Quaternions : Flight Telemetry Lab

This project is an open-source educational code sandbox demonstrating rotational mathematics in 3D environments. It provides an immediate, visual case study comparing two primary methods of managing spatial orientation: classical Euler Angles and Hamilton's Quaternions. Methodology and Purpose: Using a Python, Pygame, and OpenGL framework, the repository renders an interactive side-by-side simulation of a flight vehicle. One model is driven by standard sequential rotation matrices (Yaw, then Pitch, then Roll), while the other is driven continuously by custom quaternion-matrix operations. By prompting the user to orient both vehicles vertically (a 90-degree pitch boundary), the simulation maps out the exact mechanical and mathematical failure point known as Gimbal Lock—where degrees of freedom are lost in the Euler system but preserved perfectly in the quaternion system. Intended Use: This repository is a standalone mathematical demonstration tool. It is intended for software engineers, game developers, or aerospace students seeking a bare-minimum, un-bloated programmatic example of how quaternions prevent rotational singularities in physical or virtual space.