Our past projects
DeepFakes
For the “Deepfakes: art and its doubles” exhibition from EPFL held by the Laboratory of Experimental Museology of EPFL (eM+ lab), The Countdown Company was mandated to develop the mechanical supports of four different artworks: • a 2.5m x 5m hanging screen attached to a sloped rooftop • a large but movable rear-projected screen •...
Object Navigator
The Laboratory of Experimental Museology of EPFL (eM+) “is a new transdisciplinary initiative at the intersection of immersive visualisation technologies, visual analytics, aesthetics and cultural (big) data.” (https://www.epfl.ch/labs/ emplus/). One of the artwork of an exhibition consisted in a rotating platform carrying multiple screens with which the user can interact in a unique manner. While...
6 DOF suborbital rocket trajectory simulator
During our time at EPFL Rocket Team, Eric worked on our custom 3D flight trajectories simulator for our rocket launches. Taking in account the mass, fuel, aerodynamic geometry, air pressure, temperature, wind, launchpad tilt, this simulator helped us on some critical dimensioning of our rockets. Coded in Matlab, this simulator is also used to control...
Project Matterhorn
This project represents the beginning of our collaboration. It is the story of a student team from the EPFL who wanted to become one of the pioneer European university to participate to the Spaceport America Cup. The objective of this challenge is to design, manufacture, pack, ship across the Atlantic, integrate and launch a rocket...
Recovery Parachute System using Reefing Technology
The reefing technology consists of actively controlling the opening of the parachute. In the case of the Matterhorn Rocket, such a technology permits to directly deploy the main parachute at apogee but only fully inflate at low altitude. This way, with a single parachute, a high descent rate is maintained from 3’000m to 300m altitude...
Airbrakes Module: Flaps
The Flaps Module is a controlled airbrake mechanism for the Matterhorn Rocket which can substitute the Shuriken model, proving here the modularity given to our different systems. The Flaps Module has 3 big braking areas coming out of the rocket thanks to a combination of a motorized worm drive and mobile rods. The mechanism was...
Airbrakes Module: Shuriken
The Shuriken is a controlled airbrake mechanism for the Matterhorn Rocket. It plays a core role in the strategy to reach the precise altitude of 3’000m despite the uncertainties of the engine’s total impulse. Indeed, the idea was to select a motor ensuring an overshoot of the targeted height and to actively use the airbrakes...
Hybrid Rocket Engine “Griffon”
During their free time at ISAE-Supaero, Eric and Emilien worked on a suborbital rocket hybrid engine. The Griffon engine is capable of lifting 20 [kg] of payload up to 3000 [m]. Griffon engine uses 3D printed ABS as fuel and hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer. A third element, considered as an inert gas, is used to...