IOWA STATE UNIVERISTY

CANSAT 2008
“Preliminary Design Review”

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 MEMBERS
 Edward Malek
QuickTimeª and a
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 Team leader: electronics,

software, and mechanical
components
 Ryan Krafka QuickTimeª and a
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 Lead: programmer,
structures analyst, and
researcher
 Mike Stebniski
 Lead: Machinist and
mechanical components QuickTimeª and a
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 Basic Requirements
 Mass of cansat is not to exceed 500g
 Cylindrical body and frame:
 72 mm diameter
 279 mm length QuickTimeª and a
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 Compatible with Forte Rocket

are needed to see this picture.

 $2000 budget
 Components able to withstand 20 g’s
 External power control (i.e. remote on/off
capabilities)
 Flight Requirements
 Decent Rate
 Between 4.6 and 2.2 m/s
 Telemeter the following data at 2hz
 GPS position (longitude & latitude)
 Number of GPS satellites tracked
 Altitude (not with GPS)
 Battery voltage and current (house keeping)
 Upon Landing Requirements
 Switch to a different channel
 Within 10 seconds of landing cansat must measure, via
direct contact, the ground temperature
 Take at least six readings per hour for three hours

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 Post Flight Requirements
 Apogee (m)
 Maximum, Minimum, and Average decent
rates (m/s)
 Decent duration (s)
 Landing coordinates (Longitude, Latitude)
 Maximum, Minimum, and Average
temperature readings (oC)
 Total number of data readings
 System Requirements
 Battery: powers hardware
 GPS: Longitude and Latitude readings
 Altimeter: Altitude readings
 Thermal Couple: Temperature readings
 Ammeter: Measures current
 Voltmeter: Measures voltage
 Microprocessor: Like a minicomputer it will
receive and output all data
 Transceiver: Transmits and receives data
System Requirements Allocation
 Battery: must provide power to various systems
for at least three and a half hours
 Microprocessor: must be compatible with our 5
system sensors to measure Temperature, GPS
coordinates, Altitude, Current, and Voltage
readings. It must also output this information to
the transceiver in an appropriate manner
 Transceiver: must be able to effectively transmit
data and receive commands from the ground
control station (ie: turning on/off systems)
 Systems Concepts
 Location coordinates will be measured by means
of GPS
 Geometric Height will be measured with an
accurate Altimeter
 Temperature will be measured with a simple
Thermal Couple
 System current and voltage will be measured by a
voltmeter and ammeter respectively
 System Context Diagram
Battery
Powers System Hardware

Voltmeter Ammeter Altimeter GPS Thermal Couple

Housekeeping Telemetry Housekeeping Telemetry Geometric Altiude (m) Longitude & Latitude (degrees) Temperature (degrees C)
Voltage (mV) Current (mA)

Microprocessor
Process data from system to
organize and output to Tranciever

Tranceiver
Transmits system data to GCS
Receives and initiates comands from GCS
 Sensor Systems Overview
 GPS = location
 Altimeter = altitude
 Thermal Couple = temperature
 Current = ammeter
 Voltage = voltmeter
 Sensor Requirements
 GPS: Accurate within 10 meters
 Altimeter: Accurate within 4 meters
 Thermal Couple: start within 10 seconds
of landing six readings per hour for three
hours and accurate within 2 degrees Celsius
 Ammeter: Measures current accurately
 Voltmeter: Measures voltage accurately
 GPS
QuickTimeª and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.  An accurate and
compatible GPS
sensor is essential to
our cansat
 The GPS sensor will
be responsible for
determining location
QuickTimeª and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
during flight and upon
landing
 SIRF II or SIRF III
 Altimeter
 An accurate altimeter
will be in use from
takeoff to landing
QuickTimeª and a  This data will be used
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are needed to see this picture. to calculate Maximum,
Minimum and Average
Velocity as well as
Apogee in engineering
units
 Thermal Couple
 We will use a simple
Thermal Couple in
conjunction with a spring
loaded probe
 Probe will be compressed QuickTimeª and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
while in rocket are needed to see this picture.

 When deployed it will

extend out
 When cansat lands probe
will easily contact ground
because of ballast
 Ammeter/Voltmeter
 Simple Ammeter and
Voltmeter will be
connected between battery
and microprocessor
 They will accurately QuickTimeª and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

measure voltage and are needed to see this picture.

current of the battery

 This data will be closely
monitored throughout
mission
 Communication Requirements
 Must utilize Aerocomm
transceivers
 Direct relay
communication during
flight and indirect upon QuickTimeª and a
landing TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
 Compatible with all
sensors in the cansat
 Able to transmit large
amounts of data @ 2 hrz
 Familiar with protocols
 Communication System

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 The Cansat will utilize Aerocomm AC4790-200

transceivers
 Transceivers both send and receive data
 A transceiver mounted on the cansat will both transmit
scientific data to the GCS and receive commands from the
GCS
 A transceiver at the GCS will receive scientific data from
the cansat and transmit commands to the cansat
 Electrical and Power Systems
The electrical system is
arguable the most
important part of the
QuickTimeª and a
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cansat
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It will connect all of our

systems and make them
work together to complete
the mission
 Non Electrical Engineers
 This has been the hardest part of the project and a place
where we are learning the most
 Talking with EE department
 Trying to make EE friends
 Electrical and Power Systems
 At the heart of the
Electrical system is the
Microprocessor
 We will be using an
Arduino Bare Bones
Board Microprocessor QuickTimeª and a
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 This is the smaller are needed to see this picture.

equivalent to the Arduino

Duemilanove
Microprocessor
 Arduino is open sourced
and extremely popular in
the world of EE
 Electrical and Power Systems
 The Cansat will be powered by a lightweight and
efficient battery
 It must maintain a constant charge for 3-4 hours
 If we have time we would like to try and make our
cansat solar powered to minimize weight

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 Loc Forte Rocket
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 This will be provided to us by the Iowa

State University Rocket Club
 Specifications
 Length 45 in
 Diameter 3 in
 Weight 20 oz
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 1 stage
 ~1000 ft altitude
 Flight Design Requirements
 Throughout flight all sensors and hardware
will be in use
 GPS, # Satellites, Altitude, Velocity,
Voltage, and Current will be telemeter and
recorded
 All systems must be able to withstand 20
g’s
Flight Design Separation
 The Cansat will utilize a
typical launch and
separation sequence
illustrated in the
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Competition Guide
 This type of separation
uses an ejection charge
and allows the cansat to
easily fall out of payload
section by gravity
 Decent Design
 After separation the
cansat will fall back to
earth by parachute
 The parachute will be
fixed to the end of the QuickTimeª and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

cansat
are needed to see this picture.

 This will minimize the

stresses on our circuit
board when it impacts
ground
 Decent Requirements
 Throughout the decent stage, all electrical
systems will be in use
 Decent rate should be between 4.6 m/s and
2.2 m/s based on parachute size
 GPS, # Satellites, Altitude, Velocity,
Voltage, and Current data will be telemeter
and recorded
 Mechanical Systems
 The Frame and is made of milled aluminum and
threaded rod
 The shell will be made of fiberglass composite and
epoxy to avoid transmission interference

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 Mechanical Systems
 The temperature probe
will be spring loaded and
located on the underside
of the cansat
 During deployment from QuickTimeª and a
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the rocket it will protrude are needed to see this picture.

from the shell

 Upon landing it will
contact the ground due to
a low center of mass
 Mass Budget TIFF QuickTimeª and adecom
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 250 g frame
 50 g shell TIFF QuickTimeª and adecompressor
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 60 g battery QuickTimeª and
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 20 g Microprocessor QuickTimeª and a
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 20 g transceiver needed to see this picture.

 10 g GPS
QuickTimeª and a
 20 g altimeter TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

 2 g thermocouple QuickTimeª and

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 60 g bread board
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 8 g wires, capacitors, resistors, etc needed to see this picture.

 500 gram total mass

 Ground Control System (GCS)
 This will consist of a transceiver and a full sized
Arduino Duemilanove microprocessor connected
to a computer through a USB port
 Telemeter data will be received by the transceiver
and transferred to a program in the computer
 Programs: Altitude, Velocity, GPS position,
Temperature, Voltage, and Current
 QuickTimeª and ad
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Ground Control System

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February
Schedule
Finish frame and shell
Preliminary Design Review and presentation
Acquire electrical hardware
Assemble and test electrical system
Telemetry system

March
Mid-term
Spring Break
Hardware Review
Assemble and test electrical system
Finalize telemetry system
Parachute apparatus
 Schedule
April
Comprehensive Design Review
Finalize electrical system
Integrate electrical system with frame and shell

May
Final Exams
Comprehensive testing

June
Final testing
Cansat workshop
Cansat competition!!
 Budget
Arduino Duemilanove
Microprocessor. Open sourced and used by many in Electrical Engineering
department. The Arduino programs in C/C++, and is very compatible with
sensors.
$30.95 (www.hacktronic.com)

Proto Shield for Arduino microprocessor. Will greatly enhance the number of
inputs and outputs on microprocessor. Will make it more compatible.
$15.00 (www.adafruit.com)

Bare Bones Board

This is the Arduino microprocessor that will actually be used in the cansat. It has the
same capabilities as the Arduino Duemilanove, but much smaller.
$25.00 (www.moderndevice.com)
 Budget
Battery/ Battery Adapter
Typical cell phone batter, but with voltages between 5 and 9 volts. We will also
need some type of adapter between battery and microprocessor.
$15.00

Aerocomm AC4790-200 Transceiver

A required transceiver used to telemeter data and commands. True peer-to-peer
protocol, which allows it to communicate with any other in range transceiver. Up to 48
channels with a four-mile range.
$60 x 2 = $120 (www.mouser.com)

SIRFIII GPS
Uses National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) protocol, basic longitude
and latitude. It is also capable of tracking the number of satellites it uses. Many
people have adapted this GPS to the Arduino microprocessor.

$64.95 (www.sparkfun.com)
 Budget
SCP1000 Pressure Sensor / Altimeter
For barometric pressure and altimeter applications. Operates Between 30 and 120 kPa (-2000 and
9000 m).
$54.95 (www.sparkfun.com)

Voltmeter
For measuring batter voltage.
$10
Total Price Tag:
Ammeter
For measuring battery current. Priceless
$10

Thermal Couple I mean: ~$500

For temperature measurement upon landing
$10

Miscellaneous
Breadboard, capacitors, resistors, insulated wires, LEDS, USB port cable, transistors (for switches),
and etc
$45
IOWA STATE UNIVERISTY
CANSAT 2008
“Preliminary Design Review”

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TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
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Questions?