Development of AMR magnetometer (MyUiTM-MAG) for UiTM nano-satellite ground-space integrated mission (G-SIM)

Three-axis magnetometer sensor based on anisotropic magneto resistance (AMR) plays vital roles in many scientific and industrial applications such as uses aboard spacecraft and satellites plus altitude sensing. The space environment with extreme vacuum and radiation conditions is one of the main reasons to implement AMR magnetometer as the space environment is highly hostile compared to the surface of the Earth. From the conventional satellites era to the nano-satellites concept, it seems to be that AMR magnetometer has a great response time characteristic compared to an old method of the magnetometer. Hence, making it crucial to develop an AMR magnetometer for nano-satellite that is invulnerable with radiation despite the use of its magnetic sensor for geomagnetic field mapping. By May 2018, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) will launch its own nano-satellite in space and the ground station installation is compulsory to observe the satellite. There are 6 missions involved in developing the UiTM Nano-Satellite Ground-Space Integrated Mission (G-SIM) and this project is classified as one of the missions which to comprehend the measurement ambient geomagnetic field. The similar features of AMR magnetometer will be installed at the ground station and space in order to study the coupling effect of the magnetic field from both ambients. The aim of this project is to collect H, D, Z, and F measurement data from the magnetometer sensor so that the microcontroller can process the information. Next, the measurement data will be stored in a micro SD memory card and will be displayed on a serial monitor for monitoring purpose. The measurement data of magnetic field retrieved from the sensor will be analyzed and compared with the World Magnetic Model (WMM) that demonstrates a prediction of magnetic field components throughout the globe.