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Development of an onboard computer (OBC) for a CubeSat
Author(s)
Lumbwe, Lwabanji Tony
Date Issued
2013
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
Over the past decade, the satellite industry has witnessed the birth and evolution of the
CubeSat standard, not only as a technology demonstrator tool but also as a human capacity
development platform in universities. The use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware
components makes the CubeSat a cost effective and ideal solution to gain access to space in
terms of budget and integration time for experimental science payloads.
Satellite operations are autonomous and are essentially based on the interaction of
interconnected electronic subsystems exchanging data according to the mission requirements
and objectives. The onboard computer (OBC) subsystem is developed around a microcontroller
and plays an essential role in this exchange process as it performs all the computing tasks and
organises the collection of onboard housekeeping and payload data before downlink during an
overpass above the ground station.
The thesis here presented describes the process involved in the development, design and
implementation of a prototype OBC for a CubeSat. An investigation covering previously
developed CubeSat OBCs is conducted with emphasis on the characteristics and features of
the microcontroller to be used in the design and implementation phases. A set of hardware
requirements are defined and according to the current evolution on the microcontroller market,
preference is given to the 32-bit core architecture over both its 8-bit and 16-bit counterparts.
Following a well defined selection process, Atmel’s AT91SAM3U4E microcontroller which
implements a 32-bit Cortex-M3 core is chosen and an OBC architecture is developed around it.
Further, the proposed architecture is implemented as a prototype on a printed circuit board
(PCB), presenting a set of peripherals necessary for the operation of the OBC. Finally, a series
of tests successfully conducted on some of the peripherals are used to evaluate the proposed
architecture.
CubeSat standard, not only as a technology demonstrator tool but also as a human capacity
development platform in universities. The use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware
components makes the CubeSat a cost effective and ideal solution to gain access to space in
terms of budget and integration time for experimental science payloads.
Satellite operations are autonomous and are essentially based on the interaction of
interconnected electronic subsystems exchanging data according to the mission requirements
and objectives. The onboard computer (OBC) subsystem is developed around a microcontroller
and plays an essential role in this exchange process as it performs all the computing tasks and
organises the collection of onboard housekeeping and payload data before downlink during an
overpass above the ground station.
The thesis here presented describes the process involved in the development, design and
implementation of a prototype OBC for a CubeSat. An investigation covering previously
developed CubeSat OBCs is conducted with emphasis on the characteristics and features of
the microcontroller to be used in the design and implementation phases. A set of hardware
requirements are defined and according to the current evolution on the microcontroller market,
preference is given to the 32-bit core architecture over both its 8-bit and 16-bit counterparts.
Following a well defined selection process, Atmel’s AT91SAM3U4E microcontroller which
implements a 32-bit Cortex-M3 core is chosen and an OBC architecture is developed around it.
Further, the proposed architecture is implemented as a prototype on a printed circuit board
(PCB), presenting a set of peripherals necessary for the operation of the OBC. Finally, a series
of tests successfully conducted on some of the peripherals are used to evaluate the proposed
architecture.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013
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Lumbwe_T_Final2013.pdf
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Format
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