CanSat Mini-Satellite System

Organization: Umeå University, Sweden
Timeline: Mar 2025 – Jun 2025

Embedded Systems · Sensors · Wireless Communication · Arduino · NRF24L01 · Ground Station

Problem Context

Compact satellite platforms such as CanSat are commonly used to study atmospheric sensing, telemetry, and system integration under strict size and weight constraints. Reliable data acquisition during descent requires robust sensor integration and dependable long-range communication between the payload and ground station.

This project focused on designing a low-cost, can-sized satellite capable of collecting environmental data and transmitting telemetry in real time during aerial deployment.

System Overview

The CanSat integrated multiple environmental and inertial sensors with a microcontroller-based data acquisition system. Sensor readings were transmitted wirelessly to a ground station using an NRF24L01 communication module. The system was deployed via drone and designed to collect synchronized data during controlled descent using a parachute mechanism.

My Role & Responsibilities

Role: Electronics integration and Ground Station design lead

Integrated multiple onboard sensors (temperature, humidity, air quality, acceleration, and GPS) with an Arduino Nano for synchronized data capture.
Designed and fabricated a custom NRF24L01 antenna to improve wireless telemetry reliability.
Led payload housing design, system integration, and flight testing during drone-based deployment.
Supported data validation and analysis following flight experiments.

Key Technical Decisions

Selected lightweight, low-power sensors to meet strict CanSat size, weight, and power constraints.
Designed a custom NRF24L01 antenna to improve telemetry reliability instead of relying on standard off-the-shelf modules.
Addressed mechanical packaging constraints by designing a compact internal layout that accommodated sensors, electronics, and a deployable parachute within the limited volume factor.
Validated telemetry and deployment performance through iterative ground testing and drone-based flight trials prior to final deployment.

Results & Impact

Doubled telemetry range from approximately 100 m to 200 m using a custom-built antenna.
Successfully collected and transmitted environmental and inertial data during parachute-assisted descent.
Demonstrated reliable end-to-end sensing and communication within a compact, low-cost satellite platform.

Learnings & Limitations

Mechanical packaging constraints significantly influence system-level design decisions in miniature platforms.
Parachute storage and deployment reliability require careful trade-offs between compactness, accessibility, and entanglement risk.
Wireless communication performance is highly sensitive to antenna placement and orientation in confined enclosures.