Having watched a few flights lately I’m determined not to loose a payload as the balloon floats or leaks etc. To this end I needed some way of terminating the flight automomously should it stray out of certain preset conditions. The flight termination is done by some sort of cut down so the balloon is severed from the payload/parachute assembly. I’ve tried a nichrome but down before but they are slow and mechanically fragile (at least the ones I’ve made were).
The pyrotechnic cutdowns seem a better idea using a small rocket motor igniter and a gram or two of smokeless powder. I made a few up today and tested one in the garden :
Also see this post : http://ava.upuaut.net/?p=149 for a version using match sticks instead of gun powder!
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