SEMESTERS PROJECTS
SEMESTERS PROJECTS
SYSTEM ENGINERING
SYSTEMS ENGINERING
Electrical SE: PDS_001
Hardware – Software
- Derive requirements for an electrical power system.
- Define and manage electrical Interfaces of a CubeSat bus: EPS - Solar cells - Power supply of satellite subsystems)
- Establish a power budget of the satellite based on mission requirements.
- Characterize a space-grade cable harness: Perform necessary tradeoff analysis to choose equipment).
Expectations from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission. The student is expected to write and track the requirements on a model based systems engineering software. A modular power budget shall be developed with the mission requirements as input variables. A report that shall document the work performed during the semester.Mechanical SE: PDS_002
Hardware – Software
- Derive requirements for structure design.
- Define and manage mechanical interfaces (satellite subsystems and deployment pod).
- Establish a preliminary space and mass budget that shall be modeled on 1:1 CubeSat model (3D printed model for space budget)
- Perform tradeoffs to select the Deployment mechanisms (UHF Antenna - solar arrays - Magnetometer) and Satellite materials.
- Participate in concept generation activities of the different satellite subsystems.
- Perform FEM analysis for the generated CubeSat structure: Vibration - Static load - Acoustic Shocks - Thermal (In collaboration with Test Systems Engineer)
Expectations from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission. The student is expected to write and track the requirements on a model-based systems engineering software.Real size space and mass models shall be provided by the end of the project. A report shall document the FEM analysis results as well as tradespace analysis and selected concepts.Risk, Quality and Test SE: PDS_003
Theoretical – Software
- Define test procedures and checklists for the prototyped subsystems
- Perform Thermal/Vacuum and vibration tests on prototyped subsytsems and analyze results
- Test and qualify new locking mechanism for space applications
- Perform FEM analysis for the generated CubeSat structure: Vibration - Static load - Acoustic Shocks - Thermal (In collaboration with Mechanical Systems Engineer)
- Perform a detailed risk analysis (on subsystem level)
- Determine failure modes of the cubesat and how to mitigate them (FMECA)
- Derive functional requirements based on risk analysis
Expectations from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
The student is expected to deliver a detailed test procedure for the subsystems.Report the requirements in a model based systems engineering software. The report shall focus on the risk analysis results.
EPS
EPS
Design and prototype an EPS: PDS_004
Power electronics – PCB design – Signal processing – C / C++
Hardware -Software
- Equipped with a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) to receive power from the solar panels and store it in batteries.
- Ensure the distribution of power through voltage configured outputs that meet the needs of the mission
- Able to connect to an external battery pack.
- Equipped with sensors to perform battery balancing and monitor their temperature.
Expectations from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
The students are expected to generate a first concept of the EPS module and demonstrate its functionality on CubeSat solar panels and a dummy subsystem. A report shall document the features of the design and the performed trade-offs.
ADCS
ADCS
Testing and adapting In-House developed algos: PDS_005
Hardware – Software
EPFL Spacecraft Team students developed in-house determination and control algorithms for the attitude of the CubeSat, in the scope of an academic semester project.
This project aims at testing and improving the algorithms by developing an airbearing test bench to simulate the satellite motion, such that both the attitude determination and the control can be verified.
The attitude determination shall also be tested prior to the airbearing testbench on a simple integrated system. The test bench shall be equipped with sensors to monitor the CubeSat motion.
Expectations from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
The student is expected to develop a functional airbearing test bench, the testing procedures and optimize the existing control algorithms. The provided work shall be documented in a report.
OBC
OBC
FPGA/SOC: PDS_006
Software
Prototype a flexible system on chip for the FPGA as proof of concept for the on-board computer of the CHESS mission.
The Second semester project will follow for the final implementation.
Expectation from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
The student is expected to have a fully working SoC able to run an RTOS on top of it.
In-orbit operations of HOBC: PDS_007
Software
Development of a testing plan for the components of the in-orbit demonstrator of an In-house developed on-board computer (HOBC).
Spacecraft Team is targeting a launch window in December 2022, of its onboard computer for in-orbit demonstration and validation.
This project consists in defining and writing the necessary software to perform functional test for the FPGA, MCU, sensors and memories.
Expectation from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
The student is expected to provide the software that commands the execution on the onboard computer once in orbit.
The provided work shall be documented in a report.
TELECOM
TELECOM
Design and prototype an X/S Band antenna (EL) PDS_008
Hardware – SoftwareExpectations from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
Output: Antenna prototype including feeding network.
Design and prototype a UHF antenna (EL) PDS_009
Hardware – SoftwareExpectations from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
Output: Antenna prototype
Structure
Structure
Design and build a 3U structure (Meca/MT) PDS_010
HardwareDevelop a full-scale prototype of the structure for the CHESS CubeSat. The prototype shall be able to withstand the loads incurred during ground tests, launch and in-orbit operations (vibrational, thermal,…). Special attention needs to be paid to the choice of materials used.
Expectation from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission. The student is expected to elaborate a design of the structure, perform the FEM analysis, manufacture the prototype and confirm the simulations with vibrations, sine and static load tests. The deliverable should be documented in a report.
Output: Full scale structure prototype
Design and prototype 3U solar panels (Meca/MT) PDS_011
HardwareExpectation from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
Output: A prototype of solar panels compatible with the CubeSat structure.
Design and build CubeSat deployment mechanisms (Meca/MT) PDS_012
Hardware-SoftwareExplore and develop deployment mechanisms options for the CHESS CubeSat. Multiple deployment mechanisms are required for two main applications: solar panel deployment and antenna deployment. The mechanisms shall either be single-use or reusable. The developed systems shall be thoroughly tested with an emphasis on reliability.
Expectation from the student
The outcome of the project will be presented in the Preliminary Design Review of the mission.
Output: Prototype(s) of the different deployment mechanisms.
