ADCS development for student CubeSat satellites – TalTech case study

Abstract

This paper presents a case study on the development of the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) of Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) student CubeSat satellites (TTU100 satellite project). To determine the satellite’s attitude in orbit and its rotational speed, the satellites are equipped with sun sensors, magnetometers, and gyroscopes. The satellites use magnetorquers and flywheels in 3-axis as actuators to control rotational speed and attitude. The ADCS is used to convert sensor signals into control reference for the actuators. The research focuses on analysing sensors and actuators used in other CubeSat-type satellites as well as on the process of TTU100 hardware and software development. Special attention is paid to selecting software methods for determining the attitude and evaluating the performance of the developed ADCS. The necessity of further study and dissemination of the mission results is suggested.

Keywords

• small satellites
• attitude determination and control
• earth observation
• sensor software.