Design and development of a CanSat for air pollution monitoring with RSSI based position retrieval system

Abstract

A CanSat is a miniature satellite system designed to be launched and operate in a manner similar to a satellite but on a much smaller scale. The term “CanSat” is derived from the combination of “Can” (referring to the soda can-sized container often used for the prototype) and “Satellite.” These small and cost-effective systems are typically used for educational purposes and scientific experiments. The main objective of this study is to present the design of CanSat, which is intended to track air pollution. The total weight of the CanSat includes the weight of the sensors, communication equipment, and other subsystems, which makes up the CanSat's total weight of 150 g. The data transmission rate can vary depending on the capabilities of the communication equipment used, but typically ranges between 1 and 10 transmissions per second. The Xbee communication protocol is commonly used for telemetry, typically at either 2.4 GHz or 900 MHz, but not both simultaneously. The major components of the CanSat are the power and sensor subsystems. The appropriate sensors are chosen by considering the main design elements, and typically include sensors to measure temperature, humidity and gases that can identify various pollutants to collect data on local air quality. CanSat is also equipped with a location retrieval system to ensure it can be recovered after launch. However, the type of system used can vary depending on the specific design. Power conservation techniques are employed to ensure that the CanSat can operate for as long as possible. Component selection is also carefully considered to make the CanSat more portable, affordable, and able to gather data on air pollution effectively.