Here is a brief picture sum-up of VelcroSat's activities this past semester.

       

                                         3D Printer Operations

  Chris Krupiarz (APL) Explains the stages of mission development

What happens next?

Anh

What happens next?

Currently, VelcroSat is in the phase of proving the concept of catching debris in space using a small cube satellite. We will build a small satellite that is capable of commuting, sensing, catching, and maneuvering. A lot of things need to be considered for such small satellite. For just proving the ideas, we started to build a big robot using VEX framework, ultrasonic sensors and an arduino board. Yes, we all know that ultrasonic sensor will not work in space, but remember we are still on the ground. This will give us a tremendous amount of ideas to perfect the CubeSat. After we do multiple tests to see that the concept is plausible, we will start to use different sensors and make the robot smaller. We won’t stop there because it’s just robot; our goal is to build a satellite. By the time we reach the final version of the robot, it will be a fully functional satellite with on board tools that will help us reach our goal: catching space debris. 

The 3D Printer History

Luke

The 3D Printer History-

                        The 3D printer that VelcroSat is using was originally an IEEE club project.  The IEEE club bought the components and built the 3D printer.  After the printer was successfully built IEEE then tried to utilize it within their club to make models for other projects.  Unfortunately the members of IEEE spent six unsuccessful months trying to get the printer to print successfully.  Justin Hunter (VelcroSat President) heard that IEEE was having trouble with the printer and volunteered to try and fix it.  He tried many of the same things that the members of IEEE had already tried and figured out that the software was not configured correctly.  He then did research into the software the printer uses.  He learned some base configurations to start from and what to change to improve its printing capabilities.  The next step for was trial and error to find the right set of configurations to have a successful print.  Luke Snyder helped Justin with this task.  Luke helped by using a 3D drawing program to draw up simple objects like a hollow cylinder for the printer to try and print with Justin’s configuration.  After a few tries they found a configuration that worked.  The configuration can be used not only for the simple cylinder but for more complex objects as well.  Justin also made a user guide for the printer so more people would be able to use the printer.

Plans for the 3D printer- VelcroSat plans on using the 3D printer to make mounts for different sensors and equipment that the club is testing.  The printer has already been used to successfully make a mount for an ultrasonic sensor being attached to a robot designed to sense and intercept a ball rolling on the ground.

What we are doing now

Rogene

What we are doing now

One of the first concerns VelcroSat tackled was how would we sense debris in space. There many different types of sensors but we decided to choose ultrasonic sensors to develop a concept. Deciding which sensors to use was easy enough, but what exactly would we do after we sensed an object? This question became the base for our project. After some brainstorming and bouncing ideas back and forth off each other, we decided to triangulate the sensors. By using multiple sensors we could sense direction and velocity. Then, as the cube tracks an object it will continue to adjust and follow until it collides. In order to demonstrate how this theory will work, we are building a robot that will follow a ball across the room. Currently we have already built the frame and attached the sensor and motors. The next step is to program the robot and put on another sensor. We should have the project completed and ready by the end of the summer.

VelcroSat History

VelcroSat 

Justin Hunter History

Learning Outcomes

Quantitatively evaluate the need to remove excess orbital matter that can inhibit, or endanger the life expectancy of a current satellite mission.

Quantitatively evaluate the relationship between the orbital debris belt, and the life expectancy of scientific missions in the modern space environment.

Evaluate the need of anti-impact contingency options for on-going low earth orbit satellite missions

Mission Objectives

·         To promote engineering and science education

·         To establish communications with a networked satellite

·         To receive telemetry  from the satellite in orbit

·         To send commands and verify reception of commands

·         To achieve stability and control using 3 axis stabilization methods

·         To ensure functionality of primary mission mechanism

·         To determine correct orbit to ensure rendezvous with debris

·         To maneuver space debris to a safe deorbit position

·         To ensure functionality of the propulsion system

·         To ensure thrust to weight ratio is sufficient to move the VelcroSat and space debris

·         To ensure fuel reserves are sufficient to rendezvous with and maneuver space debris

We have been trying our best to follow our initial plan, but as time goes by we realize that more things need to be added. One aspect of space debris capture the group has been gravitating towards is effectively tracking and mapping the debris.  We have been doing a lot of talking, and now we are moving we are putting our money and hands where our mouth is. We are finally testing out our concepts and moving along our plan.

Departmental Concentration

Ground System Configuration

Spacecraft Design

Electrical and Power Subsystem (EPS)

Attitude Control and Determination (FDS)

Communication Network (COMM)

Network Security

The Goal for this Summer

Our overall goal for the VelcroSat club is to be able to make a constellation of cube satellites to be able to de-orbit space debris. In the constellation of pico satellites, there would be a master satellite, and many slaves, that will work together in a joint effort for sensing and locating space debris. The questions that we have are; how are we going to sense, move towards or collide with, capture and de-orbit the debris.

Due to the complexity of this task, the club decided to move toward the research of space debris tracking, instead of capture. To be able to accomplish this underlying goal we have decided to complete a sub project, make a group robots to be able to sense, an object like a ball ruling passed them, and then follow that ball. With this project we would try to implement the master and slave concept, with the master engaging its slaves when is senses an object in a specific zone. 

The steps that we would like to follow are below:

-Rotational PIR scanner, to scan its environment for moving objects

-When object triggers PIR, use sonar and get position of object

-From 2 or more positions, determine trajectory of object

-Move robot to intercept object based on trajectory.

(We will do these steps first, before implementing the following of the object)

Later we'd like to move to active ranging, similar to http://www.acroname.com/robotics/info/articles/sharp/sharp.html, but for now the above lets us begin to work with the needed sensors and math.