BIYSC project category: Engineering

  • Building Tomorrow’s Space Pioneers: Designing a PocketQube Satellite

    Building Tomorrow’s Space Pioneers: Designing a PocketQube Satellite

    Ready to build your own satellite? Join us in designing, developing, and testing a real PocketQube satellite! You’ll tackle challenges in space engineering, from power systems to communication protocols, while working with cutting-edge technology in our state-of-the-art facilities. Learn how these tiny 5cm cube satellites are revolutionizing space education and exploration.

    What?
    Students will engage in the complete development cycle of a PocketQube satellite, the world’s smallest operational satellite format. This hands-on project covers all aspects of satellite development, from initial concept to final testing phases.


    Why?
    PocketQubes represent the most accessible pathway to space, enabling students to gain real-world experience in satellite development at a fraction of traditional costs. This project addresses the growing need for skilled space engineers while democratizing access to space technology education.


    How?
    Using our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, students will:

    • Industry-grade testing equipment
    • Design satellite components using professional CAD software
    • Program onboard systems using industry-standard tools
    • Assemble and integrate satellite components in clean room conditions
    • Conduct environmental testing using professional equipment
    • Develop ground station communications protocols

    The project employs a mix of theoretical learning and practical implementation, featuring:

    • Daily hands-on laboratory sessions
    • Industry expert presentations
    • Team design reviews
    • Final project presentation

    Students will face real-world challenges in:

    • Power management for space applications
    • Thermal control in space environment
    • Communications system design
    • Attitude determination and control
    • Space mission planning

    Knowledge gained includes:

    • Spacecraft systems engineering
    • Space environment considerations
    • Project management skills
    • Technical documentation
    • Team collaboration in space projects

    Learning objectives

    • Master fundamental principles of satellite design and space systems engineering through hands-on PocketQube development
    • Develop practical skills in space technology, including CAD design, programming, and systems integration
    • Gain experience in project management and team collaboration within the space industry context

    Matching profiles

    The project is ideal for students interested in:

    • Aerospace Engineering
    • Electronic Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Computer Science
    • Physics
    • Robotics
    • Systems Engineering
    • Space Technology
    • Telecommunications
    • Project Management

    Required materials

    • Laptop with minimum 8GB RAM
    • Scientific calculator
    • Notebook and writing materials
    • USB drive (minimum 32GB)
    • Safety glasses (will be provided if needed)
    • Lab coat (will be provided)

  • Engineering Gaudí: Inhabiting sound, light, and space (from Lab to La Pedrera)

    Engineering Gaudí: Inhabiting sound, light, and space (from Lab to La Pedrera)

    The Engineering Gaudí  project harnesses the cutting-edge technological infrastructure of the IASlab at La Salle-URL to explore the architectural comfort in Gaudí’s works. Equipped with unique facilities – the anechoic chamber, the reverberation chamber, and the immersive room – the IASlab enables a holistic and integrated approach that combines sound and image to analyze and recreate Gaudí’s spaces. This technological privilege allows not only detailed analysis under controlled conditions but also transforms these findings into experiential and interactive studies.

    The anechoic and reverberation chamber will allow us to explore the acoustics of spaces under extreme conditions.  In the immersive room, acoustic comfort will converge with architectural recreations with natural light, creating a multisensory representation of the spaces. Simultaneously, the Design Studio will allow us to focus on Gaudí’s pioneering vision of comfort in architecture: spaces designed to achieve harmony between people and their environment, emphasizing sound, light, and temperature efficiency.

    Data will be collected in situ at La Pedrera throughout the project, allowing students and researchers to validate the research hypothesis using the IASlab facilities. This approach transforms the technological experience into an immersive study of Gaudí’s architectural comfort. This project bridges technology, science, and architecture to offer a groundbreaking reinterpretation of Gaudí’s legacy.

    Learning objectives

    • Use of Advanced Research Facilities for Engineering Analysis: Conduct experiments using the IASlab’s anechoic and reverberation chambers, immersive room, and design studio to study Gaudí’s architectural comfort.
    • Apply Several Engineering Concepts to Architectural Comfort: Analyze data from La Pedrera to evaluate the role of sound, light, and environmental harmony in Gaudí’s architectural design.
    • Bridge Engineering and Architecture in Research: Integrate engineering methods with architectural analysis to reinterpret Gaudí’s legacy through innovative experimentation.

    Matching profiles

    This project is addressed to students interested in Engineering and Architecture.

    Required materials

    • Smartphone
    • Laptop