DIAMOND-X -- Fin Controlled Rocket -- Flight Test 1

DIAMOND-X is my most compact, advanced and successful actively controlled model rocket. This video shows how I got here, from early canard-control experiments to compact flight computers and aft fin control. DIAMOND-X's first flight was a huge success, showing good control in pitch yaw and roll.
In upcoming flights, a number of other guidance and control modes will be tested, including position control and waypoint-waypoint flights. This rocket will also fly from the ATLAS silo soon, stay tuned for more.

[@robertharper3754]

Man is out here putting Lockmart to shame!! This is seriously one of the coolest projects I've ever seen, remember to charge the Navy 100x the cost!

[@PneumaticFrog]

Or sell them at 2x the price you still make bank and then they have millions of them

[@MissilemanIII]

What is Lockmart?

[@-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.-]

​@@MissilemanIIILockheed Martin. I concur he did a very well executed video. I'd expect nothing less from a 21st century rocket scientist. Inspiring.

[@FrankRoosevelt32]

Man’s out here trying to get a surprise visit from the NSA 😂 they’re gonna “ask” to buy his system soon!

[@idontpointby]

@@FrankRoosevelt32 Ah, people confusing the NSA and FBI still, I see...

[@BPSspace]

Fantastic project, and great video! Roll reversal is a real mess :)

[@LafayetteSystems]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@makerslife]

You guys should definitely collaborate!

[@kotXbit]

Why not use hybrid laminar flow control towards the fins?

[@fumpdump4529]

The youtube algorithm hasn't let me eat this good in a long time. we feastin

[@nerdtronaut]

Amazing work! Up next: Nosecone integrated infrared seeker...

[@dorsk84]

Rico! Analysis!...Boom, sir! Yes, Rico, BOOM!

[@TheDaniel366Cobra]

Open source anti air FTW.

[@mlentsch]

@@TheDaniel366Cobra lol!

[@ofekshochat9920]

yes!@@TheDaniel366Cobra

[@sla1655]

Have you googled how much this costs?

[@LandNfan]

As a veteran of supporting the LGM-25C Titan-II system in the late 1960’s, I find your project fascinating, especially the launch silo. Amazing effort in all regards!

[@The_Makers_Prerogative]

Thank you for taking the time to make this great video. I enjoy seeing the progress you make and how much effort you put in to get it working the way you want, well done!

[@YHK_YT]

This truly is amazing, had this video saved for a week or so and just came to it. Great work and hope nothing but the best for your future launches/projects which I’ll be waiting for

[@class40sailor]

This is some really awesome work. The MK 41 style launcher is top notch, and I appreciate the nod to the Navy. Will certainly be watching for more updates!

[@ppsr0]

This is mad good skill right here. That silo was amazing

[@OtterSwims]

Its very interesting to see this video after recently getting into the rocketry part of youtube. I belivee youre the first person ive seen to rely so heavily on simulation to refine your rocket designs!

[@pastaprod3297]

Wooow! This is really cool!!! Thank you for taking the time to film, comment and edit all of that! Have a wonderful day!

[@mlentsch]

I've been dreaming of doing something like this for years. Kudos and thanks for sharing.

[@georgekerwood9100]

A great watch, thanks for your time and effort putting this together.

[@FarmerFpv]

I was looking for ideas for rockets for my RC jet and KZbin directed me here. This is awesome. Thank you, KZbin. You finally didn't disappoint me for once.

[@mikenoel3522]

Great engineering! Looking forward to the next models and flights.

[@ProfJonah]

That is sweet dude, super impressed by the variety of skills and knowledge on display here

[@codedinfortran]

Great project, and very well-organized presentation! Quality stuff, I really enjoyed it.

[@doch.8039]

This is some seriously cool stuff and you're doing great work, earned a subscriber! I look forward to seeing what you do with this in the future.

[@Positive_Altitude]

Very cool project! Looking forward to your future builds!

[@mattzilch5150]

So glad that I stumbled across your channel. This is an amazing project. I am really looking forward to seeing how it shapes up.

[@atharvabedarkar]

Amazing project!!

[@geologist_luna]

Out of curiosity, do you have an MS, or a Ph.D? If not, you may want to consider writing all of this up as a paper and consider submitting it to be published. Great work and I'm glad to see someone working on something I've only ever considered working on, but am simply too busy to do myself at the moment. Amazing work. I do have so many more questions, but this is neither the place nor the forum for it, Good luck!

[@LafayetteSystems]

Thank you. I got my MS recently, unfortunately not in rocket-related engineering though. You can always send me a KZbin message with any questions you have and I'd be glad to answer them!

[@jasonharris351]

@@LafayetteSystemswhat did you study ?

[@BearDemocracy]

@@LafayetteSystems​​⁠There doesn't actually seem to be a way to message on KZbin

[@frogsoisuoiusd7326]

@@BearDemocracy yeahh

[@Chad-Giga.]

@@jasonharris351he studied psychology

[@Prateek1234q.]

I am a simple man I see guided rocket , i subscribe

[@M.T....]

Whoa! I'm glad youtube algo is giving you some love 'cuz this is some very impressive work.

[@yajatvashisht4873]

Great project and congratulations on successful launch 🎉

[@earld1403]

Commenting to feed the YT algorithm. Awesome seeing a launch view without it constantly rolling.

[@rubenwardy]

Hey this is a really cool project and a nice video, good job!

[@MrHichammohsen1]

Dude whattttttttttttt! I am definitely gonna subscribe and hit the bell notification! Amazing work bro keep doing what you do.

[@RiskyVentureMinerals]

Cannot wait to see where else you can take this project! Definitely got a follow from me!

[@programmer1111x]

U put a lot of people including me and a lot of youtubers to shame. Damn this project and ur work is interesting. best regards and I hope ur projects is used for good goals

[@ricardo_9726]

Amazing work

[@royjones1053]

Impressive work

[@excellentpatrick5063]

Awesome Video!!

[@user-et4pe2ko5n]

پروزه سخت و دیدنی بود شما خیلی دانا هستید ارزوی موفقيت ❤

[@yunuszenichowski]

Especially moving waypoints would be fascinating to see

[@markumoeder]

This is so awesome!

[@anindabanik208]

I respect your patience.

[@jamesyen241]

Very cool! Good job buddy!

[@chuckles3265]

Impressive. Most impressive.

[@gutefragen5427]

Amazing project

[@zenpro8164]

would be cool if you had an endless government budget to test a slew of rockets with gps guidance to land exactly where you program it without a recovery system. But for now its great seeing your designs, telemetry data, etc. Keep up the great work, highly commendable :)

[@mikoborn4352]

Amazing video this is well worth a sub!

[@tirushone6446]

bro is out here doing learning litteral rocket science in his free time, respect

[@Ozzy3333333]

A thought I had long ago was a camera looking back at the launch pad and feeding corrections (like a mouse in a way) to a gimbaled motor (or even simpler and lighter control using 3 fins and a linear solenoid (coil) controlling the trailing edge of the fins).

[@davide.marini]

Well done man!

[@Just_gaming2012-od2rv]

OMG! That is soooooo cool!

[@SomeSortaPro]

VERY cool! liked and subbed! keep em coming❤️

[@robmik83]

Very interesting, thank you, subscribed.

[@PeterJames143]

Hope this application for work at Spacex works out for you :) Very cool. Unimaginable project level, for me. I wish I could do stuff like this. Quite amazing.

[@sbachman345]

Insane rocket. I don't know why you don't have more subs

[@mohammadhh5113]

Pretty cool project

[@Wannes_]

If you lengthen the strakes to the fwd end of the payload bay, you've replicated the Standard missile which has been virtually unchanged aerodynamically since the 1960s - indicating a very successful design. Like with Sidewinder, you've gone from front canard control, to rear control (on AIM-9X with TV ) Have a look where the aargm-er missile is going: (2, blended) strakes along the body, but @ 45° angles from the rear control surfaces ... otherwise, looking a lot like ... Standard

[@zoe..d]

roll reversal was noted with pilots in ww2 who exceeded the airpseed limits in dives. The ones who lived without their aircraft breaking up discovered their elevators would act in reverse at high enough speeds. so, pulling back as normal to decrease the dive would push them harder towards the ground.

[@pkwithmeplease]

good work friend this is insane.

[@johnmekansi1230]

Damm cool video man.

[@tropical-z5800]

Amazing!!!

[@alexanderstohle]

Brilliant!

[@dominicwalker1899]

This is so cool

[@soy1119]

way to much effort to have such little views tbh, awesome rocket design!!

[@jeanladoire4141]

Phenomenal work! I wonder how high you can send one of these in the future

[@L0615T1C]

Awesome video. You got my sub.

[@jacks19822]

Awesome modular design. Great CFD skills. Best stabilization seen so far on youtube. You could probably try to design gimbaling for the booster next, and make a real missile.

[@calebmurray3581]

This is amazing work. Awesome job!!!!!!

[@berylcnc]

Excellent channel, thank you for sharing all of your hard work. Have you considered preloading your linkages to eliminate backlash in the system?

[@urifriling3223]

Yea i first thought you just wanted to make a sam xD But this is probably the best replica of a missile that i ever heard about.

[@coltonmitchell6962]

Awesome!

[@Nipiniponipi]

SO FRICKING COOL!

[@MohsinExperiments]

Awesome 💯

[@pick_pick_pick]

mind blowing

[@rexmundi8154]

I actually work with teams of professional engineers in the space industry. I’ve worked at a major space launch company you’ve definitely heard of. And you are putting those teams to shame. I’m a pretty old machinist so I’ve seen the rate of technological change going all the way back to the 1980’s when I first worked on avionics "computers" the size of double door refrigerators. The hinges on the cabinet were the size of your whole control system. I feel like you young guys who grew up with arduinos and 3d printers have really started taking things to the next level. Like 20 years ago these projects would have only been possible by a huge team with millions of dollars to spend. Once AI agents become a thing I think we’ll see the next doubling of capabilities. You should be proud

[@abaskamal8599]

neat stuff

[@kyleeames8229]

The other BPS Space! Really cool; instant subscribe from me.

[@absenttk4213]

So how long until you get a visit from the black-suits telling you your KZbin might be subject to ITAR 👀😅

[@Turkeythigh420]

I was kinda thinking the same thing. Hahaha

[@snorman1911]

Very impressive, wish i had the time to work on something like this. Have you considered putting the servos up front and running linkages down to the fins internally? You could move the bulk of the mechanism fore and open up more space for the motor.

[@eisnarf]

Nice!👌

[@NoahStone-gu4hx]

Super cool build, I was wondering why you didn't make the static fins retractable so you could be stable on launch and maneuverable in the air.

[@PyroRaptor841]

Well done! Very interesting watching the design evolve over time, many designs were very similar to IRL missiles. The final design shown in the simulation bore a striking resemblance to the Vympel R-24. Now to put an infared imager in the nose?

[@jamesharding3459]

Not really. The total lack of midbody strakes makes it look more like a very, very cut-down Harpoon or shortened Standard-2.

[@BassMatt1972]

if your control planes are on the same axis as the fixed planes, move them off axis.. the airflow disturbance of the front fins will affect the laminar efficiency of the rear fins.

[@DrPump-hi9gs]

You are currently the coolest person I know

[@johnsongibbs6567]

You are hired sir.

[@Navoii.]

When I eventually get missile launchers in my backyard, I'd get Lafayette Systems to make them. Great video

[@setituptoblowitup]

Atlas like a spine🩻💀 I c what u did there🚀💜

[@Noobixm-GGD]

My guy is really just out here designing missiles on youtube.

[@Chad-Giga.]

I don't see a warhead? Not a missle

[@madeconomist458]

Hey, definitely not Hamas here. Hope to see more material. Much love, -definitely not Hamas.

[@joeds3775]

Hammas can afford the real stuff. I reckon it'll be a disgruntled trumpist god botherer that uses this in a drive-by bear hunt roid rage attack on a billboard of a rainbow riding tay Tay drinking bud and holding hands with the prince of wokeness, biden

[@Hans_Magnusson]

I agree with both statements! Nice project and I love the “definitely not Hamas “ comment. Gold star ⭐️

[@ARJUNTHEAIREBENDER]

Great Video :) What software did you use to simulate the flight?

[@GilchristMcGill]

Why does the alg only recommend you now? Subbed and notifications are on!

[@muazzamhaynes1780]

Hey man. Great work. I’m looking to also learn all of these things just like yourself. Where would you advise people like me to start. How did you learn, what resources do you recommend, etc. much appreciated ❤

[@Agent77X]

You are doing better then Space X, almost as good as ULA and Blue Origin!😊

[@materialdialectics]

Lot of control theory stuff involved eh? I've been trying to get to grips with all that for a few projects I have in mind but I've found it a struggle. Probably because I'm trying to learn all the pre-requisite math as well; considering the last math course I took was high school 'consumer math'. Mainly the transfer functions I've been having a hard time conceptualizing to the point of having some sort of intuitive grasp of what's going on; regarding mainly the 'building blocks' that make them up, for lack of a better phrase. It would be neat to see a video on your process regarding systems analysis, choice of control systems layout, transfer function, etc. Amazing work though, would love to try out something similar some day.

[@mactub6744]

Your work is truly inspiring, and that's no joke. I am currently developing a flight controller for a quadcopter using the backstepping control technique. And please, I would like to know if the flight simulations that you show in the video are made with Matlab? or do you use another program? Greetings from Cusco!!!

[@fkg7123]

Very neat! Impressive thoroughness. How well did your apriori vehicle models end up matching flight test data? Any plans to update your simulation models with flight-identified parameters?

[@LafayetteSystems]

There are a number of aero coefficients that I can start to estimate from flight data that should help improve the sims. Next flight will have a more aggressive maneuver profile to give me a little more data on them. The other thing flight helps with is characterizing the control nonlinearities. Rate limits and transport delays cause steady state oscillations on the roll axis, so comparing flight to the model can help me figure out these values.

[@Plumber576]

Raytheon out here taking notes.

[@hitchcock_]

translating to freedom units made my day :D

[@joeds3775]

Funny how they're the units used by the British government and a symbol if their rule.... But yeah.... 'Freedom' units

[@RoboKiller12112]

It's really cool! One question: What did you major in at college?

[@feelincrispy7053]

Yep the suits are definitely going to make a visit

[@peterheinzo515]

so crazy to think that functioning rockets have been around for almost 100 years.

[@panes4572]

Really cool, the roll program looked very precise. What was the deciding factor on having the static fins in-axis with the actuated fins? Couldn't this possibly have turbulent air/vortices affect the control of the actuated fins?

[@LafayetteSystems]

The strakes could definitely produce vortices. One thing that helps is the aft fins are taller than the strakes, so their upper half should still have clean air. They are in line so they can interface properly with the rails in the ATLAS silo.

[@ivander1511]

Put a seeker and some explosives in it and it's basically a low-altitude short-range SAM

[@elwildo14]

Those are one of the few weapons completely banned. You can technically form 1 destructive device a missile with an explosive payload but it can’t have a seek after 2001 law prohibiting that

[@RohitRajagopalan]

Hi! I was just wondering what electronic systems or code you used to control the servos on the rocket. Also, what PCB was used to collect all the flight data in real-time.

[@eriknulty6392]

Cant wait for the high speed booster with long burn main stage.