TURKSAT Model Satellite CompetitionCritical Design Review2022

Model Satellite CDR Report

Team TALIA 4A • Team #405365 • Fatih Sultan Mehmet University

A comprehensive Critical Design Review documenting the complete satellite system including 5-layer modular payload, active landing system with PID control, and custom smoke visibility mission.

Mission Overview

700m400m200m150m0m1YUKSELISAscentParachute2DUSUSDescent3AYRILMASeparation @200mSmoke Deploy4SABIT10s Hover @150m5KURTARMAMotors cut @5m6LandingCarrierTelemetry1-5 HzLive Video

Mission profile: Ascent → Descent → Separation @200m → 10s Hover @150m → Recovery → Landing

1Primary Mission

  • Deploy from rocket at 700m altitude
  • Autonomous separation at 200m
  • Active landing with PID-controlled motors
  • Real-time telemetry at 1-5 Hz + live video

2Custom Missions

  • Smoke Capsules: Colored smoke for visibility
  • Object Detection: YOLOv4-tiny real-time AI
  • Hover at 150m for 10 seconds
  • Dual-channel communication (WiFi + NRF24)

My Contributions

System Lead & Operation Control Officer

System Overview

  • • 5-layer modular payload architecture
  • • Weight distribution & thermal management
  • • Post-PDR major design changes
  • • Camera & antenna system upgrades

Mechanical Subsystem

  • • 6 post-PDR design improvements
  • • FDM 3D printing (PETG/ABS)
  • • Separation mechanism gears
  • • Motor mount optimization

Smoke Capsules (Custom Mission 1)

  • • Custom 3D-printed thermal-isolated design
  • • KNO3 + Sugar pyrotechnic mixture
  • • Electronic fuse activation circuit
  • • 100% ignition reliability (10/10 tests)

Integration & Testing

  • • 3-phase integration methodology
  • • Environmental tests (drop, thermal, vibration)
  • • Communication range validation
  • • Mission operations planning

Project Management

  • • 39/39 requirements compliance
  • • Risk identification & mitigation
  • • Team coordination (6 members)
  • • Schedule & milestone tracking

Operation Control Officer

  • • Pre-flight checklists & procedures
  • • Real-time mission monitoring
  • • GPS-guided recovery coordination
  • • Post-flight data analysis

Technical Specifications

<1500g
Total Weight
5
Payload Layers
20.2 Wh
Total Power
39/39
Requirements Met

5-Layer Payload Architecture

Layer 1: Active Landing2x 2205 BLDC MotorsCounter-rotating 4" propsLayer 2: Separation3-gear servo mechanism2x smoke capsulesLayer 3: Power4S 850mAh LiPo (14.28 Wh)Layer 4: Electronics (PCB)ESP32 + NRF24L01MS5611, MPU9250, GPS M8NLayer 5: CameraFoxeer Razer Mini 1200TVLDTX03 Video TX + SDCarrier (Separates)2S 800mAh + ESP32 + ParachutePayloadSeparation @200mDesign GoalsEasy accessModular layersLow CoGThermal mgmtCrash protect

Subsystem Highlights

Active Landing System

PID-controlled counter-rotating BLDC motors reduce descent velocity and provide 10-second altitude hold capability at 150m.

PID Controller

Kp=15.0, Ki=0.5, Kd=8.0

Target: 8-10 m/s descent

Safety Features

Motors cut @5m, 150s timeout, battery monitor

2x 2205 BLDCCounter-Rotating4" PropsGyro Correction

Custom Mission: Smoke Capsules

Custom-designed 3D-printed capsules with thermos-style double-wall thermal insulation, producing colored smoke visible from >500m.

Composition

60% KNO3 + 40% Sugar

+ dye + baking soda

Performance

~20s burn, >500m visibility

Exterior <40C

Reliability

100% (10/10 tests)

Electric fuse, 100mA

ABS BodyPETG Cap3g PowderBDX53C Driver

Dual-Channel Communication

Primary (WiFi - Ch.1)

  • • 2.412 GHz bidirectional
  • • Telemetry + commands
  • • TL-ANT2424B dish antenna
  • • ~1 km range

Secondary (NRF24 - Ch.6)

  • • 2.437 GHz (25 MHz separation)
  • • Async 300KB video download
  • • Telemetry relay
  • • Bonus mission channel

Live Video

Foxeer Razer Mini (1200TVL) + Eachine DTX03 transmitter with automatic SD card recording. Received via Eachine ROTG01 FPV receiver.

Flight Software State Machine

State machine architecture with EEPROM persistence for power-loss recovery. Handles all mission phases autonomously.

YERDEYUKSELISDUSUSAYRILMASABITKURTARMABITIS
Critical Transitions:
  • • YUKSELIS → DUSUS: Altitude decreasing
  • • DUSUS → AYRILMA: Alt < 200m
Safety:
  • • EEPROM state persistence
  • • KOMUT manual override mode

Ground Station & AI Object Detection

Ground Station (C# WPF)

  • • Telemetry panel + graphs
  • • GPS map (GMap.NET)
  • • Live video feed
  • • 3D model visualization (HelixToolkit)
  • • Command buttons & manual control

Custom Mission 2: YOLOv4-tiny

  • • Real-time object detection
  • • RarePlanes dataset (630K images)
  • • Aircraft detection class
  • • ~10 FPS processing
  • • Bounding box overlay

Team TALIA 4A

Ali DEREYURT
System Lead, Mechanical, Integration
Team Member
Sensors, Altitude Stabilization
Abdullah Selim KÖKSAL
Landing Control, Electrical
Abdussamet KACI
Communication, Data Processing
Nagkichan MOUSTAFA IMPRAM
Flight Software, Testing
Faruk Bera ZULALOĞLU
Ground Station, Image Processing

University: Fatih Sultan Mehmet University
Team ID: 405365 • Date: March 28, 2022

39/39
Requirements Met
100%
Compliance Rate

Access the Full Report

Download the complete Critical Design Review document with detailed technical specifications, CAD drawings, circuit diagrams, software architecture, and testing plans.

Download CDR Report (PDF)

Team TALIA 4A • March 2022