely, photos of David Koresh. I don't think this ends well.

randomNumber7

> This project manifesto declares a fundamental shift: advanced air-defense capabilities—once locked behind billion-dollar state arsenals and classified labs—are now within reach of determined individuals using consumer electronics, open-source software, and rapid prototyping. I guess a lot of people will not be happy with this xD

MagicMoonlight

Be very careful. Google and GitHub will turn you over without hesitation, and everyone who downloads this will probably be vanned. Remember kids, the warrantless search is only illegal if they don’t find a surface to air missile. Anything can be made retroactively legal if they find something like this.

redgridtactical

The engineering is genuinely impressive for $96, but naming the repo "MANPADS-System-Launcher-and-Rocket" on GitHub is going to attract exactly the kind of attention you don't want. ITAR implications aside, the interesting part is the mid-flight trajectory recalculation on a $5 sensor. That's the same basic problem military guidance systems solve with hardware that costs thousands. The gap between consumer electronics and mil-spec capability keeps shrinking and this is a pretty stark demonstration of where that trend leads. A few years ago this would have required an IMU that cost more than this entire build. The democratization angle cuts both ways though - the same accessibility that makes this cool for hobbyists makes it genuinely concerning from a proliferation standpoint.

tzury

Given the navigation is done by the cameras (not GPS) you will also need to do some work with the second repository (by the same guy)- https://github.com/novatic14/Distributed-Camera-Node-Trackin...

chewbacha

Sounds a lot more like a missile than a rocket.

alansaber

Kid knows how to advertise

roysting

I hope the kid is aware that he better not commit anything even remotely like a crime, because they will try to stitch him up quick.

jofzar

God, I feel like I am going to be on a list after clicking that link. The future is scary

niemandhier

A certain kind of mind deals with stress by devising solutions, even if one cannot put them into action. Seeing people in Israel, Iran, the general Middle East as well as the Ukraine live in fear of drone strikes might have incentivised this person to come up with a potential way to deal with these threats. Cheap air defense would equilibrate drone warfare again: Currently drones are much cheaper that the systems that take them down.

getcrunk

I watched a YouTube video the other day about how the usa tracks missle launches globally. I would assume they have to pass a minimum threshold of power/heat/energy to be detectable. Let’s all pray this toy project, if readily upgradable, is also trackable and well … the way we keep law and order is by actual policing and prosecuting. So hopefully this doesn’t get out of hand. Very impressive, but very troubling.

mirekrusin

John Connor.

neatze

Many mention ITAR or some other issue, nothing about this project is even close to ITAR (as far I understand), connecting camera to rocket using it as guidance will get in trouble most likely, if not mistake only thing allowed is using camera to AIM at sun. https://www.youtube.com/@LafayetteSystems is similar project, also by actual defense contractor, and less opensource.

isoprophlex

This is obviously a missile, and I'm not well-versed in weapons tech, but won't this need a camera to actually track and take out a flying object? So far I just see gps and barometric sensing... Also 3D printing and some electronics, ok fine, but where do you get the rocket propellant? That seems at least as critical as the software and sensing side of things...

alexnewman

So you are going to see the following cope Coper: But it's sensors are so low end it will never be reliable enough. Response: We can use AI to make up for low quality sensors, we can add a camera if we want it to be as reliable as self driving cars for a small amount of money Coper: AI what a joke that doesn't work Response: It's live in production Coper: But you can't fit a big enough payload Response: Lets see

holografix

Fascinating, is miniaturisation and “democratisation” of offensive capabilities via 3d printing and consumer tech going to impact defensive capabilities as well? Are we going to see foot troops carry one of these strapped to their backpacks and launched autonomously to counteract incoming drones?