GMIT CANSAT 2014Team Unicorn

Team Members

• Max Phelan• Vincent Slevin• Niall Redmond

ObjectiveA CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite, contained within the volume of a 330ml soft-drinks can. The Primary Mission of the CanSat is to remotely measure temperature and pressure, and transmit the data to the ground-station (laptop computer). In addition to a computer (Arduino UNO microcontroller), radio communications module, sensors and power supply, the CanSat will eventually need a parachute to land safely after launch from high altitude (eg. from a rocket, balloon, plane).

ParachuteSignal to Laptop from Satellite Transmitter

Signal Receiver

Laptop

Primary Mission

CanSat – contains computer, radio communications module, T & P sensors and power supply

Primary Mission

As the Can drops sensor information will be relayed to the Arduino Serial Monitor allowing the user to plot and analyse the data

Temp = 22.3Temp = 22.4Temp = 22.6Temp = 22.7Temp = 22.8Temp = 22.9Temp = 23.0Temp = 23.4Temp = 24

The secondary mission that was chosen was to enhance the program written for the Arduino.

Because temperature effects pressure we decided that the temperature readingwould feed into the pressure formulagiving a more accurate reading.

Secondary Mission

NTC Thermistor Sensor

NTC - Thermistor was used to measure the change of temperature as the can dropped

Calibration curve for the NTC thermistor

Circuit Diagram for the NTC - Thermistor

• Used to calibrate the Arduino software to ensure a correct temperature reading is given

NTC Thermistor Sensor

Program used to run NTC Thermistor

A MPX4410 pressure sensor was used for the cansat

Pressure Sensor

Calibration Curve used for the MPX4410 pressure sensor

• Used to calibrate the pressure sensor with the Arduino program

Circuit Diagram for the MPX4410 pressure sensor

Pressure SensorMPX4410 Transfer function plots voltage against pressure

Formula used to Calculate Pressure from formula. Gives pressure in KPa

Example of Arduino program used to calculate pressure

Pressure Sensor

Calculating altitude from pressure

Formula for getting Height

Pow Function for writing exponents in Arduino program

Program written for Altitude. Note that temp is being inputted from NTC Thermistor reading

Final Program

Program used for the Launch of the satellite.

Secondary mission is included in the altitude formula as the temperature input.

Some changes could be made to tidy up the code, but it is functional for the mission.

APC220 Communication Module

This module transmits data from the Arduino to the Computer

This allows the user the see the serial data wirelessly on a computer

It was set to a different frequency band to ensure it would not be disrupted by other team radio-link connections

Circuit Diagram showing how the APC220 module should be connected

AUU Sensor Board

The AUU Sensor board is a printed circuit board which connects the sensors such as NTC Thermistor and the MPX4410 pressure sensor

Developed by http://www.space.aau.dk to give a easy platform to link sensors to a Arduino for satellite missions.

Its small size allows students to fit electronics Into something as small as a soda can.

Aluminium ChassisAluminium chassis was built using the supplied aluminium sheet in the kit

First Designed in Creo to ensureOptimal design in consideration to all the parts involved

3d rendering of the design

Aluminium Chassis

Parachute was constructed using the formula shown from NASAThe Brief required a terminal velocity of 8m/s to 11m/sMaximum CanSat mass: 350g

Parachute

A CAD model was doneof the parachute in CREO as a Sheet part. this allowed a flattened pattern used a reference for making the parachute.

CanSat Construction

CanSat Construction

Launch Area

Launch Method

A DJI Hexacopter S550 lifted the CanSat Approximately 20m-30m vertically from the Launch site.

Allowing the CanSat enough time to take adequate readings of temperature and pressure

Hexacopter - Specifications:- Made by DJI in China- Model Flame Wheel 550 (F550)- Frame Weight  478g- Diagonal Wheelbase 550mm- Take-off Weight  1200g ~ 2400g- Propeller 10 × 4.5in- Brushless Motor 2212 22 × 12mm (Stator size)- ESC 30A OPTO

Readings

0:03:29:192 1.96,17.93,1001.82,94.61 0:03:29:302 1.96,17.93,1001.82,94.61 0:03:29:411 1.96,17.93,1001.82,94.61 0:03:29:521 1.96,17.93,1001.82,94.61 0:03:29:521 1.96,17.93,1001.82,94.61 0:03:29:630 1.96,17.93,1001.82,94.61 0:03:29:739 1.96,17.93,1001.82,94.61 0:03:29:848 1.96,17.93,1002.91,85.37 0:03:29:957 1.96,17.93,1002.91,85.37 0:03:30:066 1.96,17.93,1002.91,85.37 0:03:30:175 1.96,17.93,1002.91,85.37 0:03:30:285 1.96,17.93,1002.91,85.37 0:03:30:394 1.96,17.93,1002.91,85.37 0:03:30:503 1.96,17.93,1003.99,76.15 0:03:30:612 1.96,17.93,1002.91,85.37 0:03:30:722 1.96,17.93,1003.99,76.15 0:03:30:831 1.96,17.93,1003.99,76.15 0:03:30:940 1.96,18.02,1003.99,76.17 0:03:31:049 1.96,18.02,1003.99,76.17 0:03:31:158 1.96,18.02,1003.99,76.17 0:03:31:268 1.96,18.02,1003.99,76.17 0:03:31:268 1.96,18.02,1005.08,66.95 0:03:31:377 1.96,18.02,1005.08,66.95 0:03:31:486 1.96,18.02,1005.08,66.95 0:03:31:595 1.96,18.02,1003.99,76.17 0:03:31:704 1.96,18.02,1005.08,66.95 0:03:31:814 1.96,18.02,1005.08,66.95 0:03:31:923 1.96,18.02,1005.08,66.95

Readings taken from moment of descent to landing (crashing) of CanSat

A program called CoolTerm was used to capture the data from the receiver. This added a useful timestamp to the data.

Data was then imported into Excel to plot the various information gathered

Height Vs Pressure

1001

.82

1001

.82

1001

.82

1001

.82

1002

.91

1002

.91

1002

.91

1002

.91

1003

.99

1003

.99

1003

.99

1005

.08

1003

.99

1005

.08

020406080

100

Height (m) vs Pressure (milliBars)

milliBars

Met

res

This graph demonstrates that pressure is inversely proportional to the height perpendicular from the ground

Height Vs Temperature

17.93

17.93

17.93

17.93

17.93

17.93

17.93

17.93

17.93

18.02

18.02

18.02

18.02

18.02

020406080

100

Height (m) vs Temperature (Celsius)

Celsius

Met

res

This graph demonstrates that temperature is inversely proportional to the height perpendicular from the ground

29.19

2

29.41

1

29.52

1

29.73

9

29.95

7

30.17

5

30.39

4

30.61

2

30.83

1

31.04

9

31.26

8

31.37

7

31.59

5

31.81

4

020406080

100

Height (m) Vs Time (Seconds)

Time

Met

res

Height Vs Time

This graph show the distance travelled per second. The velocity and initial acceleration can be determined from this graph

Determining Velocity and Acceleration  Time (Seconds) Distance(Metres)

A 29.739 94.61B 31.704 66.9

SummaryWhat we learnt:

• How to program an Arduino• How to fully complete a project within time• Designing something within the brief parameters• Prototyping using CAD programs such as Creo• Engineering Formulae needed to complete the projectChallenges:

• A major challenge was designing the parachute with such a high descent velocity went against our intuition of what a safe descent velocity should be. Our multiple calculations of the size of the parachute led to a very small parachute area.

Future Work:

• Better landing mechanism such as deployable wings or propellers to slow the CanSat

ANY QUESTIONS?