Developing Technology for Autonomous Control of Solar High-Altitude Balloons (SHABs)

reportActive / Technical Report | Accesssion Number: AD1213134 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Vented Solar High-Altitude Balloons (SHAB-Vs) utilize a lightweight balloon envelope with ideal thermal properties for absorbing direct solar radiation and heating the envelope and internal ambient airt hrough conduction and convection. These balloons therefore do not require a lifting gas to generate lift,and are a simple, inexpensive, passive form of high-altitude balloon flight. Until recently, SHABs have not had venting capabilities and been strictly free floating for high altitude science missions. We design,develop, and evaluate novel hardware, software, and guidance navigation and control (GNC) algorithms for autonomous solar high-altitude balloons (SHABs). The ability to change the altitude of the SHABs can lead to more sophisticated maneuvers in the future such as station-keeping or waypoint trajectory following by leveraging opposing winds at various layers of the atmosphere.

Author(s):
Schuler, Tristan
Author Organization(s):
NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC
Funding Organization(s):
NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC, WASHINGTON, DC
Document Type:
Technical Report/Memorandum Report
Publication Date:
2023 Oct 10
Pagination:
16

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution Code:
A - Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement: Public Release.
Copyright: Not Copyrighted

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Descriptor(s):
military research, altimeters, artificial intelligence, navigation, computational fluid dynamics, fluid dynamics, high altitude, inertial measurement units, motion planning, solar radiation, guidance, information operations, information warfare, radiation, simulations, standards, trajectories
Keyword(s):
SHAB-VS(Vented Solar High-Altitude Balloons)
Subject Categories:
Navigation, Detection and Countermeasures
Modernization Areas:
Space; Autonomy; AI and Machine Learning
Communities of Interest:
; ; ;
Descriptor(s):
artificial intelligence, military research, navigation, solar radiation, computational fluid dynamics, fluid dynamics, guidance, high altitude, inertial measurement units, motion planning, information operations, information warfare, radiation, simulations, trajectories, air force research laboratories, algorithms
Creation Date:
2023 Oct 18
Update Date:
2023 Oct 30