Daedalus
Faculty Mentor Name
Richard Mangum, Mark Benton
Format Preference
Poster
Abstract
Daedalus is an attitude determination and control (ADC) system that will provide an affordable solution for use in CubeSats. The ability to determine and control attitude is imperative for spacecraft operations, including small satellites, to ensure mission success. Most ADC systems cost around $6,000 for pointing accuracies of 5 degrees, making them inaccessible for many small companies and university research teams. Daedalus will help increase both the success rate and lifespan of future CubeSat missions by lowering the cost to within $2,000. These teams also lack the ability to manufacture components for ADC systems due to the need for specialized equipment, such as precision bearings, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and hardware calibration, leaving them with no option other than to purchase an expensive ADC system.
As a result, 30 percent of CubeSats do not have an active ADC system because the budgets of university teams and startups are not sufficient to afford existing products. The Daedalus ADC system is designed for a 3U CubeSat platform and integrates all components within a compact structural frame. Attitude control is achieved through reaction wheels driven by brushless direct current (BLDC) motors, while onboard inertial measurement units (IMUs) and sun sensors provide real-time attitude determination. A dedicated microcontroller executes the control and determination algorithms to maintain and adjust the spacecraft’s orientation. Daedalus will undergo vibration testing and vacuum chamber testing to verify the functionality of the system after assembly. A gimbal rig will be built to match the specifications of the Daedalus structure, allowing for easy visualization of how the system can move in three degrees of freedom.
Daedalus
Daedalus is an attitude determination and control (ADC) system that will provide an affordable solution for use in CubeSats. The ability to determine and control attitude is imperative for spacecraft operations, including small satellites, to ensure mission success. Most ADC systems cost around $6,000 for pointing accuracies of 5 degrees, making them inaccessible for many small companies and university research teams. Daedalus will help increase both the success rate and lifespan of future CubeSat missions by lowering the cost to within $2,000. These teams also lack the ability to manufacture components for ADC systems due to the need for specialized equipment, such as precision bearings, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and hardware calibration, leaving them with no option other than to purchase an expensive ADC system.
As a result, 30 percent of CubeSats do not have an active ADC system because the budgets of university teams and startups are not sufficient to afford existing products. The Daedalus ADC system is designed for a 3U CubeSat platform and integrates all components within a compact structural frame. Attitude control is achieved through reaction wheels driven by brushless direct current (BLDC) motors, while onboard inertial measurement units (IMUs) and sun sensors provide real-time attitude determination. A dedicated microcontroller executes the control and determination algorithms to maintain and adjust the spacecraft’s orientation. Daedalus will undergo vibration testing and vacuum chamber testing to verify the functionality of the system after assembly. A gimbal rig will be built to match the specifications of the Daedalus structure, allowing for easy visualization of how the system can move in three degrees of freedom.