CubeSat System, Method and Apparatus
Need:
Satellites have traditionally been relatively large-scale, usually government funded very specialized and focused projects. In more recent history much of space exploration is being undertaken by small organizations such as schools and businesses, rather than as a government-funded project. However, there is still a need for smaller, less costly, more flexible satellite avionics designs that may be re-usable and easily adaptable across a wide range of satellite missions.
Solution:
Researchers at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo have developed a pico-class satellite. Specifically, a satellite system that includes a chassis and an avionics package included within an upper portion of the chassis. The avionics package includes a main system board, a payload interface board, at least one daughter board and a battery board. Three embodiments of the technology include a satellite system with a chassis, a method of resetting a satellite, and a method of rebooting a satellite. Engineers at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Standford have designed a pico-satellite that fills these needs by providing a smaller, less costly, more flexible satellite avionics designs that is re-usable and easily adaptable across a wide range of satellite missions. The present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, computer readable media, or a device. Three embodiments of the technology include a satellite system with a chassis, a method of resetting a satellite, and a method of rebooting a satellite. The clear commercial application of this discovery involve university and research applications, as well as, the emerging commercialization of the space industry.
Applications:
- Better understanding of space weather
- Global and continuous measurements of ionosphere
- Leading to the prediction of SEP events
- Providing future operational space weather data
- Educational opportunities
Advantages:
- Lower cost and faster development
- Timely access to space
- Improving prediction models
- Standard functions of a normal satellite
- Pre-designed technology
IP Status:
US 9,150,313 issued 10/06/2015
US 9,248,924 issued 02/02/2016
Licensing Status:
Available - please contact us for more information.