SSBV Magnetometer

This tri-axial magnetometer uses Anisotropic Magneto-Resistance (AMR) sensing, with AMR sensors co-located with drive electronics in a potted sensor head, ideally mounted at the end of a rigid boom. Closed-loop control improves overall linearity and limits sensitivity drift; the AMR driver holds the sensor at its optimum operating point for low-noise operation. The sensor outputs the three components of the magnetic field plus a temperature measurement.

In CubeSat applications the magnetometer forms part of the SSBV ACS board (I2C interface). In microsat applications the electronics is integrated with the sensor head for a compact unit powered from a single 5V line. Developed in collaboration with the Space and Atmospheric Physics Group of Imperial College London.