CanSat Competition

complete

Simulation of space probe entering planetary atmosphere and delivering delicate instrumentation. A competition organized by American Astronautical Society.

electronics
embedded
stm32
c
cpp

2023-11 → 2024-06

current state

Project has been finished with success. The team participated in world-wide CanSat Competition 2024 resulting in claiming 3rd place among other 40 teams from around the globe.

specifications

Budget: 1000$
Max altitude: 725 m

readme

Project Origin

Project originates at KoNaR Robotics Scientific Club at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Team consisted of 10 members from different disciplines of engineering.

My role in the project

I was responsible for Flight Software running on STM32 based control board located in the probe. It handled data collection, Zigbee communication with Ground Station, actuator control and state management.

Mission description

In the 2024 competition, our Cansat simulated a space probe entering a planetary atmosphere. It had to carry a large hen’s egg and survive the entire flight without breaking it.

The Cansat first acted as the rocket’s nose cone during ascent, reaching up to 725 m. After deployment, it opened an aerodynamic heat shield and descended at 10–30 m/s while maintaining a stable orientation.

At 100 m altitude, the heat shield had to be released and a parachute deployed, reducing the descent speed to below 5 m/s for a safe landing.

Throughout the flight, the Cansat measured altitude, speed, GPS position, temperature, battery voltage and orientation. A pitot tube was used to measure airspeed, while an onboard camera recorded the flight and landing while maintaining its viewing direction.

cansat_conops — System Concept of Operations

Footage and gallery

Below you can watch footage from 2 onboard cameras. First one is actively stabilized pointing in single direction, second one is pointing at parachute. There are also some media from the launch event.