Mission objective and Mini-Probe functions

There are two designated missions to be fulfilled by the Mini-Probe. In the primary mission, one of our goals is to measure the temperature of the environment. Data from the thermometer will be delivered to a smartphone application via FTP servers connected to our ground-base computer, using radio signal as a transmitter. Second parameter that will be measured as the primary mission is pressure, which will be checked with a barometer, and the results will be sent, like the thermometer, to the smartphone application via FTP servers.

The secondary mission consists of landing, taking photos and measuring parameters like speed, position, height above the surface, acceleration and electromagnetic field.

The entirety of our mission is meant to serve as a simulation of a landing on a foreign planet. The use of gathered measurements and photographs could be to find the best place on an unexplored planet with a dense atmosphere (details of the surface of the planets with dense atmosphere can’t be seen in satellite images) for a rover to land on. Deployment of a fleet of can-satellites (which are inexpensive in production) in different places to choose the best area of landing is possible. The CanSat mission will be successful if the Mini-Probe lands, takes photos, and finishes taking measurements of: the electromagnetic field, position, pressure, temperature, and the data is successfully transmitted to the application.

Mini-Probe design

Overview

Our CanSat will be designed and built to be launched and deployed from a rocket at the altitude of about 2000 meters. The descent of the satellite is to be no faster than 9 meters per second, at the height of 50 meters, slowing down to 2 meters per second using a second parachute.

At this time, it will measure temperature, pressure, speed, position, height, acceleration, electromagnetic field, sending them to the application. The Probe will also be taking photos of surrounding places using a camera.

Mechanical and structural design

Our CanSat will use only one electric engine to deploy the second parachute and open the landing legs. Engine will provide the power to the differential that will power up legs to start opening. At the same time, the engine will release the lines which hold the second parachute.

Structure of our CanSat will be made with hard filament. It will also have tabs which let us connect it to components. Landing legs are basically constructed as walls which will open themselves 50 meters above ground using above-described electric engine. The legs themselves will be made of elastic filament. They will be opened to stabilize the CanSat probe, which will additionally help in slowing down. In the picture below you can see 4 views on our CanSat with opened and closed legs.

The heaviest things will be stacked on the bottom of the CanSat case. All components and structure of the Mini-Probe will weigh from 300 to 350 grams. The height of the CanSat and the parachute together will be about 15,5 centimeters and the diameter will be about 6,4 centimeters. Parachute will be connected with the Probe at the highest part of the construction.

Two parachutes will be used in our CanSat. For best results, we need those dome-shaped. The field of the first one is 433 cm2, and it will open immediately to slow down the Mini-Probe to 9 meters per second. Second one field is 9331 cm2, meant to open 50 meters above ground and slow down our CanSat to two meters per second. Both are made of polypropylene foil which is light and thin, but very durable. The individual sheets of foil will be sewn with threads on a sewing machine, and then the structure will be reinforced with adhesive tape.

Electrical design

We are planning to implement several electric elements, such as a motor, a camera, a radio and environmental sensors. An electric motor will be installed to provide the ability to rotate walls and extend legs from them, and the motor will be also used to detach the second parachute. Camera will be used to take photos and save them on an on-board storage, or alternatively, when possible, photographs will be sent through a radio signal. Radio signals will be used to send data to the computer to provide the ability to display collected data in our application. Sensors will collect measurements and send them to the computer.

Electrical subsystems

● Power supply: we will provide 3.6 voltage Li-ion rechargeable batteries, of an estimated 6-hour work time.

● Communication system: data transmission will be conducted through a radio frequency of 433MHz, for the CanSat to send information to the ground station in regular time intervals. The ground station will able to send information to the Probe, as well, in case of any problems. For the ground station, we will use a CDMA ATK-10 antenna.

● Recovery system: after the landing of our CanSat, the GPS module will be continuously sending information to the ground station that will show us the localization of the Mini-Probe. After positioning, pick up of the satellite will be possible, to then turn it off and grab the SD card from the motherboard.

Software design

The software of our CanSat will handle data form the installed sensors and transfer them via radio signals to the ground station. From that station, data will be transferred to the FTP servers. All collected parameters will be available in our smartphone application, connected to the servers. Some information like photographs or long float variables that can’t be sent via radio signal will be contained on the on-board storage.

During the programming of our software, we will be using Arduino C language in the Arduino IDE development environment.

Gallery: design and renders

TBA