Modular Laboratory Satellites for Shared In-Orbit Experiments
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of building, launching, and maintaining satellites prohibits investigators with smaller budgets from conducting in-orbit experiments, and resource allocation becomes complex when multiple investigators share a multi-module satellite.
Innovation Solution
A multi-module satellite system with isolated testing modules, each equipped with its own equipment and computer, managed by a main flight computer that allocates resources based on module characteristics and priorities experiments autonomously or semi-autonomously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single satellite is used to perform experiments for multiple investigators, then the cost to orbit is reduced, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The satellite is divided into multiple isolated testing modules, each with its own equipment and control systems. This segmentation allows independent experimentation for different investigators while sharing the same satellite platform, reducing overall cost while managing resource allocation through modular isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The satellite platform provides universal resources (power, communication, telemetry) that serve multiple testing modules simultaneously. The main flight computer coordinates resource distribution across all modules, enabling one satellite to perform diverse experiments for multiple investigators with different budgets and requirements.
2Reliability
If isolated testing modules are provided for each investigator, then experimentation independence is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each testing module is physically and electronically isolated with its own controller, sensors, and experiment equipment. This segmentation ensures that experiments run independently without interference between modules, maintaining reliability and scientific integrity while allowing modular management of complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The main flight computer acts as an intermediary that coordinates between isolated testing modules and ground control. It manages resource allocation, collects data from all modules, and executes commands, thereby maintaining module independence while providing centralized control to manage overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If resources are allocated based on multiple investigator priorities, then fairness among investigators is improved, but allocation decision complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resource allocation system dynamically adjusts resource distribution based on real-time experiment requirements, investigator priorities, and available satellite resources. The main flight computer continuously monitors module needs and reallocates power, bandwidth, and other resources accordingly, providing flexibility for different investigator priorities while automating complex allocation decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where the main flight computer monitors resource consumption and experiment progress across all modules, then adjusts allocation decisions based on this feedback. This allows fair resource distribution among multiple investigators with different priorities, as the system responds to actual needs and adjusts allocations dynamically rather than using fixed predetermined assignments.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes multi-module satellites designed to autonomously or semi-autonomously perform experiments in a space environment for investigators. Each multi-module satellite includes multiple testing modules each associated with a different investigator. Each testing module includes a testing computer that runs experiments. A main flight computer on the multi-module satellite communicates with the testing computers for each module, passing information between the testing computers and a main control system. To perform an experiment in a testing module, the multi-module satellite system collects and stores observation data from sensors of the testing module, controls a controller of the testing module to perform the experiment, transmits the observation data from the testing module to an application associated with the testing module via a main control system, and executes instructions receives from the application via the main control system by controlling the controller of the testing module based on the received instructions.