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 Description of Thesis Topic 

Experiments on-board NPSAT1 include micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)-based rate sensors.

These particular MEMS-based rate sensors are commonplace in many high rate applications. A special unit has been ordered that may be useful in the initial damping of NPSAT1 tip-off rates during deployment. It has a nominal +/- 5 degrees per second full scale sensitivity.

Two students have now worked on the MEMS-based rate sensor project. An initial study was done and documented in the MS thesis by LT Seiko Okano in 2001. More recently, in September 2006, COL C.J. Didier completed a Directed Study on this topic.

Proposed Outline

• Understanding what we know now about the sensor and how it will be used
• Additional testing and characterization of the rate sensors – particularly the intrinsic behavior of the bias and noise
• Possible re-design and test of the sensor power supply and noise filters
• Updating the existing Test Plan
• Finalization of the techniques and plan for flight unit assembly
• Construction of the flight unit assembly
• Test and verification of the flight unit assembly
• Final report (in thesis form) – including performance and operations notes

Suggested References

• MS Thesis by LT Seiko Okano

• Microengineering Aerospace Systems, H. Helvajian, editor, The  Aerospace Press/ and AIAA, 1999.

• Product literature ( Systron-Donner QRS11 Rate Sensor)

Updated: JHNewman 11/06/2006