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| Titel |
Stratochip, a dual balloon high-altitude platform: controlled altitude flight experiments and potential applications in geosciences. |
| VerfasserIn |
Christian Burlet, Yves Vanbrabant |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2014
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 16 (2014) |
| Datensatznummer |
250100397
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 EGU/EGU2014-16356.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| A high-altitude dual balloons system, the “Stratochip”, was designed at the Geological
Survey of Belgium to serve as a development platform to carry measurement and earth
observation equipments, in altitudes comprised between 1000 and 25000m. These working
altitudes far exceed the range of current motor powered unmanned aerial vehicules, with
a higher weight carrying capacity (up to 10-15kg). This platform is built around
a two helium balloons configuration, than can be released one by one at a target
altitude or location, allowing a partially controlled drift of the platform. Using a
“nowcasting” meteorological model, updated by flight telemetry, the predicted
path can be refined live to follow and retrieve the equipment in a predicted landing
area.
All subsystems (balloon cut-off devices, flight controller, telemetry system) have been
developed in-house. Three independent communication channels, designed to work at
extremely low temperature (up to -60°C) ensure a continuous tracking until landing. A
calibrated parachute is used to control the safe descent of the equipment.
Several flight tests have been performed in Belgium to control the meteorological model
accuracy for wind predictions (model based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration data). Those tests demonstrated the capability of the platform to maintain its
altitude in a predicted path, allowing using the platform for new types of atmospheric studies
and affordable high-altitude remote-sensing applications (i.e. sub-meter resolution stereo
imagery). |
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