Towards Aerodynamic Control of Miniature Rockets with MEMS Control Surfaces

We demonstrate a MEMS-actuated aerodynamic control surface integrated into an untethered 16.9 g, 20 cm rocket. The system's flight performance was characterized inside a wind tunnel. The actuator system generates 3.6 μNm of torque about the rocket's body axis in 13.3 m/s airflow with 5.1° angle of attack, inducing a maximum roll velocity of 100°/s. This is the first electrostatic inchworm motor-actuated MEMS control surface to perform aerodynamic maneuvers in a self-contained rocket body.