Altitude control of a remote-sensing balloon platform

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of altitude control of stratospheric balloon platforms. Over the last years, there has been an increasing interest in the development of balloon platforms with the ability of maneuvering and fluctuating at the stratosphere for different applications on the basis of remote-sensing. Considering the current trend of a high connected world with sensor grids spread in wide geographical areas, the interest in balloon platform applications has increased posing new challenges for future applications. One of the major problems encountered in this context is how to guarantee constant altitude sustainability. Although the technologies required to address this problem already exist, low cost and easy to launch solutions are still needed considering applications on a wide scale. In this work, a theoretical model of the balloon dynamic is presented and validated. A valve control loop mechanism is proposed for rubber balloons. The controller is tuned empirically and numerical simulations conducted for performance analysis and a case study in a real mission. The proposed solution contributes to increase the capacity of rubber balloons by proposing an altitude control system that allows fluctuation stages which, in general, are not common with this type of balloon.

[1]  Özgün Yücel,et al.  Simulation and control of serviceable stratospheric balloons traversing a region via transport phenomena and PID , 2016 .

[2]  Lanchuan Zhang,et al.  A method of 3-D region controlling for scientific balloon long-endurance flight in the real wind , 2020 .

[3]  Renato Alves Borges,et al.  Design Analysis of a New On-Board Computer for the LAICAnSat Platform , 2019, 2019 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

[4]  Francisco Cristóvão Lourenço de Melo,et al.  High-Altitude Platforms — Present Situation and Technology Trends , 2016 .

[5]  Alessandro Golkar,et al.  Experiential Systems Engineering Education Concept Using Stratospheric Balloon Missions , 2020, IEEE Systems Journal.

[6]  Alexandre Bernardino,et al.  Vision based station keeping and docking for an aerial blimp , 2000, Proceedings. 2000 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2000) (Cat. No.00CH37113).

[7]  Alejandro Aragn-Zavala,et al.  High-altitude platforms for wireless communications , 2008 .

[8]  Francisco Artigas,et al.  Balloon imagery verification of remotely sensed Phragmites australis expansion in an urban estuary of New Jersey, USA , 2010 .

[9]  I. S. Smith,et al.  The NASA Balloon Program: looking to the future , 2004 .

[10]  Simone Battistini,et al.  System identification of a square parachute and payload for the LAICAnSat , 2015, 2015 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

[11]  Juanli Ma,et al.  Numerical evaluation of station-keeping strategies for stratospheric balloons , 2018, Aerospace Science and Technology.

[12]  Xiaojian Li,et al.  Performance simulation of high altitude scientific balloons , 2012 .

[13]  W. Jones,et al.  Evolution of scientific ballooning and its impact on astrophysics research , 2014 .

[14]  Yueneng Yang,et al.  Positioning control for stratospheric satellites subject to dynamics uncertainty and input constraints , 2019, Aerospace Science and Technology.

[15]  Lanchuan Zhang,et al.  Energy management strategy design and station-keeping strategy optimization for high altitude balloon with altitude control system , 2019, Aerospace Science and Technology.

[16]  Chantal Cappelletti,et al.  Development of a meteorology and remote sensing experimental platform: The LAICAnSat-1 , 2014, 2014 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

[17]  Fotini-Niovi Pavlidou,et al.  Broadband communications via high-altitude platforms: a survey , 2005, IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials.

[18]  Chantal Cappelletti,et al.  LAICAnSat-5: A mission for recording the total solar eclipse from the stratosphere , 2018, 2018 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

[19]  Isabel Pérez-Grande,et al.  Selection of extreme environmental conditions, albedo coefficient and Earth infrared radiation, for polar summer Long Duration Balloon missions , 2018, Acta Astronautica.

[20]  Nathan Slegers,et al.  Development and Testing of the Miniature Aerial Delivery System Snowflake , 2009 .

[21]  P. Voss,et al.  Altitude control of long-duration balloons , 2005 .

[22]  T. Gregory Guzik,et al.  The high altitude student platform (HASP) for student-built payloads , 2006 .

[23]  Lanchuan Zhang,et al.  Station-keeping performance analysis for high altitude balloon with altitude control system , 2019, Aerospace Science and Technology.

[24]  Renato Alves Borges,et al.  Development of an Actuator for an Airdropped Platform Landing System , 2020, 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

[25]  Alexandra Moutinho,et al.  Airship Hover Stabilization Using a Backstepping Control Approach , 2006 .

[26]  Renato Alves Borges,et al.  Trajectory control system for the LAICAnSat-3 mission , 2017, 2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

[27]  Takeshi Imamura,et al.  Scientific Ballooning: Technology and Applications of Exploration Balloons Floating in the Stratosphere and the Atmospheres of Other Planets , 2009 .

[28]  Joseph A. Shaw,et al.  Multispectral imaging systems on tethered balloons for optical remote sensing education and research , 2012 .

[29]  Weiliang He,et al.  Ascending performance analysis for high altitude zero pressure balloon , 2017 .