Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
individual
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
graduate
Lead Presenter's Name
David Chiaravalle
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Bryan Watson
Abstract
Embry-Riddle’s Project COMET is developing a CubeSat mission to test mmWave communications technology in partnership with the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP). As the design continues to mature, the mission’s growing complexity has introduced challenges in defining and managing technical specifications across multiple subsystems. This Graduate Research Project (GRP) focuses on creating verification test plans at the component, subsystem, and system levels to ensure the spacecraft meets all mission requirements. To better understand and manage interactions between systems, a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach using MBSE software has been applied to provide a digital model representation of the spacecraft. This includes Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS), Electrical Power System (EPS), Command and Data Handling (C&DH), mmWave Payload, and Communications subsystems. By modeling interfaces and data flows, the team can visualize subsystem functionality and better identify unknown specifications. The Cameo model supports identifying technical specifications not captured by requirements. It also encourages team collaboration by offering an interactive model that allows multiple subsystems to simultaneously develop. This approach helps reduce interface conflict, and reduce integration risks later in the assembly, integration and test (AI&T) phases. Using model-based planning bridges the gap between conceptual design and subsystem functionality which leads to better test planning. Current work is focused on expanding the model to include improved model simulation. This will include a focus on activity and state chart diagrams to ensure the data flow and signals between the subsystems achieve design requirements. These simulations can be used to integrate verification results directly into the model such as state behavior and value property requirements for mass rollups. Ultimately, the will help refine best practices for CubeSat development by demonstrating how model-based verification can streamline testing, improve system understanding, and support future missions.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
No
Included in
Project COMET Verification Testing and MBSE
Embry-Riddle’s Project COMET is developing a CubeSat mission to test mmWave communications technology in partnership with the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP). As the design continues to mature, the mission’s growing complexity has introduced challenges in defining and managing technical specifications across multiple subsystems. This Graduate Research Project (GRP) focuses on creating verification test plans at the component, subsystem, and system levels to ensure the spacecraft meets all mission requirements. To better understand and manage interactions between systems, a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach using MBSE software has been applied to provide a digital model representation of the spacecraft. This includes Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS), Electrical Power System (EPS), Command and Data Handling (C&DH), mmWave Payload, and Communications subsystems. By modeling interfaces and data flows, the team can visualize subsystem functionality and better identify unknown specifications. The Cameo model supports identifying technical specifications not captured by requirements. It also encourages team collaboration by offering an interactive model that allows multiple subsystems to simultaneously develop. This approach helps reduce interface conflict, and reduce integration risks later in the assembly, integration and test (AI&T) phases. Using model-based planning bridges the gap between conceptual design and subsystem functionality which leads to better test planning. Current work is focused on expanding the model to include improved model simulation. This will include a focus on activity and state chart diagrams to ensure the data flow and signals between the subsystems achieve design requirements. These simulations can be used to integrate verification results directly into the model such as state behavior and value property requirements for mass rollups. Ultimately, the will help refine best practices for CubeSat development by demonstrating how model-based verification can streamline testing, improve system understanding, and support future missions.