formation flying - t.sugano fcs and comm fcs – flight control system comm – communications...

Formation Flying - T.Sugano

FCS and COMM

• FCS – Flight Control System• COMM – Communications (camera is assumed to be part of COMM)• Satellite needs to handle both FCS and COMM systems• Use of COTS (Consumer Off-the-Shelf) computer(s) aimed• COMM utilizes a low-cost COTS transceiver radio


CPU selection for the Nanosat

• Arcom VIPER 400 MHz CPU recommended• VIPER is suitable because of its

- Light weight, 96 grams- Operable temperature range, -40 C to + 85 C- Windows Embedded feature, easy to program- Computation speed, 400 MHz- Memory capacity, up to 64MB of SDRAM- Embedded audio I/O, necessary for COMM with voice radio

• Redundancy can be implemented.


Arcom VIPER 400 MHz embedded controller


Radio selection for the Nanosat

• Kenwood Free Talk XL 2W transceiver recommended• Kenwood Free Talk XL is suitable because of its

- COTS nature, low cost- 2W of transmission power, more than enough for non-obstructed space communication, but higher wattage than FRS 500 mW radio- Ability to use both GMRS and FRS frequencies- FRS frequencies recommended because by international treaty FRS (Family walkie talkie) is restricted to 500 mW- 500 mW is too weak to penetrate into space- MilSpec cetified


Kenwood Free Talk XL 2W FRS/GMRS Transceiver

• 15 UHF channels (7 FRS and 8 GMRS)• 2W output for both categories• DC 7.2 V (600mAh)• Circuit board weighs only 60 grams • Speaker/Microphone/Encapsulation Removed


Scheme of FCS/COMM Integration


Detailed Scheme of integration

formation flying - t.sugano fcs and comm fcs – flight control system comm – communications...

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