Lateral Propulsion Systems for Stratospheric Balloons
Solution Overview
Problem
High-altitude balloon platforms in the stratosphere face challenges in maintaining prolonged coverage and efficient return to desired service areas due to environmental conditions and wind effects, leading to unreliable connectivity and increased fleet size requirements.
Innovation Solution
A lateral propulsion system for balloon platforms, incorporating a propeller assembly, motor, rotation module, and electronics module with sensors and processors, allows for directional adjustments and extended station-keeping, reducing the number of platforms needed by enhancing coverage and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high altitude balloon platforms are deployed to provide telecommunications connectivity in remote locations, then network access is improved, but the platforms cannot maintain prolonged coverage over desired service areas due to environmental conditions and wind effects
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon platform incorporates a propulsion system that enables dynamic position adjustment and active station-keeping capabilities. The system can dynamically counteract wind effects and environmental forces to maintain coverage over desired service areas for extended periods, transforming the passive drift behavior into active position control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the balloon platform by introducing propulsion capabilities that alter its motion characteristics. This enables the platform to maintain altitude and position within a service area for prolonged durations, changing from transient coverage to sustained coverage operations.
2Productivity
If high altitude balloon platforms operate without lateral propulsion, then device complexity is reduced, but the platforms require larger fleet sizes to maintain continuous coverage
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating lateral propulsion capabilities, individual balloon platforms gain dynamic maneuverability to efficiently cover service areas and return to designated positions. This reduces the number of platforms needed in the fleet while maintaining continuous coverage, improving overall productivity despite increased individual platform complexity.
3Reliability
If high altitude balloon platforms lack lateral propulsion capabilities, then ease of operation is improved, but the platforms experience unreliable connectivity due to inability to maintain position over service areas
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion system provides automated position maintenance capabilities that counteract wind drift and environmental forces. This dynamic position control ensures reliable connectivity over service areas while the automated control systems manage the complexity, maintaining ease of operation through centralized or autonomous control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor platform position and adjust propulsion accordingly to maintain coverage over desired service areas. This closed-loop control ensures reliable connectivity while managing operational complexity through automated position correction.
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
The system enables balloons to stay on station longer and return more quickly, reducing the fleet size by up to 50% while maintaining reliable connectivity, even in challenging stratospheric conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The motor assembly is operatively coupled to the propeller assembly and is configured to rotate the propeller in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about a first axis
Implementation Method 2
The rotation module is connected to the motor assembly and is rotatably coupled to the connecting member of the balloon apparatus to provide at least partial rotation of the propulsion assembly about the connecting member along a second axis
Implementation Method 3
The one or more sensors may include an inertial measurement unit configured to sense acceleration information associated with the propulsion system
Implementation Method 4
A lateral propulsion system for use with a balloon apparatus for lighter-than-air operation in the stratosphere
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the technology relate to propulsion systems for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A propeller assembly is used to provide lateral directional adjustments, which allows the balloon to spend more time over a desired region, reduce the return time to the desired region, reduce fleet overprovisioning, and increases the safety case by additional controls and avoidance abilities. A control assembly manages operation of the propeller assembly, including setting the pointing direction, speed of rotation and determining when to turn on the propeller and for how long. The propulsion system including the control and propeller assemblies is rotatable around a connection member of the balloon. Such rotation is independently adjustable from any rotation of the balloon's payload. The propeller blades may be made of plastic, which reduces weight and cost while providing sufficient speed at stratospheric altitudes.