The French-South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) is a graduate school focused on the training of graduate students in the broad fields of Electrical Engineering and Information and Communication Technologies based in South Africa. F’SATI is currently based at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria and the Cape-Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town. A disti
nct feature of the F’SATI programmes is the international programmes offered through partner universities in France (MSc with ESIEE Paris, PhD and Co-tutelle Agreements with University of Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), and University of Versailles Saint-Quentin (UVSD). The past semester saw a flurry of activities take place in the F’SATI Satellite Systems Laboratory and amongst the students. The Satellite Systems Engineering training and research programme at CPUT consists of the actual CubeSat development, and the supporting academic programme. The main focus within the group remains on their MTech projects with the aim of producing satellite-ready hardware for next year’s 3U CubeSat prototype. The larger student team has been divided in smaller teams based on their research disciplines and these groups meet every second week with their respective team leaders. These smaller group meetings provide team members with the opportunity to discuss technical issues related to their research discipline, interfacing with other satellite systems and to encourage the sharing of knowledge. The teams and their leaders are:
Power systems, Mr F. Visser
RF Communications, Prof. van Zyl
Embedded systems, Prof. Bierman
Weekly meetings still occur strictly every Monday where every team member must be present. These meetings provide a regular opportunity for group feedback on project related activities and to address operational issues such as events to plan for in the near future, the procurement of components or any equipment, software or materials that the students may need to carry out their work. The completion of the 3U CubeSat’s prototype by October 2011 still remains a major project milestone. Eight of the thirteen MTech students who registered in 2009 are working on the primary subsystems of the
satellite and are aiming to deliver their completed theses in November 2010. The following prototypes of subsystems are delivered at the same time:
*On-board computer (OBC) and flight software (FSW) framework.
*UHF telemetry transmitter (UTX)
*UHF telecommand receiver (URX)
*Camera payload with associated data handling and storage hardware (IMG)
*Power control unit (PCU)
*S-band payload data transmitter (STX)
*S-band antenna (SANT)
Some of the designs are performing as required, but must be rounded off before it can be submitted to a design review. Future work includes further revisions of the PCB layout for the final form factor and final electrical and mechanical interfacing between subsystems. A team of MSc students at the University of Stellenbosch are developing one cube of the 3U satellite that will comprise the complete Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). The system will be integrated with the rest of the satellite when delivered in 2011. The ADCS consists of a sensor board that reads a number of attitude sensors
the computer board that interfaces to the sensor board and all the attitude control actuators. The sensor board design has been completed, while the ADCS computer design and control algorithms will be developed during the course of the next year as part of two master’s thesis projects. Current CPUT first-year students in the programme are developing the following additional subsystems for the satellite:
*UHF baseband modems
*L-band receiver (LRX)
*Store & Forward payload
*S-band ground station receiver and demodulator
*HF Beacon payload (BTX)
The HF beacon payload design is being fast-tracked as it will be required at an earlier stage (for the 1U satellite, discussed below) than other subsystems. Soon after the 3U mission design began, it was realised that few, if any, students would be involved in the complete mission from concept to launch and operation, as its duration would far outlast a typical two year Master’s thesis. To provide exposure for all students currently in the programme to the complete scope of a satellite mission, with a possible launch in 2011, a downscaled mission was defined to be developed in parallel with the 3U mission. To make this all possible, a 1U CubeSat with a simple payload was selected as mission concept. Students will have the opportunity to do hands-on testing and integration of the satellite in the clean room, perform environmental testing, participate in the launch campaign and, finally, operate the satellite. A launch is envisaged as early as 2011, third quarter. A number of students have teamed up to help compile a parts list for the ground station that will be required on campus to operate the satellite. The first phase will include satellite tracking capabilities in the VHF and UHF bands and will be installed and commissioned as soon as possible. Students will be able to hone their amateur radio skills using existing orbiting satellites. During the course of 2011, S-band and L-band tracking capabilities will also be added to the ground station. The ground station may also in future support foreign space missions by providing them with additional data downlinking and satellite tracking capability. A concerted effort was made to develop collaboration with the South African amateur radio community as such a relationship could provide tremendous mutual benefit. Mr Visser gave presentations at the SA AMSAT symposium in Durban and at the Radio Technology in Action seminar series in Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. The presentations introduced the F’SATI satellite systems engineering programme to the amateur radio community and described the two missions that are being developed at CPUT. The South African Radio League (SARL) has been very helpful in the radio frequency application process. The alternative to using amateur frequencies would be to apply for the use of commercial frequencies which could take up to two years. The SARL has also obliged in providing a special opportunity for
students interested in obtaining amateur radio licenses, to write the Radio Amateur’s Exam (RAE) on campus, where it would usually only be offered twice a year off-campus and after hours. A special radio amateur’s exam has been arranged at the Bellville campus for 22 MTech and BTech students. All students who will be operating any transmitters, either during the testing of their own designs or during operation of the satellite, must be registered radio amateurs. With the construction of the new amateur ground station, a CPUT amateur radio club is being planned, which will give student members practical experience in radio communications and hopefully promote interest in radio communications and satellite technology amongst other students. It is foreseen that such a station can be useful in schools outreach programmes to stimulate interest in science, engineering and technology.
