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

Altit

ude

(ft)

1 Mile

Commercial

Aircraft

Concord U2

SR-71

High Altitude Ballo

on

LEO Satel

lites

0

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.

Can a High Altitude Balloon serve as an emergency

communications platform?

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

Resources

•Personnel• Facilities and Equipment

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

Project Costs

• Fiscal• Time

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

The End