Rocket tracking system
Real-time telemetry processing on a Zynq FPGA running PetaLinux, streaming data from the AXI interface to downstream consumers over the network. Built for deterministic, low-latency tracking during launch sequences.
The challenge
Tracking a rocket during launch requires capturing high-frequency telemetry data with zero tolerance for packet loss. The existing ground station infrastructure relied on legacy serial links that could not keep up with the data rates required by modern payloads. We needed a solution that could process raw AXI bus data in real-time, run on a Zynq FPGA with PetaLinux, and stream processed telemetry to multiple downstream consumers simultaneously.
Confidential
6 months
Bob + Erwin
Full stack - firmware to cloud
Our approach
FPGA pipeline design
Designed the AXI-to-Ethernet bridge on the programmable logic side, with DMA channels for zero-copy transfers to the processing system.
PetaLinux integration
Built a custom PetaLinux distribution with real-time kernel patches and a userspace daemon for telemetry routing and filtering.
Ground station software
Developed the receiving application in Python and Angular, with live dashboards showing trajectory, signal strength, and system health.