CanSat

A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a soft drink can. It has to fit all the major subsystems found in a satellite, such as power, sensors and a communication system, into this minimal volume. The CanSat is then released from a rocket or a balloon at an altitude of about 500 meter. It has to perform a certain mission like carrying out scientific experiment, analyzing the data collected and others and land safely.

Rules and Regulations

A. General Information and Agenda

The competition has a set of general and bonus guidelines. The general guidelines have to be fulfilled by all teams. The bonus guides are up to each team if they would like to follow. However the team that fulfills the most bonus guidelines will be the winner of the competition.

General Guidelines

• The instrumentation is to be built inside a standard soda can.
• The parachute is to be placed on the top and antennas is to be placed at the bottom of the CanSat.
• Each CanSat has to own a ground station for receiving data from CanSat.
• The CanSat has to be switched off before and during launch. The CanSat is only to be activated after it is separated from the helium balloon.
• The communication system has to be within the general rules of frequency which does not need any registration.
• No explosives or highly flammable material are allowed in the CanSat.
• Each CanSat is carried by helium balloon which is prepared by the organiser.
• Each team has to cut-off the connection between helium balloon and CanSat with your own mechanism. There will be a hook between the helium balloon and container of CanSat.

Bonus Guidelines

• The CanSat has to measure pressure, temperature and humidity once every second.
• The CanSat has to land as close as possible to a specific target on land which will be announced by the organizer.
• The CanSat has to be standing after landing on the ground.

Instruction Guidelines

1. A mosqueston is prepared to hook with the releasing mechanism together with your cansat.
   
   
   
2. Each team is allowed to use any method to hook the releasing mechanism with the mosqueton.
3. The weight of the mosqueton is around 100g.
4. The mosqueton is located directly below the balloon.
   
   

A1. Dates and Venue

Date: 21^st November 2015

Venue: Kompleks Sukan USM Engineering Campus

A2. Agenda

The schedule is set as shown below:

8.00 a.m. -- Arrival of CanSat teams

8.30 a.m. -- Briefing

8.45 a.m. -- Pre-launch of Cansat

9.05 a.m.-- Launch campaign + Analysis of mission results

10.05 p.m.-- Jury evaluation + Winner selection + Prize ceremony

B. Mission Overview

The CanSat competition is designed to simulate all aspects of a real satellite mission, including design, development, testing, launch, operations and data analysis.

B1. Ballooning

Participants’ CanSat, contained within a releasing mechanism, will be lifted up using a weather balloon attached to a rope to a height of 50 – 100m. All participants should make their own releasing mechanism which will then be attached to the said weather balloon. Participants will be given 2 chance to release their CanSat. However, the organizing committee will not be responsible on the recovery of the CanSat.

B2. Main mission

Each CanSat built must be able to perform ensuing mission. After being released and during descent, the CanSat shall measure the following parameters and transmit the data as telemetry at least once every second to the ground station:

• Position
• Air Temperature
• Air Pressure
• Air Humidity

Cansat has to land as close as possible to a specific target on land which will be set by organizer. The marks will be given based on the accurate of data and the location of the cansat land from the specific area.

B3. CanSat requirements

1. All of components of the CanSat must fit inside a standard aluminium can (115 mm height and 66 mm diameter) except the parachute.
2. The mass of the CanSat must be between 300 g and 350 g. CanSats that are lighter must take additional ballast with them to reach the 300 g minimum mass limit required.
3. Explosives, detonators, pyrotechnics and flammable or dangerous materials are strictly forbidden. All materials must be safe for the personnel, the equipment and the environment.
4. The CanSat must be powered by a battery and/or solar panels.
5. The battery must be easily accessible in case it has to be replaced or recharged in the field.
6. The CanSat must have an easily accessible master power switch.
7. The CanSat should have a recovery system, such as a parachute, which is able to be reused after launch. It is recommended to use bright coloured fabric, which will facilitate recovery of the CanSat after landing.

C. Evaluation and Scoring

C.1 Educational value

The jury will consider the level of the effort made by the team and how much the team appear to have learnt throughout the project.

C.2 Technical achievement

Innovative aspects of the project will be judged. For example, the hardware or software used. It will be also taken into account how the teams obtained the results, how reliable and robust the CanSat was and how the CanSat performed. If the CanSat did not succeed in accomplishing the mission but the team is able to explain the reasons why and suggest improvement, it will be also taken into account positively.

C.3 Teamwork

The jury will assess how well the team cooperated and worked together on the distribution of tasks and the execution of the project.

C.4 Evaluation scheme

• Educational Value                20%
• Technical Achievement        70%
• Teamwork                            10%

C.5 Jury panel

The jury will be is the lecturer in the School of Aerospace Engineering in USM.

a) Dr. Norilmi Amilia Ismail

E-mail: aenorilmi@usm.my

D. Prize

The prizes are listed as shown below.

Champion: Hamper (RM500) + Certificate of participation + Medal

1^st runner up: Hamper (RM300) + Certificate of participation + Medal

2^nd runner up: Hamper (RM100) + Certificate of participation + Medal

E. Participants

No	Team Name	Institution
1	The Unknown	IIUM
2	S.I.C	USM
3	Aeroputra	UPM
4	Zinn Leben	UTHM
5	The Curiousity	UTHM
6	Goseito	UTM