Burhop Design

The space industry has entered a new era thanks to individual inventors and innovative companies. As an industrial design student, my goal is to take the ideas of engineers and scientists and come up with original applications in this growing industry.

Cool products get attention. Novel applications get people talking. Ground-breaking ideas generate investment. But you have to be practical as well. The information on this pages contain both concept ideas as well as practical information I’ve collected.

Please view the sponsors that have supported me in this work. These people and companies have been especially helpful in turning many of these ideas into tangible projects

Rocket Bike Project

This is my Hybrid Rocket Powered Bicycle. It runs on Nitrous Oxide, and something that burns, such as tar or paper. The round cylinder on the bike Contains Nitrous Oxide, a self pressuring substance that provides large quantities of oxygen allowing a bigger fire in the rocket. At room temperature it rests at 800 P.S.I. so there is no need for another gas to pressurize it. The fuel grain (paper or tar) rests in the motor itself at the back of the bike. Also in the back of the bike is an igniter  which lights the fuel grain on fire. When a button is pushed the igniter sparks and lights the fuel grain on fire. Three seconds later another button is pressed which activates a solenoid( a valve that responds to electricity). It opens allowing Nitrous Oxide to enter the center of the fuel grain and provide large quantities of oxygen which make the existing fire mush bigger. This reaction creates high pressure gases that get caught at the rocket nozzle where the opening is very small and they expand out the the nozzle opens larger. This creates thrust in the rocket. This bike has taken over six months to build and work on. It was made possible largely because of Steve Johnson who machined the motor and tank  and Tim Pickens who gave me a job at Orion Propulsion and opened up the door for me to learn about rockets. The is currently in its testing phase.

Rocket Case Project

This is an upcoming project for 2007. I am hoping to create a suitcase hybrid rocket for demonstration purposes.  So check back later!

 

Sponsors

I especially want to thank some of the sponsors that have donated time and products used in perusing some of these ideas. Please visit their web sites and see what other products they offer.

 

Product	Company
Pressure Transducer	Rich Ursini MKS Instruments,Inc  Web: www.mksinst.com
USB controlled DAQ.	Vinnie Hebert Sales Engineer Measurement Computing Corp. Web: www.mccdaq.com
Protection Suit	Ultra.Shield Race Products LLC Web: www.ultrashieldrace.com

Rocket Resources

There are a number of good internet resources on the web that I've found in my own work. I hope to post these here for anyone that follows in my footsteps.

Orion Propulsion is an innovative company based in Madison, AL. I am fortunate to be able to work there during summer and between classes. One of the projects I got to spend some time on was the Orion Rocket truck shown at the X Prize Cup.

Most of what I am working on would not be possible if it wasn't for the training, support, and great ideas of Steve Johnson and Tim Pickens.  

visit their site at:

 

Auburn Rocket Team

In January of 2007, I've been involved in setting up an Auburn Sponsored Rocket Club. Any Auburn students and faculty can be involved.

Once set up, this page should point to the official web page.

If you are interested, please contact me. Ability to build a rocket is not required. We need a lot of different skills from Industrial Design to Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, to Marketing (need sponsors!). Computer students who want to learn about data acquisition or build a cool web page could certainly help.  Even if you are a history major that just likes to build things, please check us out.

The private space industry is growing quickly and this is a good way to learn more.

 

idustrial design

I am currently a Industrial Design Student at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. The information below is on the Auburn Industrial Design program that is a part of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction.

 You can also go to the  Auburn University web site.  To open the Auburn Industrial Design Web Site in its own window click here.