CubeSat ADCS: The Basics

In this episode, we explore the basic parts of a #CubeSat #ADCS and look at sensor and actuator options. Thanks to Brilliant for their support! Get a free 30-day trial and 20% discount on an annual plan: https://brilliant.org/BuildaCubeSat/ Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/yeusgM75ys ## ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:34 Scope of This Video 01:14 ADCS Overview 02:02 Passive Attitude Control 02:28 Active Attitude Control 03:09 Sidebar: GNC and Two-line Element Sets 04:16 Sidebar: Positioning, Navigation, Timing (PNT) 04:59 Sidebar: GNSS, CoCom and Wassenaar 06:43 IMUs 07:30 Gyroscopes 08:00 Magnetometers 07:57 Star Trackers 09:54 The Math Maths 11:49 Reaction Wheels 12:38 Magnetorquers 13:55 Reaction Wheels vs. Magnetorquers 14:35 Outro ## 🛰️ Support This Project If you are looking for a way to support this channel, leave a tip or become a member :) - Channel Memberships: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLf9aKlW-TbC8zbrl0OvKLQ/join - Patreon: https://patreon.com/buildacubesat - Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/buildacubesat - PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/bac-paypal-donation ## 📦 CubeSat Resources All the ADCS resources and more on CubeSat Resources: https://cubesat-resources.space ## 🌐 External Links ### ADCS Overview - KiboCUBE Academy: Introduction to CubeSat Attitude Control System: https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/psa/access2space4all/KiboCUBE/AcademySeason2/On-demand_Pre-recorded_Lectures/KiboCUBE_Academy_2021_OPL14.pdf - @UNOfficeforOuterSpaceAffairs KiboCUBE Academy Lecture 14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c--Yiz_7_MM&list=PLaOqa4cng0GGoAGKiMbo4noT8vaKUY43h&index=14 ### TLEs - @NASA Definition of Two-line Element Set Coordinate System: https://platform-cdn.leolabs.space/static/files/tle_definition.pdf?7ba94f05897b4ae630a3c5b65be7396c642d9c72 - STK Tip: TLE Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woft1j_PJvA - Two Line Element Set, TLE, list of orbital elements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C-GQy0qTY0 - Classical/Keplerian Orbital Elements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AReKBoiph6g - Space Science with Python - Concepts 2: Orbital Elements: https://youtu.be/7difa8aiUYo - Ep. V - Classical Orbital Elements (COEs) https://youtu.be/2gAYqtmNJx8 ### PNT - @LeoLabs_space https://platform.leolabs.space/visualization - lumi.space: https://www.lumi.space/ - @JeffGeerling GNSS Time Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvnG-ywF6_s ### IMUs - @atomic14 IMU Visualiser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vpdAXEQaoQ - @PhidgetsInc What is an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS9GwaekLW4 - @Core-Electronics Measuring Angles and Movement with an IMU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mgSi0RkANc ### Magnetometers and Gyroscopes - PNI RM3100-CB Magnetometer: https://www.pnisensor.com/rm3100-cb/ - PNI RM3100-CB for space applications: https://gi.copernicus.org/articles/7/129/2018/gi-7-129-2018.html - PNI RM3100-CB vs. radiation: https://gi.copernicus.org/articles/11/219/2022/ - TDK IAM-20380HT gyroscope: https://invensense.tdk.com/products/iam-20380ht/ ### Star Trackers - @HuskySatelliteLab LOST Star Tracker: https://github.com/UWCubeSat/lost - @alfonsogonzalez-astrodynam2207 How Star Trackers Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA1LsvgV2UY - @DrThomasAlbin https://www.youtube.com/@DrThomasAlbin ### Reaction Wheels - @BristolEngineering Satellite Reaction Wheels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPWiIBcHOh4 - @BreakingTaps Liquid metal reaction wheel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiRMdRi0LrI - oresat-adcs-hardware: https://github.com/oresat/oresat-adcs-hardware ### Magnetorquers - @BristolEngineering Satellite Magnetorquers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Ep3aZ630U - @RGSAT Part 5: Magnetorquers etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfWni35TOeQ - @marcinanforowicz8319 PCB Magnetorquer Prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGJYCe6mGR0 ## 🏔️ Repo Links - Repos on Codeberg: https://codeberg.org/buildacubesat-project - This episode: https://codeberg.org/buildacubesat-project/bac-docs/src/branch/main/content/s03e04 ## 📜 Sources 1. 1m15s Manual CubeSat Deployment: @VideosFormSpace, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfl42B3nWr0 2. 2m5s Magnetic passive AC: GeneSat-1, https://directory.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/genesat 3. 2m12s Gravity gradient passive AC: Northeastern University, https://www.slideserve.com/Rita/gravity-gradient-boom 4. 2m17s Aerodynamic passive AC: DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.19688.90889 5. 7m59s Magnetometers: PNI, https://www.pnisensor.com/importance-of-magnetometers-when-navigating/ 6. 8m50s Magnetometer on boom: J.P. Eastwood et al., https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11214-025-01170-w.pdf 7. 12m8s Afshin Rahimi: Reaction Wheel Components Assembly Explosion, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3clDqvk6jns --- Need a friendly, non-corporate GitHub/GitLab alternative? Check out https://codeberg.org #buildacubesat #episode #s03e04