CanSat RESAT

The ReSat project is a cutting-edge CanSat satellite designed for the CanSat competition. Focused on innovation and sustainability, ReSat integrates advanced sensors and modules to perform complex tasks in data acquisition, energy harvesting, and communication.

Primary Mission: Atmospheric Data Collection

The satellite’s primary mission involves collecting and analyzing environmental data, including pressure, temperature, and humidity, using a BME280 sensor. This highly reliable sensor operates on the I2C protocol, allowing efficient data transmission to the ESP32-WROOM-32E microcontroller, which serves as the central computational unit.

Additional data is stored locally on a microSD card using the TF Card Read/Write module, which ensures that mission-critical information is preserved even in case of communication failures. Live data is transmitted to the ground station using a LoRa RA-02 communication module, known for its long-range and low-power capabilities.

Secondary Mission: Energy Harvesting During Descent

ReSat’s innovative secondary mission focuses on sustainable energy harvesting by utilizing the satellite's freefall motion. A dynamo motor acts as a generator, driven by the counter-rotational motion of the rotafoil parachute and propeller blades. The generated energy is stored in a supercapacitor via a TPS54331 buck converter, enabling the study of freefall energy harvesting efficiencies.

Key Electronic Components and Functions

• Microcontroller (ESP32-WROOM-32E): Handles sensor data collection, processing, and transmission. It interfaces with all onboard peripherals, ensuring smooth operation.
• BME280 Sensor: Measures pressure, temperature, and humidity, critical for environmental monitoring.
• LSM9DS1 Module: Combines accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyroscope functionalities to monitor motion, orientation, and rotational dynamics.
• Photoresistor (GL5516): Captures light intensity data to enhance environmental analysis.
• Hall Effect Sensor (HX6659JUA-B): Monitors magnetic fields and rotational speed, contributing to the energy-harvesting mission.
• TF Card Module: Enables local storage of all mission data for post-recovery analysis.
• LoRa RA-02 Module: Provides robust long-range communication with the ground station, ensuring continuous data transmission during the mission.

Power Management System

ReSat is powered by a Samsung 18650 Li-Ion battery, which provides a stable power source for all components. A MCP1640 boost converter steps up the voltage to 5V, while an AMS1117 regulator steps it down to 3.3V for low-power modules. The power system ensures the optimal operation of all onboard electronics, even during high-demand scenarios.

Communication and Recovery

The ground station receives data via the LoRa module and processes it using a directional Yagi antenna, ensuring reliable data reception. Recovery is supported by the GPS M10Q GPS QMC5883 module, providing precise location tracking for efficient retrieval.