M.Sc. Tobias Schwarz

• Early Results and In-Flight Experience of the 6U-Mission Sonate-2. Schwarz, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S). Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 2024.
  • [ Abstract ]
  • [ BibTeX ]
  SONATE-2 is a 6U+ CubeSat for technology demonstration developed at the University of Würzburg. It was launched on SpaceX' Transporter-10 mission into a 527x505 km Sun synchronous orbit on March 4, 2024.

  @inproceedings{schwarzEARLYRESULTSINFLIGHT2024, abstract = {SONATE-2 is a 6U+ CubeSat for technology demonstration developed at the University of Würzburg. It was launched on SpaceX' Transporter-10 mission into a 527x505 km Sun synchronous orbit on March 4, 2024.}, address = {Palma de Mallorca, Spain}, author = {Schwarz, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {Early Results and In-Flight Experience of the 6U-Mission Sonate-2}, year = 2024 }
• Erste Flugergebnisse der Satellitenmission SONATE-2. Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Männel, Jonathan; Maurer, Andreas; Neumann, Tobias; Riegler, Clemens; Schwarz, Tobias. In Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., 2024.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{balagurin2024erste, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Männel, Jonathan and Maurer, Andreas and Neumann, Tobias and Riegler, Clemens and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress}, keywords = {myown}, publisher = {Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V.}, title = {Erste Flugergebnisse der Satellitenmission SONATE-2}, year = 2024 }
• 6U+ CubeSat SONATE2: Operation of an Optical AI Payload in Low Earth Orbit. Herbst, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Schwarz, Tobias. In 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). 2024.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{herbst2024cubesat, author = {Herbst, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {6U+ CubeSat SONATE2: Operation of an Optical AI Payload in Low Earth Orbit}, year = 2024 }
• Flight of the pulsed plasma thruster PETRUS 1J on the CubeSat SONATE-2. Schäfer, Felix; Yordanov, Velin; Herdrich, Georg; Balagurin, Oleksii; Schwarz, Tobias. In 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference. 2024.
  • [ Abstract ]
  • [ BibTeX ]
  PETRUS is a family of scale-able coaxial solid propellant pulsed plasma thrusters for use on CubeSats and other nano and small satellites. This paper gives an overview of their use in the past GreenCube and the currently ongoing SONATE-2 CubeSat missions. PETRUS was able to demonstrate its thrust on GreenCube but the data gathered during that mission was limited. SONATE-2 features an improved version of the thruster as well as better capabilities to assess the performance of the thrusters in orbit. SONATE-2 was launched on 04.03.2024 and is currently operating as planned. However no in-orbit thruster test has been conducted to date.

  @inproceedings{schafer2024flight, abstract = {PETRUS is a family of scale-able coaxial solid propellant pulsed plasma thrusters for use on CubeSats and other nano and small satellites. This paper gives an overview of their use in the past GreenCube and the currently ongoing SONATE-2 CubeSat missions. PETRUS was able to demonstrate its thrust on GreenCube but the data gathered during that mission was limited. SONATE-2 features an improved version of the thruster as well as better capabilities to assess the performance of the thrusters in orbit. SONATE-2 was launched on 04.03.2024 and is currently operating as planned. However no in-orbit thruster test has been conducted to date.}, author = {Schäfer, Felix and Yordanov, Velin and Herdrich, Georg and Balagurin, Oleksii and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {38th International Electric Propulsion Conference}, keywords = {myown}, title = {Flight of the pulsed plasma thruster PETRUS 1J on the CubeSat SONATE-2}, year = 2024 }
• Novel On-Board Data Processing Strategies on Nanosatellite SONATE-2. Maurer, Andreas; Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Schwarz, Tobias. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S). Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 2024.
  • [ Abstract ]
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  Reliable on-board data handling is the backbone of every successful satellite mission. New scientific experiments can only be validated, and results obtained, if the recorded scientific data reaches the ground completely and correctly. For this, several special techniques were applied during the implementation of the SONATE-2 mission. Generic communication protocols were defined between all payloads, subsystems, and the On-board data handling (OBDH) of SONATE-2 to reduce the overall complexity of the data management system. With the help of these protocols, the development effort could be reduced, and the data transfers simplified. In addition, this allowed the communication interfaces to be simulated and quickly tested during development with a desktop computer using an OBDH-Simulator.

  @conference{maurerandreas2024novel, abstract = {Reliable on-board data handling is the backbone of every successful satellite mission. New scientific experiments can only be validated, and results obtained, if the recorded scientific data reaches the ground completely and correctly. For this, several special techniques were applied during the implementation of the SONATE-2 mission. Generic communication protocols were defined between all payloads, subsystems, and the On-board data handling (OBDH) of SONATE-2 to reduce the overall complexity of the data management system. With the help of these protocols, the development effort could be reduced, and the data transfers simplified. In addition, this allowed the communication interfaces to be simulated and quickly tested during development with a desktop computer using an OBDH-Simulator.}, address = {Palma de Mallorca, Spain}, author = {Maurer, Andreas and Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {Novel On-Board Data Processing Strategies on Nanosatellite SONATE-2}, year = 2024 }
• In-Orbit Validierung des MultiView-Sternsensors auf dem SONATE-2 CubeSat. Neumann, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Riegler, Clemens; Schwarz, Tobias. In Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., 2024.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{neumann2024inorbit, author = {Neumann, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Riegler, Clemens and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress}, keywords = {myown}, publisher = {Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V.}, title = {In-Orbit Validierung des MultiView-Sternsensors auf dem SONATE-2 CubeSat}, year = 2024 }
• Flight of the pulsed plasma thruster PETRUS 1J on the CubeSat SONATE-2. Schäfer, Felix; Yordanov, Velin; Herdrich, Georg; Balagurin, Oleksii; Schwarz, Tobias. In Space Propulsion. 2024.
  • [ Abstract ]
  • [ BibTeX ]
  PETRUS is a family of scale-able coaxial solid propellant pulsed plasma thrusters for use on CubeSats and other nano and small satellites. This paper gives an overview of their use in the past GreenCube and the currently ongoing SONATE-2 CubeSat missions. PETRUS was able to demonstrate its thrust on GreenCube but the data gathered during that mission was limited. SONATE-2 features an improved version of the thruster as well as better capabilities to assess the performance of the thrusters in orbit. SONATE-2 was launched on 04.03. 2024 and is currently operating as planned. However no in-orbit thruster test has been conducted to date.

  @inproceedings{schafer2024flight, abstract = {PETRUS is a family of scale-able coaxial solid propellant pulsed plasma thrusters for use on CubeSats and other nano and small satellites. This paper gives an overview of their use in the past GreenCube and the currently ongoing SONATE-2 CubeSat missions. PETRUS was able to demonstrate its thrust on GreenCube but the data gathered during that mission was limited. SONATE-2 features an improved version of the thruster as well as better capabilities to assess the performance of the thrusters in orbit. SONATE-2 was launched on 04.03. 2024 and is currently operating as planned. However no in-orbit thruster test has been conducted to date.}, author = {Schäfer, Felix and Yordanov, Velin and Herdrich, Georg and Balagurin, Oleksii and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Space Propulsion}, keywords = {myown}, title = {Flight of the pulsed plasma thruster PETRUS 1J on the CubeSat SONATE-2}, year = 2024 }

• SONATE-2 – Using Artificial Intelligence for In-Orbit Image Processing and Anomaly Detection. Greiner, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Schwarz, Tobias. In 14th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation. Berlin, 2023.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{greiner2023sonate2, address = {Berlin}, author = {Greiner, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {14th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation}, keywords = {myown}, title = {SONATE-2 – Using Artificial Intelligence for In-Orbit Image Processing and Anomaly Detection}, year = 2023 }
• SONATE-2 – A Technology Demonstration Mission of Artificial Intelligence for Image Processing and Anomaly Detection. Greiner, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Schwarz, Tobias. In 16th Pico- and Nano-Satellite Workshop. Würzburg, Germany, 2023.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{greiner2023sonate2, address = {Würzburg, Germany}, author = {Greiner, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {16th Pico- and Nano-Satellite Workshop}, keywords = {myown}, title = {SONATE-2 – A Technology Demonstration Mission of Artificial Intelligence for Image Processing and Anomaly Detection}, year = 2023 }
• Attitude-independent calibration of magnetometers in orbit using Particle Swarm Optimization. Kaiser, Tobias; Thois, Dominik; Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Schwarz, Tobias; Maurer, Andreas; Herbst, Tobias; Riegler, Clemens. In 14th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation. 2023.
  • [ Abstract ]
  • [ BibTeX ]
  SONATE-2 is an upcoming CubeSat for AI applications in space. The payload includes widefield and nearfield cameras to take images of the Earth and perform tasks like image segmentation and anomaly detection. The Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) is designed to provide accurate pointing for these tasks. In addition, a propulsion system and a star sensor will be validated in orbit. In normal operations, the magnetic field vector and the sun vector are measured to determine the CubeSat attitude via the TRIAD or QUEST method. The harsh space environment subjects the sensors to disturbances, and it is expected that the calibration parameters will change over time. The magnetometers will be recalibrated in orbit using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The algorithm records the predicted and measured magnetic field vectors from hundreds of points in time and minimises the error between their magnitude by changing the calibration parameters. This calibration was tested at the JMU Würzburg on demonstrator hardware for the ADCS and a set of Helmholtz coils simulating the Earth Magnetic Field. The resulting calibration parameters were only slightly less accurate than those found by calibrating the magnetometer in the laboratory. The calibration algorithm will be optimized further and then implemented on SONATE-2.

  @inproceedings{noauthororeditorattitudeindependent, abstract = {SONATE-2 is an upcoming CubeSat for AI applications in space. The payload includes widefield and nearfield cameras to take images of the Earth and perform tasks like image segmentation and anomaly detection. The Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) is designed to provide accurate pointing for these tasks. In addition, a propulsion system and a star sensor will be validated in orbit. In normal operations, the magnetic field vector and the sun vector are measured to determine the CubeSat attitude via the TRIAD or QUEST method. The harsh space environment subjects the sensors to disturbances, and it is expected that the calibration parameters will change over time. The magnetometers will be recalibrated in orbit using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The algorithm records the predicted and measured magnetic field vectors from hundreds of points in time and minimises the error between their magnitude by changing the calibration parameters. This calibration was tested at the JMU Würzburg on demonstrator hardware for the ADCS and a set of Helmholtz coils simulating the Earth Magnetic Field. The resulting calibration parameters were only slightly less accurate than those found by calibrating the magnetometer in the laboratory. The calibration algorithm will be optimized further and then implemented on SONATE-2.}, author = {Kaiser, Tobias and Thois, Dominik and Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Schwarz, Tobias and Maurer, Andreas and Herbst, Tobias and Riegler, Clemens}, booktitle = {14th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation}, keywords = {myown}, title = {Attitude-independent calibration of magnetometers in orbit using Particle Swarm Optimization}, year = 2023 }

• SONATE-2 Nanosatellitenmission für Künstliche Intelligenz und Höhere Autonomie. Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Riegler, Clemens; Schwarz, Tobias. In Proceedings DLRK 2022. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn, 2022.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{balagurin2022sonate2, address = {Bonn}, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Riegler, Clemens and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Proceedings DLRK 2022}, keywords = {myown}, month = 11, publisher = {Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V.}, title = {SONATE-2 Nanosatellitenmission für Künstliche Intelligenz und Höhere Autonomie}, year = 2022 }
• MultiView: Koordinierter Sternsensorverbund im TunaCan-Format für CubeSats. Neumann, T.; Balagurin, O.; Baldsiefen, D.; Gerling, T.; Kaiser, T.; Kayal, H.; Maurer, A.; Riegler, C.; Schwarz, T. In Proceedings DLRK 2022, p. 7. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn, 2022.
  • [ Abstract ]
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  Der Zusammenschluss mehrerer miniaturisierter Sternsensoren bietet in der richtigen Konfiguration eine stark erhöhte Verfügbarkeit an genauen Lagedaten. Das begrenzte Bauvolumen auf einem CubeSat stellt dabei eine Herausforderung dar. Die Verwendung des TunaCan-Slots, verbunden mit dem Einsatz der gegebenen hohen Sensorredundanz, ermöglicht allerdings die Realisierung eines solchen Verbundes, während die Anforderungen im Rahmen einer CubeSat-Mission bleiben. Die internen Komponenten müssen selbständig miteinander arbeiten, um die funktionale Redundanz zu bewerkstelligen. Dazu zählt sowohl die Software als auch die entsprechend entworfene Elektronik. In diesem Paper wird solch ein Konzept ausgearbeitet und die Implementierung aufgeführt. Die interne Arbeitsweise zur Redundanzsteuerung und der Datenverarbeitung wird erläutert und die Validierung zum Einsatz im Orbit in Aussicht gestellt.

  @inproceedings{neumann2022multiview, abstract = {Der Zusammenschluss mehrerer miniaturisierter Sternsensoren bietet in der richtigen Konfiguration eine stark erhöhte Verfügbarkeit an genauen Lagedaten. Das begrenzte Bauvolumen auf einem CubeSat stellt dabei eine Herausforderung dar. Die Verwendung des TunaCan-Slots, verbunden mit dem Einsatz der gegebenen hohen Sensorredundanz, ermöglicht allerdings die Realisierung eines solchen Verbundes, während die Anforderungen im Rahmen einer CubeSat-Mission bleiben. Die internen Komponenten müssen selbständig miteinander arbeiten, um die funktionale Redundanz zu bewerkstelligen. Dazu zählt sowohl die Software als auch die entsprechend entworfene Elektronik. In diesem Paper wird solch ein Konzept ausgearbeitet und die Implementierung aufgeführt. Die interne Arbeitsweise zur Redundanzsteuerung und der Datenverarbeitung wird erläutert und die Validierung zum Einsatz im Orbit in Aussicht gestellt.}, address = {Bonn}, author = {Neumann, T. and Balagurin, O. and Baldsiefen, D. and Gerling, T. and Kaiser, T. and Kayal, H. and Maurer, A. and Riegler, C. and Schwarz, T.}, booktitle = {Proceedings DLRK 2022}, keywords = {myown}, month = 11, pages = 7, publisher = {Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V.}, title = {MultiView: Koordinierter Sternsensorverbund im TunaCan-Format für CubeSats}, year = 2022 }
• Hardware and Software Redundancy Concepts on-board of SONATE-2. Maurer, Andreas; Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Riegler, Clemens; Schwarz, Tobias. Vol. IAC 2022 congress proceedings, p. 11. International Astronautical Federation (IAF), 100 Avenue de Suffren 75015 Paris, France, 2022.
  • [ Abstract ]
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  SONATE-2 is a 6U-CubeSat, which main mission goal is the in-orbit demonstration of a newly developed AI processing platform. Experiments running on this platform include lightening detection, image segmentation and anomaly detection in images taken by the satellite. Thereby, on-board training of neural networks for AI based image processing applications will be demonstrated. Secondary mission objectives include the verification of AOCS components, tests of the ADCS’s target-pointing capabilities and the operation of an amateur radio payload. The SONATE-2 satellite is planned to be launched into a SSO in Q1 2024. par In satellites, redundancy plays a key role due to the lack of hardware-based maintenance availability, but also because of the harsh space environment. Therefore, SONATE-2 consists of two fully redundant 5V and 12V busses which supply the satellite’s subsystems and payloads with the required amount of power. Redundant subsystems are connected to one of the two power busses. In case of a power failure on one of the two busses, the redundant component supplied by the other bus is then still operational. par A key element of the design of SONATE-2 is hardware-based redundancy of the communication subsystem, the ADCS, the OBDH and the AI payload. Each of these subsystems is included multiple times on-board. SONATE-2’s communication subsystem consists of two VHF-, two UHF- and two S-Band transceivers and antennas. The ADCS includes two processing computers and a total of four three-axis magnetometers, four three-axis gyroscopes, six reaction wheel, six magnetorquer and 12 sun sensors. On-board data handling tasks are executed by one of four available OBDH computers. The decision which OBDH is executing the telecommand processing and housekeeping tasks is determined by a software-based role arbitration. Furthermore, the AI-payload which consists of a Nvidia Jetson Xavier NX and four cameras is integrated in the satellite twice. par Each of these subsystems have further built-in software-based redundancy concepts, including fault detection, isolation, and recovery algorithms as well as redundant saved configurations. This paper gives a brief overview of the SONATE-2 mission with the focus on the built-in hardware and software redundancy concepts of the satellite bus and the payloads on SONATE-2.

  @conference{maurer2022hardware, abstract = {SONATE-2 is a 6U-CubeSat, which main mission goal is the in-orbit demonstration of a newly developed AI processing platform. Experiments running on this platform include lightening detection, image segmentation and anomaly detection in images taken by the satellite. Thereby, on-board training of neural networks for AI based image processing applications will be demonstrated. Secondary mission objectives include the verification of AOCS components, tests of the ADCS’s target-pointing capabilities and the operation of an amateur radio payload. The SONATE-2 satellite is planned to be launched into a SSO in Q1 2024. \par In satellites, redundancy plays a key role due to the lack of hardware-based maintenance availability, but also because of the harsh space environment. Therefore, SONATE-2 consists of two fully redundant 5V and 12V busses which supply the satellite’s subsystems and payloads with the required amount of power. Redundant subsystems are connected to one of the two power busses. In case of a power failure on one of the two busses, the redundant component supplied by the other bus is then still operational. \par A key element of the design of SONATE-2 is hardware-based redundancy of the communication subsystem, the ADCS, the OBDH and the AI payload. Each of these subsystems is included multiple times on-board. SONATE-2’s communication subsystem consists of two VHF-, two UHF- and two S-Band transceivers and antennas. The ADCS includes two processing computers and a total of four three-axis magnetometers, four three-axis gyroscopes, six reaction wheel, six magnetorquer and 12 sun sensors. On-board data handling tasks are executed by one of four available OBDH computers. The decision which OBDH is executing the telecommand processing and housekeeping tasks is determined by a software-based role arbitration. Furthermore, the AI-payload which consists of a Nvidia Jetson Xavier NX and four cameras is integrated in the satellite twice. \par Each of these subsystems have further built-in software-based redundancy concepts, including fault detection, isolation, and recovery algorithms as well as redundant saved configurations. This paper gives a brief overview of the SONATE-2 mission with the focus on the built-in hardware and software redundancy concepts of the satellite bus and the payloads on SONATE-2.}, address = {100 Avenue de Suffren 75015 Paris, France}, author = {Maurer, Andreas and Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Riegler, Clemens and Schwarz, Tobias}, keywords = {myown}, month = {09}, pages = 11, publisher = {International Astronautical Federation (IAF)}, title = {Hardware and Software Redundancy Concepts on-board of SONATE-2}, volume = {IAC 2022 congress proceedings}, year = 2022 }
• SONATE-2 - A Technology Demonstration Mission for Artificial Intelligence. Greiner, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Neumann, Tobias; Riegler, Clemens; Schwarz, Tobias. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S), G. Tobias, B. Oleksii, H. Tobias, K. Tobias, K. Hakan, M. Andreas, N. Tobias, R. Clemens, S. Tobias (eds.). Vilamoura, Portugal, 2022.
  • [ Abstract ]
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  The increasing amount of data produced by sensors, combined with low download rates, are a challenge for nanosatellites. On-board data processing and classification can be used to reduce the amount of data that needs to be downloaded. This edge computing approach has become more and more present in various terrestrial applications and embedded devices. Recent missions have used artificial intelligence (AI) models, pre-trained on the ground, for on-board image analysis. The SONATE-2 mission expands on this approach by also introducing on-board training capabilities, enabling new applications including on-board model generation and improvement.

  @inproceedings{greiner2022sonate2, abstract = {The increasing amount of data produced by sensors, combined with low download rates, are a challenge for nanosatellites. On-board data processing and classification can be used to reduce the amount of data that needs to be downloaded. This edge computing approach has become more and more present in various terrestrial applications and embedded devices. Recent missions have used artificial intelligence (AI) models, pre-trained on the ground, for on-board image analysis. The SONATE-2 mission expands on this approach by also introducing on-board training capabilities, enabling new applications including on-board model generation and improvement.}, address = {Vilamoura, Portugal}, author = {Greiner, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Neumann, Tobias and Riegler, Clemens and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, editor = {Tobias, Greiner and Oleksii, Balagurin and Tobias, Herbst and Tobias, Kaiser and Hakan, Kayal and Andreas, Maurer and Tobias, Neumann and Clemens, Riegler and Tobias, Schwarz}, keywords = {myown}, title = {SONATE-2 - A Technology Demonstration Mission for Artificial Intelligence}, year = 2022 }
• Testing the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX Module for the SONATE-2 Nano Satellite Mission. Herbst, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Riegler, Clemens; Schwarz, Tobias. Vol. IAC 2022 congress proceedings, p. 7. International Astronautical Federation (IAF), 100 Avenue de Suffren 75015 Paris, France, 2022.
  • [ Abstract ]
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  SONATE-2 is a 6U+, LEO CubeSat mission, which will demonstrate the feasibility of in-orbit image processing using neural networks. These networks shall also be trained on-board. Therefore, a powerful computational unit with a small form factor and low power consumption is needed. One possible candidate, the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX is analysed and tested for a possible use in this mission. Thus, thermal vacuum chamber tests, total ionizing radiation dose tests, single event effect tests and vibration tests were performed to expose the module to conditions equivalent to space environment present in LEO. The module has been Total Ionizing Dose (TID) tested with a Co-60 source at a dose of 10,krad. Single Event Effect (SEE) testing has been done with protons at energy levels of 30, 50 and 68 MeV. In addition to that, vibration tests have been conducted on acceptance level for a launch with a Soyuz-2 rocket for a containerized CubeSat. The thermal-vacuum tests included an outgassing test and a thermal cycling test with 5 cycles from -30\($^\circ$\)C to 90\($^\circ$\)C. After the TID tests, the vibration tests and the thermal tests, no damage to the module could be detected. During the outgassing test, a total mass loss of at least 0.08,% was measured. During the SEE tests, two single event effects occurred, of which one caused the device to reboot and another one caused a memory error in the modules eMMC memory. Thus, it is recommended to implement a redundancy strategy for the content of the eMMC memory and operate the device, such that spontaneous reboots do not lead to critical failures.

  @conference{noauthororeditor, abstract = {SONATE-2 is a 6U+, LEO CubeSat mission, which will demonstrate the feasibility of in-orbit image processing using neural networks. These networks shall also be trained on-board. Therefore, a powerful computational unit with a small form factor and low power consumption is needed. One possible candidate, the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX is analysed and tested for a possible use in this mission. Thus, thermal vacuum chamber tests, total ionizing radiation dose tests, single event effect tests and vibration tests were performed to expose the module to conditions equivalent to space environment present in LEO. The module has been Total Ionizing Dose (TID) tested with a Co-60 source at a dose of 10\,krad. Single Event Effect (SEE) testing has been done with protons at energy levels of 30, 50 and 68 MeV. In addition to that, vibration tests have been conducted on acceptance level for a launch with a Soyuz-2 rocket for a containerized CubeSat. The thermal-vacuum tests included an outgassing test and a thermal cycling test with 5 cycles from -30$^\circ$C to 90$^\circ$C. After the TID tests, the vibration tests and the thermal tests, no damage to the module could be detected. During the outgassing test, a total mass loss of at least 0.08\,\% was measured. During the SEE tests, two single event effects occurred, of which one caused the device to reboot and another one caused a memory error in the modules eMMC memory. Thus, it is recommended to implement a redundancy strategy for the content of the eMMC memory and operate the device, such that spontaneous reboots do not lead to critical failures.}, address = {100 Avenue de Suffren 75015 Paris, France}, author = {Herbst, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Riegler, Clemens and Schwarz, Tobias}, keywords = {myown}, pages = 7, publisher = {International Astronautical Federation (IAF)}, title = {Testing the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX Module for the SONATE-2 Nano Satellite Mission}, volume = {IAC 2022 congress proceedings}, year = 2022 }
• In-Flight Experience and Operations of the 3U-Mission SONATE. Schwarz, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S). Vilamoura, Portugal, 2022.
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  • [ BibTeX ]
  SONATE was a 3U-CubeSat for technology demonstration developed at the University of Würzburg, primarily for the in-orbit verification of the autonomous payloads ASAP-L and ADIA-L, as well as other smaller payloads like star sensors and reaction wheels. On July 5, 2019, it was successfully launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket into a 530 km Sun synchronous orbit. The mission ended after one year of operations. During its operation, SONATE has been commanded and telemetry was received almost daily on two or three passes over the university’s ground station.

  @inproceedings{noauthororeditorinflight, abstract = {SONATE was a 3U-CubeSat for technology demonstration developed at the University of Würzburg, primarily for the in-orbit verification of the autonomous payloads ASAP-L and ADIA-L, as well as other smaller payloads like star sensors and reaction wheels. On July 5, 2019, it was successfully launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket into a 530 km Sun synchronous orbit. The mission ended after one year of operations. During its operation, SONATE has been commanded and telemetry was received almost daily on two or three passes over the university’s ground station.}, address = {Vilamoura, Portugal}, author = {Schwarz, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {In-Flight Experience and Operations of the 3U-Mission SONATE}, year = 2022 }

• Entwicklung und Betrieb eines Technologieerprobungssatelliten für hochautonome Nutzlasten. Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Schwarz, Tobias. In Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress (DLRK) 2021. Bremen, 2021.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{balagurinentwicklung, address = {Bremen}, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress (DLRK) 2021}, keywords = {myown}, month = {09}, title = {Entwicklung und Betrieb eines Technologieerprobungssatelliten für hochautonome Nutzlasten}, year = 2021 }
• Development and operation of a technology testing satellite for highly autonomous payloads and artificial intelligence. Balagurin, Oleksii; Greiner, Tobias; Herbst, Tobias; Kaiser, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Neumann, Tobias; Riegler, Clemens; Schwarz, Tobias. In 14th Pico- and Nano-Satellite Workshop. Würzburg, Germany, 2021.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{noauthororeditor2021development, address = {Würzburg, Germany}, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Greiner, Tobias and Herbst, Tobias and Kaiser, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Neumann, Tobias and Riegler, Clemens and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {14th Pico- and Nano-Satellite Workshop}, keywords = {myown}, month = {09}, title = {Development and operation of a technology testing satellite for highly autonomous payloads and artificial intelligence}, year = 2021 }
• MultiView: A Novel Star Sensor Providing Reliable Attitude Determination for CubeSats. Miethaner, Christian; Kayal, Hakan; Schwarz, Tobias; Neumann, Tobias; Schwarz, Tobias. In 14th Pico- and Nano-Satellite Workshop. Würzburg, Germany, 2021.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{miethaner2021multiview, address = {Würzburg, Germany}, author = {Miethaner, Christian and Kayal, Hakan and Schwarz, Tobias and Neumann, Tobias and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {14th Pico- and Nano-Satellite Workshop}, keywords = {myown}, month = {09}, title = {MultiView: A Novel Star Sensor Providing Reliable Attitude Determination for CubeSats}, year = 2021 }

• 3U satellite bus SONATE for technology demonstration of autonomous payloads,. Balagurin, Oleksii; Baumann, Tom; Greiner, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Maurer, Andreas; Rapp, Thomas; Schwarz, Tobias. In Proceedings of the 12th Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation, Vol. 2, R. Sandau, K. Brieß, E. Gill (eds.), pp. 297–301. International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), 6 rue Galilée, Po Box 1268-16, 75766 Paris Cedex 16, France, 2019.
  • [ Abstract ]
  • [ BibTeX ]
  • [ URL ]
  SONATE is a technology demonstration mission specially designed for two particular highly autonomous payloads. These two payloads can plan and act independently of the ground segment. In order to support this autonomous operation a satellite bus with particular features was created. The main focus of this paper concentrates on the OBDH and the power generation and distribution subsystem, because the OBDH interacts strongly with the payload’s autonomous functionalities. In addition, large amounts of observation image data will be handled by the OBDH. Since the required scheduling and diagnostic algorithms are very computationally intensive, the processing electronics of the payloads consume electric power in the range of several watts. The whole satellite system was manufactured and qualified. This paper will conclude with the results of the qualification tests.

  @inproceedings{balagurin2019satellite, abstract = {SONATE is a technology demonstration mission specially designed for two particular highly autonomous payloads. These two payloads can plan and act independently of the ground segment. In order to support this autonomous operation a satellite bus with particular features was created. The main focus of this paper concentrates on the OBDH and the power generation and distribution subsystem, because the OBDH interacts strongly with the payload’s autonomous functionalities. In addition, large amounts of observation image data will be handled by the OBDH. Since the required scheduling and diagnostic algorithms are very computationally intensive, the processing electronics of the payloads consume electric power in the range of several watts. The whole satellite system was manufactured and qualified. This paper will conclude with the results of the qualification tests.}, address = {6 rue Galilée, Po Box 1268-16, 75766 Paris Cedex 16, France}, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Baumann, Tom and Greiner, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Maurer, Andreas and Rapp, Thomas and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 12th Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation}, editor = {Sandau, Rainer and Brieß, Klaus and Gill, Eberhard}, keywords = {myown}, number = 11, pages = {297-301}, publisher = {International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)}, title = {3U satellite bus SONATE for technology demonstration of autonomous payloads,}, volume = 2, year = 2019 }

• Preparing SONATE for Autonomous Control Through ASAP. Rapp, Thomas; Balagurin, Oleksii; Baumann, Tom; Kayal, Hakan; Krainovic, Anselm; Schwarz, Tobias; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In IAC 2018 congress proceedings, Vol. 69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). International Astronautical Federation (IAF), 2018.
  • [ Abstract ]
  • [ BibTeX ]
  • [ URL ]
  SONATE is a 3U-CubeSat technology demonstrator mission for highly autonomous payloads currently under development at the Professorship of Space Technology at the University of Würzburg and scheduled for launch in 2019. One of SONATE’s primary objectives is to verify the key elements of the autonomous sensor and planning system (ASAP) on-orbit. The general benefits of the high degree of autonomy implemented by ASAP are twofold. Firstly, it allows new satellite applications where fast response to external events (e.g. meteor entry into Earth´s atmosphere for Earth Observation Missions) is required. Secondly, it reduces the overall mission costs by moving workload from the operator to the satellite itself. To complete the verification of ASAP in a closed loop manner, ASAP needs to take over control of the satellite by manipulating SONATE’s active command list. However, the demonstration of the highly autonomous functions shall not put extra risk on the SONATE mission as a whole and especially the satellite’s other payloads. In order to combine the high degree of autonomy required for the verification of ASAP with the common requirements of a technology demonstrator mission accommodating also other payloads, special measures must be taken. Those measures, which are presented in detail with this paper, affect the verification process of ASAP itself, the onboard data handling system (OBDH), and the mission operations of SONATE. They include different check-out levels for the autonomous functionalities of ASAP, protective measures of the OBDH against unauthorized attempts of ASAP to control the satellite, new concepts for the mission planning process on ground, and directives for the mission operations on ground. The different check-out levels range from LEOP procedures common for every payload, through experiments during which ASAP runs but the plans are not executed, to finally full autonomous control of SONATE through ASAP. The protection of the OBDH is implemented by dedicated states in which the OBDH accepts commands from ASAP as well as a whitelist of commands to be accepted. Both for the mission planning process and mission operations on ground, new concepts had to be developed for this transition from classical operations towards full autonomy. We finally conclude that the set of those measures is sufficient to combine both worlds of classical operations and the increasing on-board autonomy for satellites and that thus they allow the on-orbit verification of ASAP without putting extra risk onto the SONATE mission.

  @conference{rapp2018preparing, abstract = {SONATE is a 3U-CubeSat technology demonstrator mission for highly autonomous payloads currently under development at the Professorship of Space Technology at the University of Würzburg and scheduled for launch in 2019. One of SONATE’s primary objectives is to verify the key elements of the autonomous sensor and planning system (ASAP) on-orbit. The general benefits of the high degree of autonomy implemented by ASAP are twofold. Firstly, it allows new satellite applications where fast response to external events (e.g. meteor entry into Earth´s atmosphere for Earth Observation Missions) is required. Secondly, it reduces the overall mission costs by moving workload from the operator to the satellite itself. To complete the verification of ASAP in a closed loop manner, ASAP needs to take over control of the satellite by manipulating SONATE’s active command list. However, the demonstration of the highly autonomous functions shall not put extra risk on the SONATE mission as a whole and especially the satellite’s other payloads. In order to combine the high degree of autonomy required for the verification of ASAP with the common requirements of a technology demonstrator mission accommodating also other payloads, special measures must be taken. Those measures, which are presented in detail with this paper, affect the verification process of ASAP itself, the onboard data handling system (OBDH), and the mission operations of SONATE. They include different check-out levels for the autonomous functionalities of ASAP, protective measures of the OBDH against unauthorized attempts of ASAP to control the satellite, new concepts for the mission planning process on ground, and directives for the mission operations on ground. The different check-out levels range from LEOP procedures common for every payload, through experiments during which ASAP runs but the plans are not executed, to finally full autonomous control of SONATE through ASAP. The protection of the OBDH is implemented by dedicated states in which the OBDH accepts commands from ASAP as well as a whitelist of commands to be accepted. Both for the mission planning process and mission operations on ground, new concepts had to be developed for this transition from classical operations towards full autonomy. We finally conclude that the set of those measures is sufficient to combine both worlds of classical operations and the increasing on-board autonomy for satellites and that thus they allow the on-orbit verification of ASAP without putting extra risk onto the SONATE mission.}, author = {Rapp, Thomas and Balagurin, Oleksii and Baumann, Tom and Kayal, Hakan and Krainovic, Anselm and Schwarz, Tobias and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, journal = {IAC 2018 congress proceedings}, keywords = {myown}, month = 10, publisher = {International Astronautical Federation (IAF)}, title = {Preparing SONATE for Autonomous Control Through ASAP}, volume = {69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC)}, year = 2018 }
• SONATE – 3U Nano Satellite Mission for Highly Autonomous Payloads. Schwarz, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Baumann, Tom; Fellinger, Gerhard; Kayal, Hakan; Rapp, Thomas; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S). 2018.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{schwarz2018sonate, author = {Schwarz, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Baumann, Tom and Fellinger, Gerhard and Kayal, Hakan and Rapp, Thomas and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {SONATE – 3U Nano Satellite Mission for Highly Autonomous Payloads}, year = 2018 }
• Optimization Tool for Mission Specific Design of Star Sensors. Greiner, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Kayal, Hakan; Schwarz, Tobias. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S). 2018.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{noauthororeditor2018optimization, author = {Greiner, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Kayal, Hakan and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {Optimization Tool for Mission Specific Design of Star Sensors}, year = 2018 }
• Next Level Autonomous Nanosatellite Operations. Kayal, Hakan; Balagurin, Oleksii; Djebko, Kirill; Fellinger, Gerhard; Puppe, Frank; Seipel, Dietmar; Serdar, Saliha; Schneider, Alexander; Schwarz, Tobias; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In SpaceOps Conferences, Vol. 2018 SpaceOps Conference. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., 2018.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  • [ URL ]
  • [ DOI ]
  @conference{kayal2018level, author = {Kayal, Hakan and Balagurin, Oleksii and Djebko, Kirill and Fellinger, Gerhard and Puppe, Frank and Seipel, Dietmar and Serdar, Saliha and Schneider, Alexander and Schwarz, Tobias and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {SpaceOps Conferences}, keywords = {myown}, publisher = {American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.}, title = {Next Level Autonomous Nanosatellite Operations}, volume = {2018 SpaceOps Conference}, year = 2018 }

• Autonomous Mission Operations Onboard Nano-Satellite SONATE. Wojtkowiak, Harald; Djebko, Kirill; Fellinger, Gerhard; Greiner, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Schneider, Alexander; Schwarz, Tobias. In 68th International Astronautical Congress. International Astronautical Federation, 2017.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{wojtkowiak2017autonomous, author = {Wojtkowiak, Harald and Djebko, Kirill and Fellinger, Gerhard and Greiner, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Schneider, Alexander and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {68th International Astronautical Congress}, keywords = {myown}, organization = {International Astronautical Federation}, title = {Autonomous Mission Operations Onboard Nano-Satellite SONATE}, year = 2017 }
• SONATE - A Nanosatellite for Autonomy. Kayal, Hakan; Balagurin, Oleksii; Djebko, Kirill; Fellinger, Gerhard; Greiner, Tobias; Puppe, Frank; Schneider, Alexander; Schwarz, Tobias; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In 68th International Astronautical Congress. International Astronautical Federation, 2017.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{kayal2017sonate, author = {Kayal, Hakan and Balagurin, Oleksii and Djebko, Kirill and Fellinger, Gerhard and Greiner, Tobias and Puppe, Frank and Schneider, Alexander and Schwarz, Tobias and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {68th International Astronautical Congress}, keywords = {myown}, organization = {International Astronautical Federation}, title = {SONATE - A Nanosatellite for Autonomy}, year = 2017 }
• A concept for a nanosatellite mission to demonstrate autonomous system technologies. Balagurin, Oleksii; Djebko, Kirill; Fellinger, Gerhard; Kayal, Hakan; Schartel, Andreas; Schneider, Alexander; Schwarz, Tobias; Vocopivec, Ana; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In 11th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation. The International Academy of Astronautics, 2017.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{balagurin2017concept, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Djebko, Kirill and Fellinger, Gerhard and Kayal, Hakan and Schartel, Andreas and Schneider, Alexander and Schwarz, Tobias and Vocopivec, Ana and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {11th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation}, keywords = {myown}, organization = {The International Academy of Astronautics}, title = {A concept for a nanosatellite mission to demonstrate autonomous system technologies}, year = 2017 }
• A model-based fault detection and root cause identification system for increased autonomy of small satellites. Djebko, Kirill; Schwarz, Tobias; Fellinger, Gerhard; Kayal, Hakan; Puppe, Frank; Schartel, Andreas; Schneider, Alexander; Vodopivec, Ana; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In 11th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation. International Academy of Astronatics, 2017.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{djebko2017modelbased, author = {Djebko, Kirill and Schwarz, Tobias and Fellinger, Gerhard and Kayal, Hakan and Puppe, Frank and Schartel, Andreas and Schneider, Alexander and Vodopivec, Ana and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {11th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation}, keywords = {myown}, organization = {International Academy of Astronatics}, title = {A model-based fault detection and root cause identification system for increased autonomy of small satellites}, year = 2017 }
• Autonomous Mission Operation Onboard Nano-Satellite SONATE. Wojtkowiak, Harald; Djebko, Kirill; Fellinger, Gerhard; Greiner, Tobias; Kayal, Hakan; Schneider, Alexander; Schwarz, Tobias. In 68th International Astronautical Congress. International Astronautical Federation, 2017.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{wojtkowiak2017autonomous, author = {Wojtkowiak, Harald and Djebko, Kirill and Fellinger, Gerhard and Greiner, Tobias and Kayal, Hakan and Schneider, Alexander and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {68th International Astronautical Congress}, keywords = {myown}, organization = {International Astronautical Federation}, title = {Autonomous Mission Operation Onboard Nano-Satellite SONATE}, year = 2017 }
• ADIA-L: Implementation and Integration of a Model-Based Autonomous Diagnostic System as Payload for the Nanosatellite Mission SONATE. Fellinger, Gerhard; Djebko, Kirill; Jäger, Eric; Balagurin, Oleksii; Kayal, Hakan; Puppe, Frank; Schneider, Alexander; Schwarz, Tobias; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In 68th International Astronautical Congress. International Astronautical Federation, 2017.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{noauthororeditor2017adial, author = {Fellinger, Gerhard and Djebko, Kirill and Jäger, Eric and Balagurin, Oleksii and Kayal, Hakan and Puppe, Frank and Schneider, Alexander and Schwarz, Tobias and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {68th International Astronautical Congress}, keywords = {myown}, organization = {International Astronautical Federation}, title = {ADIA-L: Implementation and Integration of a Model-Based Autonomous Diagnostic System as Payload for the Nanosatellite Mission SONATE}, year = 2017 }

• SONATE - A Nano Satellite for the In-Orbit Verification of Autonomous Detection, Planning and Diagnosis Technologies. Kayal, Hakan; Balagurin, Oleksii; Djebko, Kirill; Fellinger, Gerhard; Puppe, Frank; Schartel, Andreas; Schwarz, Tobias; Vodopivec, Ana; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In AIAA SPACE 2016. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2016.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  • [ URL ]
  • [ DOI ]
  @inproceedings{Kayal_2016, author = {Kayal, Hakan and Balagurin, Oleksii and Djebko, Kirill and Fellinger, Gerhard and Puppe, Frank and Schartel, Andreas and Schwarz, Tobias and Vodopivec, Ana and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {{AIAA} {SPACE} 2016}, keywords = {myown}, month = {09}, publisher = {American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics}, title = {{SONATE} - A Nano Satellite for the In-Orbit Verification of Autonomous Detection, Planning and Diagnosis Technologies}, year = 2016 }
• A Novel Nano Satellite Mission to Demonstrate Autonomous System Technologies. Balagurin, Oleksii; Fellinger, Gerhard; Kayal, Hakan; Schwarz, Tobias; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S). 2016.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{noauthororeditor2016novel, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Fellinger, Gerhard and Kayal, Hakan and Schwarz, Tobias and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {A Novel Nano Satellite Mission to Demonstrate Autonomous System Technologies}, year = 2016 }
• An Optimized Development Process for Small Star Sensor Systems. Balagurin, Oleksii; Kayal, Hakan; Schartel, Andreas; Schwarz, Tobias. In Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S). 2016.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{balagurinoptimized, author = {Balagurin, Oleksii and Kayal, Hakan and Schartel, Andreas and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Small Satellites, System & Services Symposium (4S)}, keywords = {myown}, title = {An Optimized Development Process for Small Star Sensor Systems}, year = 2016 }
• Ein Micro-Display basierter Sternsimulator für Indoor-Tests miniaturisierter Sternsensoren. Schartel, Andreas; Balagurin, Oleksii; Kayal, Hakan; Schwarz, Tobias. In Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress. 2016.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @inproceedings{schartel2016microdisplay, author = {Schartel, Andreas and Balagurin, Oleksii and Kayal, Hakan and Schwarz, Tobias}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress}, keywords = {myown}, title = {Ein Micro-Display basierter Sternsimulator für Indoor-Tests miniaturisierter Sternsensoren}, year = 2016 }
• SONATE Nanosatelliten-Mission zur Erprobung von hochautonomen Nutzlasten. Schwarz, Tobias; Balagurin, Oleksii; Djebko, Kirill; Fellinger, Gerhard; Kayal, Hakan; Puppe, Frank; Schartel, Andreas; Vodopivec, Ana; Wojtkowiak, Harald. In Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt, 2016.
  • [ BibTeX ]
  @conference{schwarz2016sonate, author = {Schwarz, Tobias and Balagurin, Oleksii and Djebko, Kirill and Fellinger, Gerhard and Kayal, Hakan and Puppe, Frank and Schartel, Andreas and Vodopivec, Ana and Wojtkowiak, Harald}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress}, keywords = {myown}, organization = {Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt}, title = {SONATE Nanosatelliten-Mission zur Erprobung von hochautonomen Nutzlasten}, year = 2016 }

• Prototyping of a Star Tracker for Pico-Satellites. Technical Report (Master thesis), . Schwarz, Tobias. Master thesis. Luleå University of Technology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 2015.
  • [ Abstract ]
  • [ BibTeX ]
  • [ URL ]
  Attitude control is an essential subsystem of most spacecraft buses, therefore attitude determination plays a very important role as it is the feedback system for any closed-loop attitude control system. Of all attitude determination sensors star trackers are usually the most accurate ones. Unfortunately, the star trackers usually used on classical, large spacecrafts are too big, heavy and power hungry. For pico-satellites, which can only carry a limited amount of volume and mass and provide only limited power, these sensors obviously cannot be used. Consequently, miniaturized star trackers have been developed in recent years, but so far the available star trackers are not sufficiently miniaturized to be feasible for the use on pico-satellites, including STELLA, a miniaturized star tracker developed at the University of Würzburg. Therefore, further miniaturization is necessary, which is why the University of Würzburg is active on the research of star trackers for small satellites. A first prototype for a new star tracker for pico-satellites, called PicoStar, has been developed in the scope of this thesis. Using a simpler system design and new image sensors, its volume could be reduced by two-thirds and the mass by about half compared to STELLA. The expected performance is kept reasonably. There is still room for further reduction of the power consumption, as it is currently up to 30% higher than required. As this Master thesis focuses on the implementation of the embedded system and the optimization of the software of the star tracker, the prototype is not finalized. So far, the star tracker algorithm has been implemented and the attitude determination is running. First test results have shown that the next steps in the PicoStar development, among other things, have to be further calibration and testing.

  @mastersthesis{Schwarz1015137, abstract = {Attitude control is an essential subsystem of most spacecraft buses, therefore attitude determination plays a very important role as it is the feedback system for any closed-loop attitude control system. Of all attitude determination sensors star trackers are usually the most accurate ones. Unfortunately, the star trackers usually used on classical, large spacecrafts are too big, heavy and power hungry. For pico-satellites, which can only carry a limited amount of volume and mass and provide only limited power, these sensors obviously cannot be used. Consequently, miniaturized star trackers have been developed in recent years, but so far the available star trackers are not sufficiently miniaturized to be feasible for the use on pico-satellites, including STELLA, a miniaturized star tracker developed at the University of Würzburg. Therefore, further miniaturization is necessary, which is why the University of Würzburg is active on the research of star trackers for small satellites. A first prototype for a new star tracker for pico-satellites, called PicoStar, has been developed in the scope of this thesis. Using a simpler system design and new image sensors, its volume could be reduced by two-thirds and the mass by about half compared to STELLA. The expected performance is kept reasonably. There is still room for further reduction of the power consumption, as it is currently up to 30% higher than required. As this Master thesis focuses on the implementation of the embedded system and the optimization of the software of the star tracker, the prototype is not finalized. So far, the star tracker algorithm has been implemented and the attitude determination is running. First test results have shown that the next steps in the PicoStar development, among other things, have to be further calibration and testing.}, author = {Schwarz, Tobias}, keywords = {attitude}, school = {Luleå University of Technology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg}, title = {Prototyping of a Star Tracker for Pico-Satellites}, year = 2015 }