Infrared horizon sensor for CubeSat implementation
| dc.contributor.advisor | Steyn, H. W. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Wessels, Jurie Hendrik | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-02-20T09:35:09Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-04-09T07:01:04Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-02-20T09:35:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-04-09T07:01:04Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2018. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Attitude determination is essential in satellite design, as it directly affects the pointing ability of the satellite. In the CubeSat industry there exists a need for high accuracy attitude sensors that are lowpower and low-cost. Currently, horizon sensors are a desirable option, but with recent growth in thermopile technology, it is possible to create horizon sensors that operate in the infrared spectrum offering tremendous benefits. This study focusses on the design, development, and evaluation of such an infrared horizon sensor. This includes the circuit and PCB design, software development and embedded implementation, as well as the creation of simulation/emulation environments for sensor calibration and evaluation. The critical limitation of this study is the extremely low resolution of the infrared camera (32 x 31 pixels) from which the horizon location should be determined to a sub-pixel accuracy. This limitation is overcome by calculating the gradient image with use of a Sobel Operator, after which the sub-pixel local extrema is determined by approximating a parabola shape on the horizon edge. In conclusion, a robust, low-power and low-cost sensor were developed, that is implementable on a Cube- Sat. This sensor delivers a worst case elevation accuracy of 0.075° with added noise of σ = 0:023°. Similarly, the rotation measurement delivers a worst case accuracy of 0.39° with added noise of σ = 0:14°. This satisfies the initial goal of reaching 0.1° elevation measurement accuracy. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oriëntasiekennis is belangrik in satellietontwerp, aangesien dit sy oriëntasiebeheer direk beïnvloed. In die CubeSat-industrie bestaan daar 'n behoefte aan hoë akkuraatheid oriëntasiesensors wat lae krag en lae koste is. Tans is horison sensors 'n wenslike opsie, maar met 'n onlangse groei in termopiel tegnologie is dit moontlik om horison sensors te ontwerp wat in die infrarooi spektrum funksioneer, wat enorme voordele bied. Hierdie studie fokus op die ontwerp, ontwikkeling en evaluering van so 'n infrarooi horison sensor. Dit sluit in die voledige stroombaan ontwerp, sagteware-ontwikkeling en mikroverwerker implementering, asook die skep van simulasie- en emulasieomgewings vir sensorkalibrasie en evaluering. Die kritiese beperking van hierdie studie is die uiters lae resolusie van die infrarooi kamera (32x31 beeldpunte (Engels: pixels)) waarvan die horison-lokasie bepaal moet word vir 'n sub-beeldpunt-akkuraatheid. Hierdie beperking word oorkom deur die gradientbeeld te bereken deur gebruik te maak van 'n Sobel Operator, waarna die sub-beeldpunt plaaslike ekstrem bepaal word deur 'n paraboolvorm aan die horison rand te pas. Ten slotte is 'n robuuste, laekrag- en laekostesensor ontwikkel wat op 'n CubeSat implementeerbaar is. Hierdie sensor lewer 'n slegste geval elevasiemeting akkuraatheid van 0.075° met bygevoegde geraas van σ = 0:023°. Net so lewer die rotasiemeting 'n slegste geval akkuraatheid van 0.39° met bygevoegde geraas van σ = 0:14°. Dit voldoen aan die aanvanklike akkuraatheid doelwit om 'n 0.1° elevasiehoek te meet. | af_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 137 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/103564 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | CubeSat | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Infrared horizon sensors | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Spectrum, Infrared | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Infrared horizon sensor for CubeSat implementation | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |