Input from Reid

What is BMS, why does it matter, why do we need to test it

Specific → examples

What am I gonna be doing (gonna be doing this over the next few weeks, trying to not blow up the batteries since Reid asked nicely…)

Structure

Who am I?

• Quick note: this is my interpretation and for specific project, and definitely ask me any questions

What is a BMS?

• Battery management system
• Monitors battery — voltages, currents, temperatures, capacity
• Protects battery — battery go boom = bad (obviously)
• Charges battery — no battery = bad (li-ion are quite particular about charging process)
• Fun fact, it can forcefully blow a fuse for you, but useless in space. → slightly exploded dead satellite functionally equivalent to not exploded dead satellite to us :/

Why do we want to test our BMS?

• BMS actually works as intended — can’t exactly fix stuff in space
• Measure parameters — i.e. how BMS responds under certain conditions (such as temperature under short circuit)
• Secondary objective (may not be applicable to other plans): write calibration procedures)

What is a test plan/why do we bother writing one? — how are we testing X.

• Standardized