In recent years the Sultanate has witnessed a number of tropical cyclones which, although different in landing and impact, have highlighted the importance of early preparedness from various concerned agencies.

Given the significance of this matter to society, SQU has taken action in this regard: a satellite built by a student team from the College of Engineering to track the movement of cyclones approaching the Sultanate, and send an early warning to the competent authorities.

The team included three students majoring in electricity and computer science: Ali Al Shamli, Abdul Aziz Al Qamshoui, and Louay Al Yaqoubi. They made a small cube-shaped satellite that takes pictures of clouds around the Sultanate. It consists of three main parts: a power system, communication system, and control system.

The students began their project from the ideas stage where they searched for information about satellites, their types, elements and the factors that affect them in outer space. Then, they developed a prototype and made comparisons of the internal tools and parts of satellites in terms of energy saving, also taking the cost factor into account.

Next, they made a list of components, some of which had to be imported from abroad, such as cameras, and others acquired from electrical appliance shops in the Sultanate. They designed the outer structure and printed it at a company specialized in 3D design, and then programmed the satellite parts such as the main controller and camera. In the final stage, they installed all the parts inside it.

The student team showcased their project at several events, including the Sandan Festival, which was held in the Halban region, where it received appreciation from investors and visitors alike. It was also selected by ABET for evaluating projects, as one of the best graduation projects. In addition to a good environment, the University also provided sufficient financial support to complete the satellite project. The students are now planning to showcase the project at schools and make simple models. They hope to develop their project into a more sophisticated and integrated satellite, and participate in local, regional and international competitions.