Design and development of a CubeSat power control and distribution unit (PCDU) using commercial off-the-shelf components

Abstract

The Electric Power Subsystem (EPS) is critical to CubeSat missions. This paper presents the design, hardware prototype, and validation of a Power Control and Distribution Unit (PCDU) for a 6U CubeSat (CTIM), emphasizing modularity and the use of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components. We present mission-driven sizing, component trade-offs, a consolidated PCDU architecture, and experimental verification of protection, sensing, and point-of-load conversion. The design follows ECSS-relevant recommendations and includes battery sizing that explicitly accounts for conversion efficiencies and margins for ageing and degradation.