Development of an advanced nano-satellite VELOX-I attitude control system

Abstract

The Velox-I, developed by Nanyang Technological University, is the first Singapore build nano-satellite and as with all satellites, it needs an Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). The ADCS is a subsystem that orientates the satellite so that the solar panels can face the sun and to point the camera to specific locations for image capturing.

Orientating the satellite makes use of actuators such as the magnetic torquer to rotate the satellite by producing a magnetic field in a particular direction which interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic torquer is designed and manufactured manually by coiling copper wire into a specific form for the use on the satellite.

In order to better test the capabilities of the magnetic torquer and the ADCS in general, a test set up is needed and it is this purpose that the Helmholtz Coils have been built in this project. The Helmholtz cage is made up of three different Helmholtz Coils operating in the X, Y and Z axes. The developed Helmholtz cage has the capability to generate a uniform magnetic field within the cage to allow for accurate testing of the satellite.