Date Approved
6-16-2025
Embargo Period
6-16-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. Engineering
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Advisor
John Schmalzel, Ph.D.
Committee Member 1
Ravi Ramachandran, Ph.D.
Committee Member 2
Robert Krchnavek, Ph.D.
Committee Member 3
Wei Xue, Ph.D.
Committee Member 4
Sangho Shin, Ph.D.
Keywords
Bluetooth;CubeSat;Integration;Interconnect;Satellite;Wireless
Abstract
In small satellite engineering systems, managing numerous subsystem interconnections presents a significant design challenge directly impacting mission success. Traditional CubeSat subsystems rely on the PC/104 header system for integration, which consumes substantial board area and adds considerable vertical spacing between subsystems. This rigid wired architecture severely restricts subsystem density, complicates assembly and testing procedures, and prevents reconfiguration of interconnections after deployment. This dissertation presents a transformative approach to satellite subsystem integration by developing and validating a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless interconnect system replacing traditional wired connections. This research addresses wireless implementation challenges. Through iterative prototype development, I demonstrate a wireless interface achieving sufficient throughput and acceptable latency while maintaining minimal power consumption within typical CubeSat power budgets. The primary contribution is a comprehensive wireless interface architecture, providing definitive solutions to critical implementation challenges including power optimization through connection interval management and reliability enhancement through error detection and correction techniques. The implementation significantly reduces vertical space requirements compared to conventional headers while enabling dynamic reconfiguration of communication relationships. This research advances satellite design methodology by demonstrating that wireless interconnections maintain adequate performance while improving integration flexibility and enabling post-deployment reconfiguration capabilities.
Recommended Citation
Fifth, Adam, "WIRELESS BUS INTERCONNECTS FOR ENHANCED SMALL SATELLITE SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND RELIABILITY" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 3400.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3400
