Avionics Subgroup Fall 2024–Present
Joined Avionics subgroup in Sep 2024, continued role as RE for burn-wire mechanism. Through rapid prototyping (current measurements) with fishing line, determined feasibility of mechanism for camera arm and antenna deployment.
- Elected as Avionics Lead Engineer in January 2025
- Objectives:
- Design PCBs for Electrical Power System (EPS), communications, power/data distribution, on-board computer, magnetorquer control, photodiode photocurrent amplification (for attitude determination and control systems algorithm), and more.
- Train new members to begin contributing to projects
- Work with integration REs to have prototyped and tested boards by EOY 2025.
- Key requirements
- Frequent and proactive communication with other subgroup leads to ensure alignment on tasks
- Active recruiting to gain new members
- Collaboration with engineering professors and BSE alumni in places where members are lacking experience
- Project management approach: Weekly working group, leaders group, and frequent communication on Slack channels
- Challenges encountered:
- Lack of consistent member attendance
- Knowledge gap for both members and leaders
- Logistical and miscommunications leading to project standstills
- Outcomes
- Drafted PCBs for compute board
- Breakout board for photodiode photocurrent amplification
- Schematic planned for magnetorquer control board
- UHF and EPS boards outsourced to OreSat, open-source CubeSat development group
- Burn wire circuit designed and layout in progress
Structures Subgroup Fall 2022–Spring 2024
In Structures subgroup, aided in CAD design of CubeSat chassis and acted as responsible engineer for deployables.
- Objective: Investigate potential designs for camera arm and antenna deployment
- Key requirements
- 3U CubeSat
- Limited power, room on CubeSat
- Reliability & electrically safe
- Project management approach: Weekly working group and Slack channels
- Challenges encountered: design difference from reference literature
- Outcomes: Selected nichrome burn-wire design as outlined in Thurn et al. 2012
