Research and Design¶

• FRDPRC Analysis
• Debrief Notes for Test Launch

Balloons¶

Types of high altitude balloons

• Latex weather balloon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_balloon
• Valved latex balloon
• Superpressure balloon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superpressure_balloon
• Zero pressure balloon - http://www.eoss.org/faq/zero_pressure.htm

Testing¶

• Impact test
  • The name of house guard in Höfðatorg is Albert S:6618467
    He said it will be no problem if we want to drop something of the roof for testing. The height of building is 74 m. Contact him one day before we want to do the test.
• Freezer test
• Water test
  • We need to ask about dropping things into the pool at RU.

Release Mechanism from Seglagerðin¶

• We got offer from Seglagerðin Ægir for the release mechanism. Which is two fabrics under and over the balloon with two zip on the top fabric to release the balloon 94440kr with tax, 75251kr with out tax. We are looking for lower price.

Release Mechanism Test¶

Bogi, Örvar and Vikar made a test on the release mechanism.
The results from test:

• If it is windy the fabrics flap a lot and can damage the balloon.
• The coses did not fit together as we expected so we could not zip two fabric together.
• Have to find another way, f.x find large house and fill the balloon inside.

Electronics¶

We may want to consider replacing the SPOT device because of it's 24h limitation and track frequency.

Alternative devices

• http://www.cybergraphy.com/English/gps_satellite.htm
• http://www.spidertracks.com/store/spiders/spider-s3-lite
  • Uses Iridium
  • Max tracking height is 18km
• http://www.yellowbrick-tracking.com/?page_id=1555
  • Uses Irridium
  • Max height unknown - inquiry sent via email

• Comparison of GPS recievers regarding maximum height
  • http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/GPSrcvrsvs60kft.htm

Control system¶

Niklas (with guidance from Joe) is working on the Arduino control system.

• Failsafe (cut string)
  • ni-chrome wire heater via a MOSFET
  • Simple: timer that cuts after some predicted time
  • GPS: cuts when farther than the boundary of Iceland
• Sensors
  • GPS
    • ISM300F2-C5.1-V0004 (High Altitude) - http://inventeksys.accountsupport.com/store/ISM300F2-C5-V0004.html
    • Arduino Logger shield - http://www.adafruit.com/products/98 USD19.50
    • EM-406A GPS Module - http://www.adafruit.com/products/99 USD60.00
  • Temperature
    • Light and temperature logger shield http://www.adafruit.com/products/249 USD37.50
  • Pressure (altitude)
    • Honeywell ADX (forget the number) talkes I2C
      • Some challenges with arduino interface due to weird pinout http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php?topic=57813.0
• Wireless
  • Most seem to be limited to 500M
  • Dirt Cheap Wireless http://www.dcdwireless.com/overv.htm
  • High power HT
    • http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0008.html Yaesu VX-8DR has GPS, APRS TNC, and is waterproof. $439
    • http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/3008.html Yaesu VX-8GR is only 2 band and $359
• Trackuino
  • Trackuino shield - http://www.trackuino.org/2011/07/trackuino-shield.html
  • Trackuino on google code - http://code.google.com/p/trackuino/
    • http://www.radiometrix.com: maker of the tracuino radio
• Argent Data systems
  • Radio shield for Arduino https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=136
  • Transciever with integrated tracker (needs GPS) https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=112
  • High altitude GPS transciever https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=144