Project Outline

Version 1.3, 2009-04-26

High Level Outline:

Low Level Outline:

• 1. What

     1. 1. Lift a glider to 90,000 - 100,000 ft (17-19 miles) with a balloon, then release glider

        2. Glider flies pre-programmed course back to launch point autonomously in a reliable and reusable manner

• • 1. Ability to carry modular payload with various equipment onboard

• 2. Why

• • • 1. Because it’s a really cool project!

      2. For the challenge and learning experience.

      3. To take pictures and video to see the blackness of space and the curvature of earth

      4. To merge several hobby/professional interests into one complex project.

      5. Bring family and friends together around a common project

      6. To exercise collaboration across geography and multiple disciplines.

      7. Could be commercialized (investment recovery!) and use for atmospheric research, surveillance, experiments.

      8. Resume builder

• 3. Who

• • • 1. Project Manager, Hardware Lead, Glider, Logistics: Andy

      2. Aero:

      3. Support:

      4. Funding: Andy, Jeremy

      5. Fabrication: Andy, Jeremy

      6. Software lead, Electronics lead, Balloon: Jeremy

      7. Software:

      8. Electronics:

      9. Public Relations:

      10. Anyone else who is interested and would like to help out along the way.

      11. Need to outline "spirit of the project" for others as they join in the project. (Level of detail, pace, why we're doing it, who manages what.)

• 4. When

• • • 1. In the next few years, as time allows.

      2. Schedule based on launch windows.

• 5. Where

• • • 1. Starting in MN, but able to be deployed anywhere

• 6. How

• • • 1. Estimate scope and resources

      2. Build a team, assign priorities and tasks, communicate

      3. Keep checking things off the list until it’s done

      4. Keep it simple, but modular and expandable, and stay focused on shortest path to success

• 7. Collaboration Techniques (J)

• • • 1. Web accessible, easy to download and use as a reference, easy to update and re-upload, date/time stamps with revision control and history would be nice.

      2. Main page is this outline. Two options for each major section: current plan (public viewable) and R&D (team viewable/editable)

      3. Use a free online service WIKI style (so we don’t have to maintain our own), with backups to our local computers. Wikipedia style, or styles used by open source Linux project pages.

      4. Guest – view most stuff, admin A&J, other team members access as required

      5. See www.gliffy.com

• 8. Similar projects

• • • 1. GPS Boomerang – Databird (www.gpsboomerang.com)

      2. Altitude: 20,000 ft | Glider Weight: 9.5 oz | Paylod: 5-11 oz | Wingspan: 25 inch | Glide slope: 5:1 below 30,000 ft |

      3. Space Glider Project (http://innovationrobotics.com/SpaceGliderProject.html)

      4. High Altitude Glider Project MK1 (http://members.shaw.ca/sonde/index.htm)

      5. AMSAT and High Altitude Balloons (http://www.amsat.org/amsat/balloons/balloon.htm)

      6. Find NOAA and similar publications to gain insight into the needs and requirements of this field.

• • 1. Killerbee - very efficient design - http://engineeringtv.com/blogs/etv/archive/2008/08/12/killerbee-uav.aspx

       1. http://diydrones.com/ and the http://arduino.cc/ based autopilot and ardupilot

    2. Micro Air Vehicle (hover with ducted fan) - Honeywell - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_air_vehicle

    3. http://soaring.goosetechnologies.com/

    4. http://autopilot.sourceforge.net/

    5. HARP - High Altitude Radio Project

• • • 1. http://www.parallax.com/tabid/569/Default.aspx

      2. http://www.parallax.com/tabid/567/Default.aspx Near Space - Online Book

      3. High Altitude Photographic Balloon www.hapb.net

      4. Amatuer Radio High Altitude Ballooning: http://www.ARHAB.org

      5. The Papparazzi Project

      6. PicoPilot by u-nav.com - BASIC stamp controller $500-$700, uses gyros, 5-50 MPH, up to 15,000 ft.

• • 6. www.procerusuav.com

• 9. Regulations and Restrictions (A)

• • • 1. FAA, Unmanned Free Balloons are covered under section 101 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) along with Moored Balloons, Kites and Unmanned Rockets.

      2. Launch locations and airspace restrictions, no-fly zone

      3. Separable balloon and payload OK?

      4. Acceptable payloads

      5. Radar reflector

      6. Permits required, authorizations, costs

      7. Launch windows in terms of seasons and times (drives schedule)

      8. http://www.rcapa.net/guidelines.htm

• • 1. FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policies

       1. FAA Advisory Circular for Model Aircraft Operating Standards

• 10. Ground Crew and Equipment (J)

• • • 1. People, logistics – 2 people required, but all are welcome to help

      2. Equipment – prefer one ground vehicle needed

      3. Antenna – auto tracking. Idea: small dish with 1 primary receiver antenna and 4 direction sensing antennas mounted NSEW of primary antenna in the same head.

      4. One laptop w or w/o internet connection, Linux, USB or serial connections, minimal hardware

• 11. Mission Planning (A)

• • • 1. Temperatures and winds aloft (radiation?)

      2. Flight planning

      3. Pre-launch predictions

      4. In-flight prediction (ascent and descent)

      5. This is a key feature: glider can cover a lot of ground and basically go wherever it is programmed

      6. Loiter and maximize time aloft – act as a repeater

• 12. Balloon (J)

• • • 1. Balloon sourcing, handling, cost, availability

      2. Helium sourcing, handling, cost, availability

• 13. Separation Mechanism (A)

• • • 1. Is this OK to do?

      2. Recover the balloon if only used for lower altitude photography

      3. Ability to rapidly deploy and re-deploy same day

• 14. Glider Design (A)

• • • 1. Detail the weight requirements first

      2. Design using X-Plane

      3. Aero and wings: reusable, stabilization from 100K ft to SL, ride thermals and climb, stabilize ascent (rotation, swinging)

      4. Payload bay

      5. Controls: simple, light, reliable

      6. Future: propulsion onboard glider?

      7. Along the lines of blended wing body: www.smartfish.ch

      8. What about the U2 with long skinny high-altitude wings?

• 15. Control Electronics (J)

• • • 1. Flight control computer and autopilot. How about using a Commodore 64 on-a-chip to control it?

      2. GPS - altimeter

      3. Accelerometers

      4. Compass to indicate glider orientation, especially during ascent

      5. Pitot tube and static port for redundancy

      6. Remote control link (real-time flying, flight plan updates)

      7. Software for autonomous control, pre-programmed flight path parameters

      8. Power Source

      9. Antennas – reliably maintain communication throughout the entire mission

      10. Temperature control

      11. Eaglesoft Electronics Design: http://www.cadsoft.de/

      12. System Architecture: Rough Draft

• 16. Payload (J)

• • • 1. Do something useful so we want to do it again, and could profit from it

      2. Compatible with existing telemetry and sensor packages used today

      3. Video and stills with pan-tilt

      4. Real-time video feedback

      5. Real-time location tracking, system performance

      6. Uplink and downlink

      7. Antennas

      8. Un-obstructed view forward, up, horizontal, and down

17. Project Name

1. Project "Come Back".

2. Luft Roboter.

3. NavBack or NaviBack.