Transcript Proposal Presentation - Wright State engineering

HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOON
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Elizabeth Kalbacher
Matthew Woytek
Mitch Hubbs
Andrea Herman
Faculty Advisors:
Joseph Slater, PhD, PE
Mitch Wolff, PhD
Group 2
April 19, 2016
Outline
■
Introduction
■
Background
– High altitude winds
– Previous flights data analysis
■
Design Criteria
– Station keeping and automation
■
Project Scope
■
Approach and Expected Results
– Ascent Method Design Concept Options
– Helium Venting Valve Concept
– Command Module
■
Next Steps
■
Budget
■
Summary
■
Questions
Introduction
■ WSU has 35 previous flights focusing on ballute
■ 2012-2013 originated station keeping
■ Amateur radios for emergency communications
– Limited by range
– Repeater stations can increase range
■ Goals: Maintain altitude for 24 hours within 100 mile radius
■ Problems: Ascent method, environmental conditions, and retrieval
■ Target: 3 successful launches next semester
Background: High Altitude Environment
■ Stratosphere (between
65,000 – 160,000 ft)
■ Can be divided into
layers of winds with
different speeds and
direction
■ Lower speed winds
between 60,000 –
80,000 feet
Figure 1: Wind Velocity Plot (1)
Background: Previous Flight Data
■ Near space versus
ground
environmental
conditions
■ Affect on flight
(ascent rate,
groundspeed)
Background: Previous Flight Data
Design Criteria
■ Stop ascent at 70,000 ft.
■ Maintain altitude for 24 hours.
– 100 mile radius
■ Transmit location and save data during the flight.
■ Automated cut down of control module, with manual backup
■ Recover control module
■ FAA regulations
■ Environmental conditions
Project Scope
■ Goal: Complete three launches that remain at 70,000 ft for 24 hours.
– Stop ascent (helium valve)
– Small altitude changes to take advantage of wind layers
■
–
–
–
–
Helium and ballast valves.
Decision making capability
Mathematical model for the ascent of the balloon.
Cut down in extenuating circumstances
Position tracking and backups to retrieve the command module.
■ Does not include repeater equipment
– Dummy load
Ascent Method Concepts
Concept
Pro’s
Description
Fan/Pump Fan can move air into the
•
with
balloon to increase the balloon
•
Venting density, acting as ballast.
Valve
Tow
Balloon
Two balloons lift the payload
instead of one. Cut-down of
second balloon close to
65,000 ft.
Helium
Vent Valve
Valve at the mouth of balloon
(Low
to vent Helium to reduce lift.
Pressure
Valve)
•
•
•
•
•
Con’s
No liquid ballast (weight)
•
Better altitude control (no limit
on ballast)
•
Controlled ascent rate
Neutral buoyancy after tow
balloon cut-down
Previous successful station
keeping
Can overfill balloon
Serves as maintenance
altitude control (with liquid
ballast)
Polyethylene film balloon
needed
Most complex concept
•
Rubbing between balloons
Rigging issues
Accurately measure Helium
inflow rate
Can’t change altitude
•
•
•
Potential sticking at -40 °C
Liquid ballast needed
Adds weight to payload
•
•
•
Selected Ascent Method Concept:
Helium Venting Valve
■ Zero pressure ballooning for station keeping involves:
– Expensive polyethylene film balloon
– Specific volume of a low-density gas
– Designed to maintain a desired altitude based on a predetermined volumetric
capacity of the balloon and the weight of the payload
■ Goal: Provide altitude control by simulating a "zero-pressure" flight with a latex balloon
■ Description: Venting valve at the bottom of the balloon that receives commands from
the payload.
■ Controls lift by letting helium out of the balloon
Prior Work: Montana University
Figure 2: Montana University's Altitude vs. Time Flight Data with
"Zero-Pressure" Valve (2)
Model Support for Helium Venting Valve
■ Feasibility of Helium Venting Valve
Concept
– Helium would not release at
ground level
– Changes in external pressure,
volume, and strain on balloon
■ Pin – Pout α Stress in Balloon
■ Nonlinear strain for elastic materials
■ Determined change in pressure
difference v. altitude
Command Module Design
■ Decision making
– Initiate helium valve to stop ascent based on altitude
– Control helium valve duty cycle based on ascent rate compared to model
– Control helium and ballast valves to alter altitude to control drift
– Be able to terminate flight on its own
■ Power supply
■ GPS tracking
■ Locating pay-load after flight
Next Steps
■ Complete command module
– Programming
– Hardware
■ Design and build Helium vent valve and ballast system
■ Testing: temperature, vacuum, drop
■ Successfully launch and receive data to improve launch
Budget
Cost Per Item Needed
Cost Per Item In
Possession
Quantity
Needed
$120
-
3
$93.50
-
$500.00
1
4
-
$20.50
1
$15.00
-
1
Rtrak-HAB v1.10
-
$235.00
1
FTDI Basic Breakout-5V
-
$15.00
1
*Rechargeable Battery Pack
$35.00
-
2
*Material for Ballast
$30.00
-
1
Item Description
1600 g Latex Balloon
Helium Tank
Radios
Arduino Pro 328P 5V/16 MH
*Material for Helium Valve
*Subject to Change
Total Cost of Items
Needed
$568.50
Total Cost
$2,839.00
Summary
■ Introduction
■ Background
– High altitude winds
– Previous flights data analysis
■ Design Criteria - Station keeping and automation
■ Project Scope
■ Approach and Expected Results
– Ascent Method Design Concept Options
– Helium Venting Valve
– Command Module
■ Next Steps
■ Budget
References
■ (1) Department of Atmospheric Science. University of Wyoming. College of
Engineering. (2016). Retrieved from:
http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html
■ (2) Basta, T., Miller, S., Motley, J., Murray, N., Larimer, R., Knighton, B., (2014).
Developing a Zero-Pressure Flight System. Montana State University, Bozeman,
MT: Academic High Altitude Conference, June 27, North Dakota
■ (3) Eziolisa, Odera., Hardacre, Dale., Wilson, Kaneisha. "High Altitude Balloon
Proposal," (2012), P31-32, Retrieved from:
http://cecs.wright.edu/balloon/index.php/2012-2013
Questions?