Marocco, G. et al. (2019) MEMS Gradiometers for Attitude Determination on CubeSats. In: 33rd Annual Small Satellite Conference, Utah, USA, 3-8 Aug 2019,
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Publisher's URL: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4456&context=smallsat
Abstract
This paper presents the design, fabrication and testing of a new high sensitivity gravity sensor for attitude determination in CubeSats. The project is a collaboration between the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow and ÅAC-Clyde. The gravitational gradiometer takes advantages of the technology of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and determines the attitude of the satellite by a differential gravity measurement, the principle at the base of gravitational gradiometry. The capacitive readout allows to measure the rotation of the MEMS gradiometer and consequently evaluate the angle changes of the CubeSat. The developed geometry consists of two symmetrical masses connected to a fixed support by four thin flexure hinges. The all- Silicon sensor resonates at a frequency of 6 Hz, and has a total mass of less than 2 g. It is expected that the sensor geometry and the readout demonstrated would be suitable to achieve the performances required from CubeSat systems and detect a rotation of the small satellite of 1 degree, in order to offer performance comparable to other state-of-the-art sensors currently available on the market.
| Item Type: | Conference Proceedings |
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| Additional Information: | The work is funded by the CENSIS, ÅAC – Clyde and the UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Enhanced Imaging (EP/M01326X/1). |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Rowan, Professor Sheila and Hammond, Professor Giles and Paul, Professor Douglas and Hough, Professor James and Hild, Professor Stefan and Marocco, Miss Giovanna and Middlemiss, Dr Richard and Prasad, Dr Abhinav |
| Authors: | Marocco, G., Middlemiss, R., Prasad, A., Hild, S., Hough, J., Rowan, S., Hammond, G., Paul, D., Strain, A., Anderson, P., and Jeffrey, H. |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering |
| Research Centre: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy > Institute for Gravitational Research |
| Research Group: | Semiconductor Devices |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Small Satellite Conference |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced with the permission of the authors |
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