Authors: Juan Pablo Solís Ruiz, Eduardo Franco Ortega, Elrick Eduardo Haces Gil Sotelo | Date: 4/26/2025
https://github.com/nRF24/RF24.git
g++ code_name.cpp -o code_name -I/usr/local/include/RF24 -lrf24
ComSatsP4 - Embedded Communication System
ComSatsP4 is an embedded system project designed for satellite communications. It focuses on implementing a lightweight, reliable communication system using a microcontroller and a custom-designed antenna, enabling data transmission between a satellite and a ground station.
The system is built for efficiency, robustness, and low-power consumption — ideal for nanosatellite missions like Earth observation, climate monitoring, and telemetry transmission.
Before using ComSatsP4, you need to have:
- A compatible microcontroller (e.g., Arduino, STM32, ESP32)
- Embedded C/C++ development environment (Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, STM32CubeIDE, etc.)
- Basic electronic components (antenna, transceiver module like SX1280 or CC2500, capacitors, resistors)
- UART or SPI interface configured between MCU and transceiver
- (Optional) Oscilloscope or SDR for signal analysis
- Download the source code to your local machine.
- Open the project in your preferred IDE.
- Connect your microcontroller and transceiver module following the provided pinout diagram.
- Flash the firmware to the microcontroller.
- Test communication by sending and receiving data packets using the provided functions.
A basic communication test sketch (ComSatsP4_Test.ino) is included to verify hardware functionality.
- Development Environment: Windows 11 / Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 supported)
- Firmware Language: C/C++
- Current Hardware: Arduino Uno / STM32 Nucleo (expandable)
- Release: Alpha version 0.1 (first deployment)
The system handles basic packet transmission and reception over S-band frequencies, ensuring low latency and high reliability.
ComSatsP4 includes pre-written drivers for popular transceivers like SX1280 and CC2500, supporting easy integration and flexible switching between modules.
Designed for nanosatellite missions, the firmware includes low-power modes and efficient resource management to extend operational time in orbit.
Easily adapt the project to support additional sensors or telemetry data by plugging into a modular data handling framework.
ComSatsP4 implements basic checksum verification to ensure the integrity of transmitted and received messages.
- Microcontroller with SPI or UART interface
- S-band transceiver module (e.g., SX1280 or CC2500)
- PCB-mounted custom S-band antenna
- Power supply (regulated 3.3V or 5V depending on MCU and transceiver)
- Basic components (resistors, capacitors)
- AES encryption for secure communication
- Dynamic frequency hopping
- Redundant communication links
- Integration with onboard sensors for real-time telemetry
- Full integration into CubeSat onboard computer (OBC)
This project is open source under the MIT License. Feel free to use it, modify it, and adapt it to your own satellite missions!