Design and Development of an On-Board Computer for Android Based Small Satellite

Abstract

The satellite based on Android smart phone is relatively a new concept. Satellites namely Strand-1 (University of Surrey Space Centre, UK), Alexander, Graham and Bell (Ames Labs, NASA) have been successfully launched during last two years. On similar concept of Strand-1 this project aims at design and development of electronic hardware and software of a small satellite (approx 2-3 Kg) based on Android smart phone and COTS microcontroller. The satellite is being named as PKSATPHONE. The project will be low cost and utilizes COTS components such as a smart phone and Arduino/Atmel based microcontroller architecture. The electrical design, consists of, (1) On Board Computer (OBC) and sensors (Accelerometers, GPS, Gyroscope, Magnetometers) built-in Android smart phone, camera sensors. The microcontroller will be used to capture the data from built-in sensors in the smart phone being used to measure attitude, position and velocity of the satellite. In addition the ability of smart phone to act as OBC will be tested by relay the data from microcontroller to smart phone through USB port.