Design and development of a smartphone based picosatellite : on board computer system

• Main Author: A Saravanan
• Other Authors: Low Kay Soon
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/68123
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report presents the development of an On Board Computer System (OBCS) for Velox-PIV. Velox-PIV is an experimental picosatellite, which carries a smartphone, as its primary payload. The satellite’s main objective is to utilize the functionalities of a smartphone to capture images, read magnetometer data and gyroscope data in space. The main focus of this project is the On Board Computer System, which is responsible for the command and control of other subsystems, and data handling of Velox-PIV. The objective of this project is to design, code and test the Flight Operating Modes of the On Board Computer System and integrate it with other subsystems. Environmental test were also carried out. The Flight Operating Modes describe the pre-determined operational states that the satellite will go through during its mission. These modes are designed to make the satellite autonomous in decision making throughout its mission. Arduino Mega ADK has been chosen as the microcontroller for OBCS. Various Software programming structures have been explored. Tests were carried out to ensure the consistency of hardware as well as software of OBCS. Lastly, this report presents the observations made in the course of this project, challenges and problems encountered, and the steps taken to overcome these issues.