Automation of Ground Station using Open-Source software

This article presents an automated ground station built entirely with open-source software and lightweight hardware. A Python-based system integrates orbital propagation using the SKYFIELD model, antenna rotator control through real-time azimuth and elevation calculations, and reception/decoding of telemetry and weather images via SatDump. Two-Line Element (TLE) data from public sources are used to compute satellite passes, including Arrival of Signal (AoS), Loss of Signal (LoS), and Time of Closest Approach (TCA), with sub-second accuracy. These predictions directly drive antenna rotors while reception tasks are automated through external tools. To extend usability, the system integrates Internet of Things (IoT) functionality, enabling received data to be uploaded to the cloud for storage and analysis. A mobile-friendly control panel allows users to operate and monitor the ground station remotely, while received satellite data can also be accessed directly on mobile devices. Validated on Raspberry Pi, the system is low-cost, portable, and scalable, providing a practical approach to ground station automation for research, education, and small-scale satellite communication projects.