HiRel/CanSat

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The CanSat is a micro-satellite used for student competitions to educate the whole development chain from design until launch of space equipment.

The CanSat has the form of a soda can with a diameter of 66 mm and a height of 115 mm. The weight is limited to 350 g.

Demonstrator

This is a demonstrator of the CanSat for use in the HES-SO MSE HiRel module.

Layout

The first big question to solve is, how to get as much PCB real-estate out of such a limited and unusual satellite form-factor. We decided to go for a vertical solution with 5 PCBs. Furthermore we like to have all PCBs of the same size. This means that the they will be aligned along the central axis in the form of a star or a pentagon. To find the optimal solution we simulated all the possibilities in between these two geometrical figures.

Pcb 5 angles.svg

The biggest PCB board surface is attained at an offset of 18° from the pentagon.

TBD: insert image with curve

These boards will be hold in place and connected together with two round boards, one on top and one on the bottom.

TBD: insert 3D image/photo

Standard 2x6 pin connectors compatible to the Pmod™ serve as electronic as well as mechanical connection.

Vertical Boards

The boards hold the following components:

  1. an FPGA
  2. a microprocessor
  3. an XBEE module
  4. sensors
  5. a power converter

The FPGA board serves as master (or as a router) and therefore connects to all other boards through 4 double Pmods, two on the bottom side and two on the top side. Each of the slave boards connects to the FPGA board through 2 Pmods, one on each side.

Interconnect Boards

Both interconnect boards share the same layout, but with the connectors mounted on the inverse side. Each one of the four 6 pin connectors on the master board connect to exactly one slave board.

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