Low-Cost Simulation and Verification Environment for Micro-Satellites

Abstract

The Space Robotics Laboratory (SRL) of Tohoku University has been developing micro-satellites for years and has gained experience in their development, verification, integration, and operation. The SRL has recently started the development of model-based simulation, verification, and integration environment to realize rapid and cost-effective development of reliable micro-satellites. The conceptual design and its functionality have been verified through the real-life 50-kg-class micro-satellite projects RISING-2 and RISESAT. The developed environment can be utilized in different configurations such as full-software simulation, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, and even flight operation, depending on demands in each satellite development phase. This environment is designed to be modular and flexible. The minimum hardware configuration can be a single personal computer, which enables low-cost introduction of a satellite system simulator for a wide range of projects in a variety of project phases. It can be utilized for general micro-satellite missions and possibly even much smaller space systems in the future. Micro-satellite RISING-2 is the first satellite tested by means of this environment. Functionality of the developed simulation and verification environment was evaluated by comparing the ground simulation results and flight data obtained by RISING-2.