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    Mechatronics Case Study: Wireless Surveillance Balloon

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    Sanit Bhatkar
    A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that uses mechatronics to provide real-time wireless surveillance capabilities. Key components include gas cylinders to provide lift, batteries and solar cells for power, sensors to monitor conditions, and video cameras providing 360 degree views. Mechatronics contributions include the use of DACs and actuators to control directional fins for navigation, data loggers to store flight information, and sensors to control camera directions and monitor balloon pressure and height. Such systems can be deployed in clusters and provide low-cost surveillance alternatives to higher altitude platforms.

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    Mechatronics Case Study: Wireless Surveillance Balloon

    Uploaded by

    Sanit Bhatkar
    2K views14 pages
    A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that uses mechatronics to provide real-time wireless surveillance capabilities. Key components include gas cylinders to provide lift, batteries and solar cells for power, sensors to monitor conditions, and video cameras providing 360 degree views. Mechatronics contributions include the use of DACs and actuators to control directional fins for navigation, data loggers to store flight information, and sensors to control camera directions and monitor balloon pressure and height. Such systems can be deployed in clusters and provide low-cost surveillance alternatives to higher altitude platforms.

    Original Description:

    Mechatronics application and some information

    Original Title

    Wireless Surveillance Balloon

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    A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that uses mechatronics to provide real-time wireless surveillance capabilities. Key components include gas cylinders to provide lift, batteries and solar cells for power, sensors to monitor conditions, and video cameras providing 360 degree views. Mechatronics contributions include the use of DACs and actuators to control directional fins for navigation, data loggers to store flight information, and sensors to control camera directions and monitor balloon pressure and height. Such systems can be deployed in clusters and provide low-cost surveillance alternatives to higher altitude platforms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    2K views14 pages

    Mechatronics Case Study: Wireless Surveillance Balloon

    Uploaded by

    Sanit Bhatkar
    A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that uses mechatronics to provide real-time wireless surveillance capabilities. Key components include gas cylinders to provide lift, batteries and solar cells for power, sensors to monitor conditions, and video cameras providing 360 degree views. Mechatronics contributions include the use of DACs and actuators to control directional fins for navigation, data loggers to store flight information, and sensors to control camera directions and monitor balloon pressure and height. Such systems can be deployed in clusters and provide low-cost surveillance alternatives to higher altitude platforms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 14

    Mechatronics Case Study

    Wireless Surveillance Balloon

    Contents:

    1. Abstract
    2. Introduction
    What is surveillance balloon?
    Purpose and history

    3. Working

    Block diagram of balloon


    Specifications

    4. Mechatronics contribution

    Use of valve mechanism


    Wireless control

    5. Current development

    List of companies
    Patents related to it

    6. Summary and Conclusion

    Abstract
    The demand for high-capacity wireless services
    is bringing increasing challenges, especially for delivery of the
    last mile. Terrestrially, the need for line-of-sight propagation
    paths represents a constraint unless very large numbers of basestation masts are deployed, while satellite systems have
    capacity limitations. An emerging solution is offered by highaltitude platforms (HAPs) operating in the stratosphere at
    altitudes of up to 22 km to provide communication facilities that
    can exploit the best features of both terrestrial and satellite
    schemes.
    A miniature surveillance balloon system is
    described that can be used in military and public safety
    situations for real-time observations. They are as small as
    feasibly possible, low-cost and expendable, and typically are
    deployed in clusters. Balloons may act individually or alternately
    clusters may act robotically (in unison) without command input
    at times. Video surveillance information is preprocessed and
    then sent via wireless communications links. Batteries and/or
    gas cylinders may be selectively jettisoned to facilitate vertical
    movement. Balloons may optionally have thruster mechanisms
    to facilitate lateral movement which may in some embodiments
    be powered by a source of combustible gas which is also used
    for providing lift.
    This paper outlines the application of surveillance
    balloon as low cost alternative for HAPs for delivery of future
    wireless surveillance system. This article stresses the
    importance of wireless surveillance with integration of
    mechatronics in the system.

    Introduction
    What is surveillance balloon?

    Surveillance balloons are balloons that are


    employed as aerial platforms for intelligence
    gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during
    the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith
    during World War I, and they continue in limited use today.
    Historically, observation balloons were filled
    with hydrogen. The balloons were fabric envelopes filled with
    hydrogen gas, whose flammable nature led to the destruction of
    hundreds of balloons on both sides. Observers manning these
    observation balloons frequently had to use a parachute to
    evacuate their balloon when it came under attack. To avoid the
    potentially flammable consequences of hydrogen, observation
    balloons after World War I were often filled with nonflammable helium.

    Typically, balloons were tethered to a steel cable


    attached to a winch that reeled the gasbag to its desired height
    (usually 1,000-1,500 meters) and retrieved it at the end of an
    observation session.

    Purpose and History

    The first military use of observation balloons was by


    the French Aerostatic Corps during the French Revolutionary
    Wars, the very first time during the Battle of Fleurus (1794).The
    oldest preserved observation balloon, L'Intrpide, is on display in
    a Vienna museum. They were also used by both sides during
    the American Civil War (186165) and continued in use during
    the Franco-Prussian War (187071).
    Balloons were first deployed by the British
    Army's Royal Engineers during the expeditions
    to Bechuanalandin 1884 and Suakin in 1885.They were also
    deployed during the Second Boer War (18991902), where they
    were used in artillery observation at the Battle of
    Magersfontein and during the Siege of Ladysmith.
    World War I observation crews were the first to use
    parachutes, long before they were adopted by fixed wing
    aircrews. These were a primitive type, where the main part was
    in a bag suspended from the balloon, with the pilot only wearing
    a simple body harness around his waist, with lines from the
    harness attached to the main parachute in the bag.
    When the balloonist jumped, the main part of the
    parachute was pulled from the bag, with the shroud lines first,

    followed by the main canopy. This type of parachute was first


    adopted by the Germans and then later by the British and
    French for their observation balloon crews.

    Working
    Block diagram

    Size
    The balloon system should be as small and light as possible,
    while still performing its required mission.
    Gas Sack and Gas
    The balloon gas sack may be rigid or inflatable. If inflatable, it
    may be inflated before deployment or may inflate at the time of
    deployment from gas stored in a small cylinder. If a cylinder is

    used, the cylinder may have the ability to be jettisoned in order


    to reduce the overall weight of the balloon system. The gas used
    may be helium or hydrogen or other lighter-than-air gas. If
    hydrogen, there may be included the ability to selectively
    oxidize some of the Hydrogen gas in a controlled manner to
    produce thrust and/or produce electricity (as in a fuel cell).
    Electrical Power
    The balloon's electronics systems may be powered by battery,
    solar power, and/or hydrogen power (fuel cell). The outer surface
    of the balloon's gas sack may implement a solar cell or have
    multiple solar cells deployed upon it. Batteries may be rechargeable from the solar cells, or by energy conversion from
    hydrogen gas.
    Batteries
    The system may be designed such that the batteries are
    implemented as a group of individual batteries where the
    physical mounting and electrical connection means is such that
    individual batteries may be jettisoned in order to make the
    balloon system lighter. Batteries may be re-chargeable or not.
    Electromechanical Controls
    These may be implemented using miniature conventional
    solenoid mechanisms, or alternately by micro-machines
    implemented in advanced semiconductor technology, or some
    combination of the two.

    Directional Travel and Thrusters


    In general, the balloon system may be encouraged to travel in
    the vertical direction by releasing gas from the bag to descend
    and by either injecting gas from the compressed gas cylinder

    and/or jettisoning weight to ascend. The balloon system may


    optionally include some form of directional thrusters to allow it
    to travel in a specific horizontal direction and/or travel in a
    vertical direction at a rate faster than the effects of lift and
    weight would allow. Thrusters may be provided by solid rocket
    propellant, or alternately by miniature engines that burn
    hydrogen gas from the bag or from the gas cylinder.
    Vision System
    The system will include at least one image sensor providing at
    least a static image and more desirably, a video image. This
    system will provide a 360 degree view. The 360 degree view can
    be accomplished by having multiple image sensors or by having
    a single image sensor array combined with a lens that enables a
    360 degree capture (see IPIX method). If there are multiple
    sensor arrays, there may be for instance 3 image sensor arrays,
    each covering a 120 degree view. If video capability is included,
    the frame rate may be variable such that the capacity of the
    available communications link is not overloaded. Video
    compression is typically performed and image preprocessing
    may also be performed to eliminate unwanted information and
    further lessen the bandwidth requirement that is placed on the
    communications system. The vision system may include IR
    capability for night viewing.

    In 1942 Canadian and American forces began joint


    operations to protect the sensitive locks and shipping channel
    at Sault Ste. Marie along their common border among the Great
    Lakes against possible air attack. During severe storms in
    August and October 1942 some barrage balloons broke loose,
    and the trailing cables short-circuited power lines, causing
    serious disruption to mining and manufacturing. In particular,
    the metals production vital to the war effort was disrupted.
    Canadian military historical records indicate that "The October
    incident, the most serious, caused an estimated loss of 400 tons
    of steel and 10 tons of Ferro-alloys."
    Following these incidents, new procedures were put in
    place, which included stowing the balloons during the winter
    months, with regular deployment exercises and a standby team
    on alert to deploy the balloons in case of attack. The idea of
    free-floating balloons was also used in Operation Outward.

    Mechatronics Contribution
    1) A DAC can be used for actuating the fins of surveillance
    balloon

    When signal is sent from the base station the relay is


    activated. This relay actuates DAC and fins are actuated. Due to
    this Balloon changes direction.

    2) Use of data loggers


    Data loggers are used in order to save total flight data.
    Balloons are also provide with memory to store the captured
    images

    3) Sensors
    For camera directions various sensors are set. Sensors also
    monitor balloon pressure, height of balloon from the ground etc.
    In general mechatronics is used to automate the process.

    Patents and current developments :

    PATENT CITATIONS
    Cited
    Patent

    Filing
    date

    Publication
    date

    US2931597 *

    Jan 28, 1954

    Apr 5, 1960

    Gen Mills Inc

    Solar engine balloon altitude


    control

    US2967677 *

    May 13,
    1957

    Jan 10, 1961

    Winzen Res Inc

    Apparatus for launching balloons

    US3077779 *

    Feb 10, 1960

    Feb 19, 1963

    Froehlich Harold
    E

    Air sampling means

    US4048565 *

    Jun 17, 1976

    Sep 13, 1977

    The Raymond
    Lee Organization,
    Inc.

    Location indicating device

    US4457477 *

    Jun 11, 1982

    Jul 3, 1984

    Centre National
    D'etudes
    Spatiales

    Process for altitude-stabilizing a


    balloon, and atmospheric balloons
    for implementing this process

    US4799914 *

    Feb 9, 1987

    Jan 24, 1989

    Hutchinson Jack
    M

    Remote control lighter-than-air toy


    with tether

    US4931028 *

    Aug 15, 1988

    Jun 5, 1990

    Jaeger Hugh D

    Toy blimp

    US5020411 *

    Mar 6, 1989

    Jun 4, 1991

    Larry Rowan

    Mobile assault logistic kinetmatic


    engagement device

    US5652489 *

    Aug 24, 1995

    Jul 29, 1997

    Minolta Co., Ltd.

    Mobile robot control system

    Applicant

    Title

    Cited
    Patent

    Filing
    date

    Publication
    date

    US5819008 *

    Jun 14, 1996

    Oct 6, 1998

    Rikagaku
    Kenkyusho

    Mobile robot sensor system

    US6010093 *

    Apr 28, 1999

    Jan 4, 2000

    Paulson; Allen E.

    High altitude airship system

    US6084510 *

    Apr 18, 1997

    Jul 4, 2000

    Lemelson;
    Jerome H.

    Danger warning and emergency


    response system and method

    US6119983 *

    Apr 28, 1999

    Sep 19, 2000

    Provitola;
    Anthony Italo

    Airship/spacecraft

    US6182924 *

    Jun 9, 1998

    Feb 6, 2001

    Julian Nott

    Ballast for lighter than air aircraft

    US6317080 *

    May 5, 2000

    Nov 13, 2001

    John Francis
    Baxter, Jr.

    Early detection and tracking


    system for hazardous airborne
    substances

    US6374155 *

    Nov 24, 1999

    Apr 16, 2002

    Personal
    Robotics, Inc.

    Autonomous multi-platform robot


    system

    US6429812 *

    May 30,
    2000

    Aug 6, 2002

    Steven M.
    Hoffberg

    Mobile communication device

    US6565037 *

    Jun 4, 2002

    May 20, 2003

    Tonkovich
    Gregory P

    Hybrid aircraft and methods of


    flying

    Applicant

    Title

    Advantages

    1. Very less infrastructure required.


    2. Relocation of system anywhere within operational range is
    possible. This includes flood area earthquake areas and other
    natural disasters.
    3. Very less launching area is required.

    Conclusion

    Strengthened information-sharing is needed to derive


    surveillance for safety and security thereby maximizing the
    efficiency and effectiveness of security measures in sea and
    coastal areas and normal community. A Commission
    Communication on a Draft Roadmap towards establishing the
    Common Information Sharing Environment for the surveillance
    represents the first step towards achieving this objective.
    Research topics in the area of maritime Security need to
    be planned in line with evolving EU policy developments. In
    particular, the adoption of EUROSUR, which requires the
    development of an integrated border surveillance system, will
    need to be taken into account in defining research topics.
    Thus surveillance balloon can be employed in many ways
    for safety, for weather surveillance or for civil applications as
    well.

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