Future Space Pioneers Academy

Python Programming for Satellites

Categories: Programming
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About Course

Welcome to the exciting Programming Your Micro CubeSat module at Future Space Pioneers Academy! In this comprehensive hands-on programming course, students will transform their fully assembled Raspberry Pi Zero W-powered micro CubeSat into a functional spacecraft. Through a series of 15–30 minute video segments, you will learn to write Python code that reads real-time orientation data from the 9-axis accelerometer using I2C communication, control a servo actuator via PWM to deploy and retract solar panels, and precisely manage three brushless reaction wheels for 3-axis attitude control. The lessons progress from basic setup and sensor reading, through actuator control and data processing, to integrating closed-loop stabilization and Arducam 16MP camera operations. By the end of the module, you will have built a complete mission script capable of autonomous sensing, stabilization, and imaging — giving you the foundational skills to program real satellite behavior and prepare for more advanced space missions. Perfect for teenagers ready to take their CubeSat from hardware to intelligent spacecraft!

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What Will You Learn?

  • This course gives students a complete, functional basic CubeSat software stack. Once complete, they’ll have the foundation for more advanced autonomy in future modules (e.g., full PID attitude control, image processing for Earth pointing, or simulated ground station commands).

Course Content

Segment 1: Introduction & Raspberry Pi Programming Environment Setup
Content: Welcome and course goals. Review hardware kit connections from the previous lesson. Set up Raspberry Pi Zero W (SSH/VNC or direct HDMI if available), update OS, enable I2C and GPIO interfaces via raspi-config. Install essential Python libraries (smbus2, gpiozero, picamera2 or Arducam equivalents, numpy for data handling). Hands-on: Students connect to their Pi, run first "Hello CubeSat" script (blink an LED or print status). Visuals: Slides with Pi pinout diagram highlighting I2C pins (SDA/SCL), PWM-capable GPIO, and camera ribbon cable. Video: Live setup and first code run showing terminal output. Goal: Students feel confident booting and coding on their Pi.

Segment 2: Understanding I2C Communication & Reading the 9-Axis IMU
Content: Explain I2C protocol (bus, addresses, master-slave). Identify IMU address (common for 9-axis like MPU-9250/ICM-20948). Write Python code using smbus2 to initialize I2C and read raw accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer data. Convert raw values to meaningful units (g-force, degrees/sec). Hands-on: Script to continuously print acceleration/tilt data. Students tilt the CubeSat and observe changes. Visuals: Slides with I2C wiring diagram, register maps (simplified), and data interpretation graphs. Video: Running script while physically rotating the model — real-time terminal + plotted values (using matplotlib if time allows). Goal: Students understand how the CubeSat "senses" its orientation.

Segment 3: Basic Data Processing from IMU – Calibration & Filtering
Content: Simple calibration (offset calculation at rest). Introduce basic filtering (moving average or complementary filter intro) to reduce noise. Log data to a CSV file for later analysis. Hands-on: Improved script showing stable roll/pitch/yaw estimates. Visuals: Slides explaining noise vs. real motion. Video: Comparison of raw vs. filtered data during gentle movements. Goal: Reliable orientation sensing foundation.

Segment 4: PWM Signals & Controlling the Servo for Solar Panels
Content: PWM theory (frequency, duty cycle, pulse width). Use gpiozero or RPi.GPIO for servo control on appropriate GPIO pin. Map angles (0–180°) to solar panel deployment positions. Hands-on: Script to deploy/retract panels on command or based on light (if light sensor added later) or timer. Visuals: Slides with PWM waveform diagrams and timing charts. Video: Servo moving the panel mechanism smoothly before/after code execution. Goal: First actuator control achieved.

Segment 5: PWM Control of Reaction Wheels (Brushless Motors) – Part 1
Content: Differences between servo PWM and ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) for brushless motors. Arming sequence for ESCs. Basic speed control using PWM signals via gpiozero or pigpio for precision. Hands-on: Safe spin-up script for one wheel at a time (low speeds first, with warnings about balance/safety). Visuals: Slides on reaction wheel physics (conservation of angular momentum). Video: Individual wheel spinning up/down in the CubeSat frame. Goal: Safe, individual axis motor control.

Segment 6: Reaction Wheels – Coordinated 3-Axis Control
Content: Assign wheels to X/Y/Z axes. Write functions to set speeds for each. Basic open-loop commands (e.g., "rotate around X-axis for 5 seconds"). Hands-on: Script to command simple maneuvers. Visuals: Slides with 3D CubeSat orientation diagram. Video: Multi-wheel activation showing visible orientation changes on a floating/test stand (low-friction setup recommended). Goal: Students control attitude manually.

Segment 7: Closed-Loop Control – Using IMU Feedback for Stabilization
Content: Introduce proportional control (simple P-controller). Read IMU → adjust wheel speeds to counteract unwanted rotation (basic detumbling or pointing stabilization). Hands-on: "Auto-stabilize" mode script. Visuals: Slides with control loop flowchart. Video: CubeSat responding to manual disturbances by stabilizing itself. Goal: First taste of autonomous behavior.

Segment 8: Integrating the Arducam 16MP Camera
Content: Camera setup with picamera2 or Arducam library. Capture stills and short videos. Trigger capture based on orientation events (e.g., "take photo when stable"). Hands-on: Script to snap images and save with timestamp/IMU data overlay. Visuals: Slides with camera config options. Video: Camera activating and capturing during a maneuver. Goal: Earth observation simulation.

Segment 9: Putting It All Together – Basic Mission Script & Telemetry
Content: Combine everything into a main loop: read sensors, control wheels/servo, take photos, log data. Simple command interface (keyboard or scheduled). Hands-on: Full "mission" demo script. Visuals: Slides with system architecture diagram. Video: End-to-end run showing all components working.

Segment 10 (Optional/Advanced): Debugging, Safety, and Next Steps
Content: Common errors (I2C conflicts, PWM timing, motor vibration). Safety (secure wheels during tests). Ideas for expansion (PID tuning, radio comms). Visuals: Troubleshooting flowchart slides.

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