Kittipong Yaovaja. Preliminary design of the reaction wheel for a 1U-CubeSat and low-cost prototyping from BLDC and FOC. (). King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok. Central Library. : , 2025.
Preliminary design of the reaction wheel for a 1U-CubeSat and low-cost prototyping from BLDC and FOC
Abstract:
This paper presents the design, sizing, and experimental validation of a single-axis reaction wheel
system for a 1U CubeSat. The system was developed to meet both continuous disturbance rejection and
agile slewing requirements. A minimum continuous torque capability of 0.0294 mN·m was specified based on
analytical estimations. For active attitude maneuvers, the design targeted a peak torque output of
0.060 mN·m and an angular momentum capacity of 0.196 mN·s. A prototype was fabricated using a BLDC motor and
a precision-machined flywheel, integrated with a Field-Oriented Control (FOC) system and validated on a
custom-developed test bench. Experimental results demonstrated that the system achieved a maximum
torque of ±0.07 mN·m at 5,230 RPM, successfully exceeding both torque requirements. The measured angular
momentum aligns with theoretical predictions, validating the systems ability to support agile attitude control
and multi-orbit disturbance rejection. These findings confirm the feasibility of deploying low-cost, high-performance,
COTS-based actuators in small satellite missions.
King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok. Central Library