|
| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: How to make a requirements sheet |
| 3 | +nav_order: 4 |
| 4 | +parent: How-to guides |
| 5 | +layout: default |
| 6 | +lang: en |
| 7 | +--- |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +# How to Make a Requirements Sheet for the On-Board Computer Team (Templates Included) |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +## Overview |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +This guide explains how to create a comprehensive requirements sheet for the On-Board Computer (OBC) team in an educational CubeSat project. |
| 15 | + |
| 16 | +Having a well-structured requirements sheet ensures clarity of the OBC's functions, aligns team goals, and prevents miscommunication during the development process. |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +## Before you start |
| 19 | + |
| 20 | +Before you begin creating a requirements sheet, ensure: |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +- You have reviewed the CubeSat mission objectives and payload requirements. |
| 23 | +- The team has agreed on the overall system architecture and subsystems interface. |
| 24 | +- You understand the relevant industry standards (e.g., ECSS or NASA standards) for CubeSat design. |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +## Creating a Requirements Sheet |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +The purpose of this task is to provide a clear, traceable, and actionable document for the OBC team that defines what the system must achieve and the constraints it must operate within. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +Follow these steps to create the requirements sheet: |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | +1. **Define the mission objectives.** |
| 33 | + Write down the high-level goals of the CubeSat mission, as these will directly influence the OBC's requirements. |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | + Example: |
| 36 | + *"The mission will collect and transmit 10MB of data per day to the ground station using a UHF transceiver."* |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | + **Result**: The OBC team knows the data processing and transmission capabilities needed. |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | +2. **Identify key functional requirements.** |
| 41 | + Write clear, concise statements describing what the OBC must do. Use measurable and verifiable terms. |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | + **Examples**: |
| 44 | + - The OBC must process and store payload data at a rate of 1MB/s. |
| 45 | + - The OBC must communicate with the EPS (Electrical Power System) every 5 seconds to monitor power levels. |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +3. **List performance requirements.** |
| 48 | + Specify quantitative parameters the OBC must meet. |
| 49 | + |
| 50 | + **Examples**: |
| 51 | + - The OBC must operate at a nominal voltage of 3.3V ± 5%. |
| 52 | + - The OBC must maintain functionality in a temperature range of -20°C to +50°C. |
| 53 | + |
| 54 | +4. **Define interface requirements.** |
| 55 | + Identify how the OBC will interact with other subsystems (e.g., ADCS, EPS, payload). |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | + **Examples**: |
| 58 | + - The OBC must receive attitude control commands from the ADCS at a rate of 10Hz. |
| 59 | + - The OBC must send battery level data to the ground station once every 10 minutes. |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +5. **Include constraints and limitations.** |
| 62 | + Define any physical, budgetary, or operational limits that will influence the OBC design. |
| 63 | + |
| 64 | + **Examples**: |
| 65 | + - The OBC must not exceed a power consumption of 2W during nominal operations. |
| 66 | + - The OBC PCB size must fit within 90mm x 90mm. |
| 67 | + |
| 68 | +6. **Verify and validate requirements.** |
| 69 | + Add a section to track how each requirement will be tested or verified. |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | + **Example**: |
| 72 | + - **Verification**: The OBC will undergo thermal vacuum testing to ensure it meets temperature tolerance requirements. |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +### Sub-tasks |
| 75 | + |
| 76 | +If the requirements process is complex, you can divide the task into smaller parts, such as: |
| 77 | + |
| 78 | +- Gathering input from other subsystems. |
| 79 | +- Validating requirements with the entire CubeSat team. |
| 80 | +- Iterating on the requirements document based on reviews. |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | +## See also |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | +- [CubeSat Design Specification (CDS)](https://www.cubesat.org/specifications) |
| 85 | +- [NASA Systems Engineering Handbook](https://www.nasa.gov/seh) |
| 86 | +- [ECSS Standards for Space Systems](https://ecss.nl/) |
| 87 | + |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | + |
| 90 | +[Previous]({{site.url}}/get-started/reference.html){: .btn .btn-purple } |
| 91 | +[Next]({{site.url}}/get-started/download-files.html){: .btn} |
0 commit comments