Flywheel-based energy and attitude control system

• Main Author: Neo, Ming Shien
• Other Authors: Amal Chandran
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/149047
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Energy and power are a basic necessity in our daily lives. However, sources like batteries that we currently rely on are not sustainable, as most of them are of single usage and are thrown away once they are used up which often results in waste. People have discovered the use of flywheels, a mechanical device which is designed to store rotational energy. Flywheels are being implemented on electric vehicles, but yet to be used on something as small as the CubeSat. It also has a high energy efficiency due to the use of magnetic bearings which reduces energy loss from friction. This project aims to explore the use of flywheels as a system that controls 2 subsystem – an energy storage system and an attitude control system. To implement the flywheels onto the CubeSats – a miniature satellite in the shape of a cube, more research has to be done to understand the functionality of both the devices. Based on the information collected and the parameters given from the mission, calculations will be done to specify the designs of the flywheel-based energy storage system. Finally, a prototype of the system will be produced.