Comparative Analysis of Magnetic Cage Designs for CubeSat ADCS Validation

The Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) is critical for ensuring the precise orientation and stability of CubeSats during missions. Failures in ADCS can lead to mission failure, highlighting the need for rigorous pre-launch testing. Ground testing facilities play a crucial role in validating ADCS performance by simulating space-like conditions. Magnetic cages, such as Helmholtz and Merritt coils, are important for replicating the magnetic field conditions of space, enabling thorough testing and validation of ADCS components like sensors, actuators, and control algorithms. This paper compares magnetic cage designs, including circular and square Helmholtz cages and Merritt coils with 3, 4, and 5 coil configurations. These designs are evaluated through simulations to assess magnetic field uniformity. Active magnetic field cancellation is implemented using a PID controller, with control gains tuned using both standard tools and a genetic algorithm (GA), contributing to improved cancellation precision and overall system robustness. Additionally, structural analysis is performed to evaluate mechanical stability and design practicality. The paper also reviews current research and best practices in designing and testing magnetic cages for CubeSat ADCS validation, identifying gaps in existing methodologies and suggesting improvements to enhance the performance and reliability of magnetic field simulation in ADCS testbeds.