Summer 2023 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award

Fall/ Winter 2022 Honorary Title: "Member of Dean's Honor Roll"

Fall/ Winter 2022 Lassonde Scholarship: "Lassonde Scholar"

Fall/ Winter 2022 KPM Power Bursary

Fall/ Winter 2021 York University Continuing Student Scholarship 

Fall/ Winter 2021 Honorary Title: "Member of Dean's Honor Roll"

Fall/ Winter 2021 Lassonde Scholarship: "Lassonde Scholar"

Fall/ Winter 2021 KPM Power Bursary

Fall/ Winter 2021 Lassonde Entrance Scholarship

Fall/ Winter 2021 York University Automatic Entrance Scholarship 

The attitude determination subsystem is an essential requirement for all satellites as it is responsible for determining their orientation [2]. Among the various sensors used for attitude determination, the star sensor, commonly known as a star tracker, stands out as the most accurate [1]. Properly implemented star trackers can achieve sub-arcsecond accuracy. A star tracker is an optical sensor that utilizes a pattern recognition algorithm to identify stars and calculate the satellite's attitude based on the sub-pixel locations of these stars, known as the "lost in space" mode (LIS) [1,3]. However, the LIS mode often suffers from a lower update rate, necessitating the development of a secondary mode called tracking mode [3]. 

Tracking mode offers a higher update rate without the need to re-identify the stars. Once the initial attitude is established, tracking mode can be activated, allowing for attitude updates based on observed star displacements without the need to resolve the stars [3] In this work, tracking mode for a low-resolution and high field of view (FOV) star tracker is presented. The results aim to provide an accurate and high-update-rate attitude determination system for nanosatellite applications.

The tracking mode implementation alongside another lab member's LIS mode (Gabriel Chianelli, MSc Student) will create a comprehensive attitude determination subsystem for the CSA funded RSOnar 2 stratospheric balloon mission payload. This mission will demonstrate the performance of the technology using real-time data, with an anticipated accuracy better than a degree and update rate of 10 Hz for up to 6 minutes before transitioning back to LIS mode. Furthermore, the successful implementation of this will not only showcase the technology's performance but will also pave the way for future opportunities to contribute to the advancement of attitude-determination systems in upcoming satellite missions.

[1] M. Y. Sun, X. L. Zou, C. F. Wang, and L. X. Wu, "Optimal attitude determination algorithm for star tracker," Journal of Aerospace Engineering, vol. 34, no. 4, p. 04021065, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42405-021-00432-5#:~:text=A%20star%20tracker%20is%20one,on%20its%20size%20and%20purpose

[2] B. Wie, V. Lappas, and J. Gil-Fernández, "Attitude and Orbit Control Systems," in The International Handbook of Space Technology, M. Macdonald and V. Badescu (eds.), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2014, pp. 289-318. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41101-4_12 

[3] A. Mantri and S. P. Dharmatti, "Design and implementation of a star tracker-based attitude determination system," SN Applied Sciences, vol. 1, no. 11, p. 1351, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-019-1530-0#:~:text=A%20star%20tracker%20works%20in,or%20when%20a%20system%20fails.

In the summer of 2022, I took part in an interdisciplinary project aiming to address food security challenges in Woburn, Scarborough ON.  Throughout this project we divided ourselves into teams, each focusing on a slightly different task. I was part of "Team Knitters" and throughout the project, we collaborated with the Woburn community to tackle the problem of food insecurity in the end, we were able to create a seed library for the Woburn community to receive the necessary resources to grow their own food. I highly encourage checking out the full website to understand the full scope of the project.

Summer Camp Presentations, York University 

• Presented with a group on the engineering design possess for grade 7/8 science summer camp 

• Ran an educational activity where the participants  created their own sundial following the engineering design process  

Highschool Outreach Presentation, Aurora Ontario

• Presented to 11th and12th grade high school students on space systems engineering and Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

• Ran Educational activities to teach about CubeSat missions

Satellites and You, Ontario Science Center

• Worked as a part of a team to present and educate children on the importance of space situational awareness

• Ran educational activities to promote STEM  education

Westminster House Kitchen Volunteer, New West, BC 

• Worked as part of a team setting up and preparing meals

• Served meals to clients

Uptown Live, New West, BC

• Worked as part of a team setting up and cleaning up

• Patrolled roads 

Grand Prix Bike Race, New West, BC

• Worked as part of a team setting up for the race

Westminster House Car Washes, New West, BC

• Worked as part of a team, selling raffle tickets and raising money for house funding 

• Practiced street advertising 

• Washed cars

Earl Marriott Park Clean-up, Surrey, BC

• Worked on a team to clean up and pick up garbage from a local park 

Assistance Dance Instructor, Xtreme Cheer and Dance, Langley, BC

• Worked with small children, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all.

• Practiced patients and assisted the instructor to teach new routines