Simulated Telemetry - alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim GitHub Wiki

The CubeSatSim can generate realistic simulated telemetry, in addition to real telemetry from real sensors.

Simulated telemetry can be useful if no sensor is present, such as the CubeSatSim Lite that has no built-in sensors, or it can be useful when generating real telemetry isn't convenient. For example, if you don't have sunlight or a lamp and turntable, simulated telemetry is more interesting than static values.

You can tell if simulated telemetry is happening by:

  • Listening to the CW ID when the CubeSatSim powers up. If you hear the letter S after the callsign, it means simulated telemetry is active. (You may also hear the letter C before the S which indicates that command and control is active.)
  • In FoxTelem, for FSK or BPSK mode, under Computer Software, it will say Simulated Telemetry ON
  • In APRS or CW Mode after the hi hi and the battery voltage and current, the letter S indicates that the telemetry is simulated. (You may also see the letter C before the S which indicates that command and control is active.)
  • In SSTV mode, the letter S after the callsign and battery voltage and current on Pi Camera images indicates that the telemetry is simulated.
  • Typing the command CubeSatSim/config in the Pi Zero 2 and looking for Simulated Telemetry is ON.

Simulated telemetry mode can be activated by either a configuration setting (typing the CubeSatSim/config -t command on the Pi Zero 2) or it can be automatically set if no sensors are detected. If simulated telemetry is automatically turned on, it will show Simulated Telemetry automatically turned ON with the CubeSatSim/config command.

For a CubeSatSim Lite simulated telemetry will be automatically turned on. However, automatic simulated telemetry will be turned off on the CubeSatSim Lite if any of these are true:

  • A Battery Board with a voltage and current sensor is plugged in, or
  • A Solar Board is plugged in, or
  • A BME or MPU sensor is connected using the Qwiic connector.

On a full CubeSatSim, simulated telemetry won't be turned on unless all of these are true:

  • No Pico is plugged into the Main board or the Pico isn't programmed, and
  • No Battery Board is plugged in, and
  • No Solar Board is plugged in.

Each time the CubeSatSim restarts, a new set of simulated parameters will be initialized, and then those values used to generate the simulated data over time. So to see another set of values, you can press and release the pushbutton and after the reboot, the telemetry data will be slightly different. For the interpretation of the simulated telemetry, see the TBD Simulated Telemetry Activity Guide.

For the simulated payload telemetry, the CubeSat may be in illumination or eclipse (i.e. in sunlight or darkness). It will switch between these modes as if it is orbiting the earth. For payload simulated telemetry, one of two possible configurations are chosen at random. One is simulated sensor telemetry if the CubeSatSim was in space, and the other is if the CubeSatSim is on the ground. You can switch between these modes by pressing and releasing the pushbutton which will randomly pick a new configuration.

For information about Simulated Failures Mode, see https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/wiki/Simulated-Failures