Foresail-1 PSS Sun Sensor

This repository contains the public available design files for the PSS sun sensor designed for the Foresail-1 Cubesat.

The performance and testing of this sensor has been documented in this article.

The general characteristics of sensor design are:

• Dimensions: 24 mm × 16 mm × 6 mm
• Mass: 4 grams
• Panel mountedable into 14x14 mm hole with two M2 screws.
• Electrical connection by soldering on the panel PCB or by harness.
• FOV: ~100 degrees, resolution: 0.13°, accuracy: ±1°
• Refresh rate up to 100 Hz. (Sampling time: 4 ms + communication overhead)
• Can provide following data products:
  • Raw current measurements
  • Point & intensity measurements
  • Sun vector & intensity measurements
  • Angles & intensity measurements
• I2C digital serial interface (hardware version 3)
• RS-485 digital interface (hardware version 4)
• Low power consumption < 4 mW when active
• Nominal operating voltage: 3.6 - 3.8V: Can be extened easily to 2.0 – 5.5 V.

Documentation

• Research Paper
• FS1 ADCS PSS Sun Sensor Design Document
• Version 3 schematic (I2C variant)
• Version 3 firmware source code
• Version 4 schematic (RS-485 variant)
• Version 4 firmware source code
• Calibration and test tools for PC
• Mechanical design files

Licence

The design is licenced under CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2