Development of CubeStar : a CubeSat-compatible star tracker

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorSteyn, W. H.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorErlank, Alexander Olafen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2013-11-25T14:10:48Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2013-12-13T16:11:12Z
dc.date.available2013-11-25T14:10:48Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2013-12-13T16:11:12Z
dc.date.issued2013-12en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MEng)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: The next generation of CubeSats will require accurate attitude knowledge throughout orbit for advanced science payloads and high gain antennas. A star tracker can provide the required performance, but star trackers have traditionally been too large, expensive and power hungry to be included on a CubeSat. The aim of this project is to develop and demonstrate a CubeSat compatible star tracker. Subsystems from two other CubeSat components, CubeSense and CubeComputer, were combined with a sensitive, commercial image sensor and low-light lens to produce one of the smallest star trackers in existence. Algorithms for star detection, matching and attitude determination were investigated and implemented on the embedded system. The resultant star tracker, named CubeStar, can operate fully autonomously, outputting attitude estimates at a rate of 1 Hz. An engineering model was completed and demonstrated an accuracy of better than 0.01 degrees during night sky tests.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die volgende generasie van CubeSats sal akkurate orientasie kennis vereis gedurende 'n volle omwentelling van die aarde. 'n Sterkamera kan die vereiste prestasie verskaf, maar sterkameras is tradisioneel te groot, duur en krag intensief om ingesluit te word aanboord 'n CubeSat. Die doel van hierdie projek is om 'n CubeSat sterkamera te ontwikkel en te demonstreer. Substelsels van twee ander CubeSat komponente, CubeSense en CubeComputer, was gekombineer met 'n sensitiewe kommersiële beeldsensor en 'n lae-lig lens om een van die kleinste sterkameras op die mark te produseer. Algoritmes vir die ster opsporing, identi kasie en orientasie bepaling is ondersoek en geïmplementeer op die ingebedde stelsel. Die gevolglike sterkamera, genaamd CubeStar, kan ten volle outonoom orientasie afskattings lewer teen 'n tempo van 1 Hz. 'n Ingenieursmodel is voltooi en 'n akkuraatheid van beter as 0.01 grade is gedemonstreer.af_ZA
dc.format.extentxiii, 122 p. : ill.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85746
dc.languageen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subjectCubeSatsen_ZA
dc.subjectAttitude determination and control systemsen_ZA
dc.subjectStar trackeren_ZA
dc.subjectNanosatellites -- Attitude control systemsen_ZA
dc.subjectDissertations -- Electrical and electronic engineeringen_ZA
dc.subject.otherTheses -- Electrical and electronic engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleDevelopment of CubeStar : a CubeSat-compatible star trackeren_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
erlank_development_2013.pdf
Size:
9.26 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.99 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters Degrees (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)