communication with a high altitude balloon team hab-comm: ryan overmanbrian thomas thomas...
TRANSCRIPT
Communication With aHigh Altitude Balloon
Team HAB-Comm:Ryan Overman Brian ThomasThomas Rawls Trenton Katter
Agenda
• Introduction – Thomas Rawls
• Background– Trenton Katter
• Challenges and Proposed Solutions– Ryan Overman
• Schedule and Resources– Brian Thomas
• Summary– Thomas Rawls
• Questions
Background
• WSU’s High Altitude Balloon project:– Began in 2005 and has received funding through
NASA, AFRL, the National Science Foundation, and the Ohio Space Grant Consortium.
– It is multi-disciplinary.– It is interested in studying near-space and its
potential applications.
What is “Near-Space?”
• Near-space is a region of our atmosphere between 65,000 and 350,000 ft.• The air is thin, dry, and cold.
Common Altitudes
1 Mile
Commercial
Aircraft
Concord U2
SR-71
High Altitude B
alloon
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
5280
33000
6000070000
85000
100000
Series1
Alti
tude
(ft)
1 Mile
Commercial A
ircraft
Concord U2
SR-71
High Altitude Balloon
LEO Satellit
es0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
528033000
60000 70000 85000 100000
633600
Series1
Altit
ude
(ft)
Common Altitudes
Previous Groups Have:
• Previous Successes include:o A controlled ground antenna.o Ability to transmit video from air-to-
ground.o Development of a Software Defined Radio
system that can be used for air-to-ground communication.
o Others
Our Objective
• To develop a reliable ground-to-air communication system and demonstrate its functionality by releasing a package on command.
Our Scope
Our scope does NOT include:- integrating the two communication systems.- designing the release mechanism.- responsibility for steering the ground antenna.
Our scope is limited to:- designing the electronics to reliably receive a signal at the balloon at a height of 100,000 ft. and a radius of 100 miles.
Approach
• Licensed Ham Operation– Each member of HAB-Comm capable of operating
radio transmission• Ground test– 1 mile transmission at 4kbps with line of sight– Calculate theoretical power for implementation
• Launch balloon
Challenges
• Noise– Spectrum analysis from balloon in near-space– Frequency hopping communication system– Device on balloon selects quiet frequency,
transmits accordingly– Balloon antenna modification possibility
• Temperature– Select previously-tested electronic components
Results
• Reliable Ground-to-air communication system installed– Allows future ME and EE teams to install control
systems on the balloon– Future implementation of an integrated two-way
communication device• Significant step towards emergency system
implementation
Personnel
• HAB-Comm is comprised of 4 undergraduate electrical engineering students with varied background.
• Multiple Wright State University Professors as consultants: Dr. Wu (EE), Dr. Slater (ME), Dr. Gallagher (CEG)
Facilities and Equipment
• HIBAL Laboratory located in Russ 018• Transmit/Receive Antenna on the roof of Russ• Python/Linux based PCs• 50 W Power Supply of transmitting• Wiki Page running for 8 years documenting all
previous launches
Fiscal
• Receiver/Transmitter broadcasting HAM frequencies
• Batteries• RF Amplifier• Misc electronics
Time Frame
• Research and selection of electronic components –Sept 27th, 2013
• Design and test transmitter/receiver combo – Nov 15th, 2013
• Deliver a status report – Dec 6th, 2013• Communication device on balloon and launched – Jan
31st, 2014• Reconfigure device and second launch – March 16th,
2014• Deliver final presentation with results – April 21st, 2014
Design Considerations
• To develop a system that operates amidst ambient noise and extremely low temperatures.
• Investigation:– Clever filter design– Power amplification– Frequency hopping– Utilization of the air to ground communication– Antenna design/control
Summary
• Develop reliable communication system– Possible control of the release of the package
• Implement a cost effective system– Cheap, reliable emergency communication system
• Aid future HIBAL groups