Researchers 3D printed and deployed a communication satellite in 90 min

A research team led by Carlos Monzo Sanchez, from the Faculty of Computer Science, Multimedia, and Telecommunications at UOC, has demonstrated how a nanosatellite can be 3D printed in just 90 minutes and deployed using a hot air balloon to establish communications in an affected area.

How does the system work?

The setup is relatively simple and consists of three components, two remaining on the ground. These pilot telecommunications and base stations must be deployed at the emergency location.

A 3D printer can then be used to build a nanosatellite, also known as CubeSat, and then launched over the area using a hot air balloon. The CubeSat connects the two ground stations and works as a repeater, allowing ground users to communicate. All components in the system use Long Range (LoRa) radio technology, which can provide services over a vast area.

The CubeSat can also be deployed with photovoltaic cells to operate autonomously for long periods. The solution is highly scalable, and more CubeSats can be added over the location to improve communication options in scenarios where existing infrastructure may have been heavily damaged or have become inoperational.

Why CubeSats?

The researchers chose CubeSats owing to their small size and ease of deployment and retrieval. The launch route of the CubeSat using the hot air balloon can be mapped using computer simulations considering the weather conditions in the area. Moreover, the satellites can carry GPS to help locate and retrieve them once regular communication systems resume.

"Our solution is designed to provide a rapid service in complex scenarios, and as such we have prioritized its ease of deployment over its use as a telecommunications solution in normal situations, where other infrastructures would be more suitable," said Monzo in the press release.

The team is now looking to reduce the deployment times further and increase the number of situations where this approach can be used. It will surely help reduce dependence on the world's richest person.

The research findings were published in the journal Aerospace.

Abstract

Wireless broadband coverage has reached 95% worldwide. However, its trend is expected to stay the same in the following years, presenting challenges for scenarios such as remote villages and their surrounding environments. Inaccessibility to these areas for installing terrestrial base stations is the main challenge to bridge the connectivity gap. In addition, there are emergencies, for instance, earthquakes or war areas, that require a fast communication reaction by developing networks that are less susceptible to disruption. Therefore, we propose a low-cost, green-based nanosatellite system to provide complete coverage in hard-to-reach areas using long-range communication. The system comprises a pilot station, a base station, and a CubeSat with sensor data collector capabilities acting as a repeater. Our system can be built within hours with a 3D printer using common material, providing a flexible environment where components can be replaced freely according to user requirements, such as sensors and communication protocols. The experiments are performed in Spain by two test sets validating the communication among all components, with RSSI values below −148 dBm and the longest distance above 14 km. We highlight the reduction in the environmental impact of this proposal using a balloon-based launch platform that contributes to sustainable development.