Conceptual Design of a Nanosatellite Incubator Using Axiomatic Design and a Mechatronic Multicriteria Profile

Abstract

The CubeSat platform has become increasingly popular in recent decades. Due to its relatively low research cost and short development time, it is often used to conduct experiments in space in various fields. Since a satellite payload is usually a cross-disciplinary system, one of its design challenges is how to optimize the dependencies and correlations among components while ensuring customer-specific mission requirements. Based on these points, this paper presents a conceptual design of a one unit (1U -10cm×10cm×10cm) miniaturized incubator for a nanosatellite mission using Axiomatic Design and a Mechatronic Multicriteria Profile. During this design process, 64 concepts were derived and evaluated, resulting in an "Elite" candidate with a rating of 0.89/1. The concept generated is a pressurized microincubator consisting of four subsystems: cultivation system, temperature control system, supply system, and monitoring system. Two prototypes designed and manufactured based on this concept have successfully completed for plant growth experiments in terrestrial conditions.

Evaluation Model of Mechatronizability

“…Furthermore, companies are providing as well as using mechatronic technology solutions. For example, a mechatronic design methodology adapted to the Delta Robot (Portillo-Vélez et al, 2022) and the use of axiomatic design and mechatronic multi-criteria profile in conceptual design (Ma et al, 2021). It is, therefore, appropriate to study how the companies that produce and market these products are organized.…”