Balloon-Borne Aeroseismometer for Infrasonic Source Geolocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airborne infrasonic detectors cannot determine the direction of arrival of infrasonic signals, limiting their ability to locate sources of these signals, especially in areas not suitable for ground-based detection systems like those over water.
Innovation Solution
A balloon-borne aeroseismometer equipped with accelerometers to detect vibrations in three planes, allowing determination of the direction of vibration and translation of the infrasonic signal travel path into an external reference frame, enabling the identification of potential source locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ground-based detection systems are used to determine direction of arrival, then direction determination capability is improved, but deployment flexibility and accessibility to remote areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the detection system from ground-based (2D surface) to airborne (3D space), allowing deployment over oceans and remote areas while maintaining direction determination capability through vector accelerometer measurements
2Adaptability or versatility
If airborne infrasonic detectors are used to achieve deployment flexibility, then accessibility to remote areas is improved, but direction determination capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection function into two parts: acoustic sensors detect infrasonic pressure changes while vector accelerometers detect vibration direction, with the combination enabling direction determination that neither sensor type could achieve alone
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines different sensor types (acoustic sensors and vector accelerometers) into a composite detection system, where each sensor type contributes its unique capability to achieve the overall function of direction-aware infrasonic detection
3Device complexity
If scalar acoustic sensors are used to detect infrasonic signals, then detection simplicity is improved, but direction information extraction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scalar acoustic sensor data with vector accelerometer data to create a unified detection system that preserves the simplicity of acoustic detection while adding directional information from the accelerometer measurements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of the direction of arrival and potential source locations of infrasonic signals, even in areas inaccessible to ground-based systems, by correlating acoustic sensor data with inertial measurements to compute travel paths in a planetary coordinate system.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic sensor mounted on an airborne balloon detects an infrasonic signal
Implementation Method 2
an inertial measurement unit detects a vibration of the balloon caused by the infrasonic signal being incident upon the balloon, where the inertial measurement unit determines amplitudes of vibration in each of the three planes
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein provide for a balloon-borne aeroseismometer that can detect infrasonic signals and concurrent vibrations caused by the infrasonic signals. Through a set of motion sensors that can detect acceleration in three planes, the aeroseismometer can determine the direction of vibration and thus determine a travel path of the infrasonic signal relative to the aeroseismometer. The aeroseismometer can also translate the direction of the source from a reference frame of the aeroseismometer to an external reference frame, such as a planetary coordinate system, in order to identify potential locations of a source of the infrasonic signals.