Attitude determination and control system of a nanosatellite
Date
2007-12
Authors
Schoonwinkel, Johannes
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
The aim of this project was to design and test a partial attitude determination
and control system for a nanosatellite. The reaction wheel system was
designed and tested as an actuator for the nanosatellite. This reaction wheel
system consists of four reaction wheels mounted in a tetrahedral formation.
A rate sensor system was also designed and its viability for this space application
was examined. The rate sensor system consists of 3 orthogonally
mounted planes, each with three rate sensors mounted on it. Hardware-inthe-
loop tests were used along with an air bearing experimentational setup,
which created near frictionless circumstances, to prove the effectiveness of
the designed reaction wheel setup. The results following from this project
were the following: The reaction wheel system proved to be an adequate actuator
for this nanosatellite application and the rate sensor systemwhich was
analysed proved to be inadequate for a nanosatellite application.
Description
Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Keywords
Artificial satellites -- Control systems, Artificial satellites -- Attitude control systems, Dissertations -- Electronic engineering, Theses -- Electronic engineering