Open-Source, Low-Cost, and Bimodal Amateur Radio Communication Paradigm for Scientific CanSats

To facilitate the development of accessible space-bound robotic explorers, this work demonstrates a novel communication architecture intended for scientific CanSats. As low-cost terrestrial simulation platforms for orbital satellites, CanSats provide a valuable proving ground for new technologies or techniques. CanSats are also a considerably more accessible technological frontier than orbital CubeSats, as CanSats are lower in cost to develop and retain fewer operational requirements. Multiple low-cost CanSats and a simple Base Station were developed using Commercial-Off- The-Shelf (COTS) components. The bimodal modulation technique utilizes Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) as a means for transferring data packets between the devices, while the delay between multiple ASK trains modulates additional Pseudo Morse Code (PMC) information that is audibly decodable with a handheld amateur radio receiver or digitally with a Software Defined Radio (SDR). The presented framework could be a valuable addition to telemetry beacons for orbital satellites that are seeking to engage the open-source or amateur radio communities.