SolarSat mission description
Deploy solar panels in flight and determine efficiency.
Overview
Someone from the SolarSat team please fill in an overview of our implementation.
The SolarSat uses the data recording facilities of the FieldSat, as well as receiving a deployment signal from the FieldSat's microcontroller.
Subsystem status
Status?
Devlin Thyne: Deployment Subsystem: We plan on using a solenoid to unlatch a spring-loaded panel. This does not allow for retraction or un-deployment though. We discussed using a stepper motor, but from the controller side, it would be more complex, and they tend to create undesirable EMI and are pretty heavy. An alternative could be a brushless DC motor, this is simpler than a stepper motor control system, but would need sensors to tell when the panel is fully open or closed.
Parts
Two solar panels.
Budget
| Part | Allocated | Actual |
|---|
| Solar cells (2) | $150 | $87.98 |
| Servos | $0 | $59.41 |
| DC motor | $0 | $3.29 |
| Photoresistors | $0 | $1.95 |
| Other (shipping, etc.) | $0 | $0.13 |
| Hardware | $0 | $57.73 |
| Total | $150 | $210.49 |
|---|
Mass budget
| Part | Allocated | Actual |
|---|
| Solar cells | 450 g | 25.52g |
| Deployment | 0 g | |
| Total | 450 g | 51.03g |
|---|
Team members
Links
