High altitude balloon GPS guided return to launch site

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ve7...@gmail.com

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Oct 5, 2020, 9:05:20 PM10/5/20
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Hi all,

Does anyone know of a a high altitude balloon GPS guided return to launch site system being designed? A company in the USA called Apogee Components is developing a system like this for high power rockets. I don't think they have a working system for sale yet. You can check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ac-VFPAqIo 

I have done two HAB balloon launches so far carrying simple home brewed disposable amateur radio crossband repeaters, and would now like to do a video camera launch. But because I live in a heavily forested area in British Columbia, Canada, there is no way that I would ever be able to recover the camera. An autonomous GPS return to launch site paragliding parachute would solve this.

Regards,

Jim VE7UV

Matthew Patrick

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Oct 5, 2020, 9:27:08 PM10/5/20
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apologies if this message was a duplicate. I'm new to google groups - 

I was a bit excited to read this message since it applies to an idea I've been working on for the last few years. While it's not exactly what you're looking for, perhaps it could help your problem?

Essentially I've got a design for a 3-d printed remote control balloon valve. The idea is to vent out your free lift when you reach a target altitude and then descend later on when you want to end the flight. Extending your flight path might not be the greatest in your situation, but maybe if you tried this we could collaborate? I'm in Alberta, and with the winds being what they generally are right now you might be able to float over the mountains and land on this side. I'd be happy to go track it down and mail it home to you. 

In fact, this would be really cool because it would give me a chance to re-fly the valve design I made on a long flight where we actually get it back afterwards. I've even got a few spare balloons around - could we try it on a kaymont 600?

The valve is servo operated and really light (< 80g). it clips on to the neck of a balloon and opens from a seal on the bottom. 

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, 73!

Hunter Hall

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Oct 5, 2020, 9:39:29 PM10/5/20
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Hi all,

This idea has been entertained before, but a fully-perfected version has yet to be reported. Stanford’s Space Initiative (SSI) has created a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) valve/ballast (ValBal) (https://stanfordssi.org/teams/balloons) system to achieve a sort of return to home (RTH) system. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is working on a fully functional RTH system for high altitude balloons. Stay tuned for more.

Regards,
Hunter Hall 

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Matthew Patrick

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Oct 5, 2020, 10:05:05 PM10/5/20
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  Yes, VALBAL has an impressive design and a good flight record. They are using some fairly heavy hardware and a ballast system, and if I recall correctly, float at a moderately low altitude. The version I'm working on was conceived as a way to get a light X-ray spectrometer to float at > 30 km under a weather balloon of a size legal to fly in canada without a lot of special permissions. Because of this the size is fairly small and the design is very light (< 80g), and has no ballast drop feature. It is also designed to be very cheap, autonomous (GPS based), and almost disposable. 

I can't seem to post images here. Send me a direct email for a pic. 

it is powered by 2 CR2 lithium cells on the back. Thermal vac testing indicates that they can provide enough current to run a typical mini servo at -40 to -50 deg C.   

Dave B

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Oct 6, 2020, 4:09:30 AM10/6/20
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There was talk of using a guided/autonomous glider for the decent a year or three ago, but I recall that creates a whole new world of pain for permissions etc.

Returning rockets to the launch site, well, SpaceX has (eventually) done it, but it took a lot of effort and resources, and not a few spectacular failures, some were quite comical.

There are even some very watchable videos of most of the fails, put together by SpaceX, and released to the public..   Just search for "spacex landing failures" or similar..

Cheers.

Dave G8KBV

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Steve

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Oct 6, 2020, 5:03:26 AM10/6/20
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It would certainly be worth asking the Canadian CAA (TCCA ?) how they would view it.   It could save a lot of work and heartache.  The regulatory hurdles can be at least as big as the technical ones.  If it's guided its probable the TCCA will view it like a UAS and might need to carry a transponder or similar.

    Steve

florin.mi...@gmail.com

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Jun 5, 2021, 2:05:08 PM6/5/21
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Hi,

I have presented at UKHAS 2019 a flying wing flight that we performed from a high altitude balloon; the scope was exactly what you stated: to bring back a payload from high altitude, in a controlled manner, to a predefined landing area.
Since then we have expanded the solution and performed many more flights with different objectives.
If you would like I can send you some more details.

Best regards,
Florin

Alex R

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Sep 18, 2021, 11:46:28 AM9/18/21
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gliders:

вторник, 6 октября 2020 г. в 04:05:20 UTC+3, ve7...@gmail.com:

Joe

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Sep 18, 2021, 2:14:59 PM9/18/21
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Check with your local laws.

Here in the USA it is strictly forbidden.

Joe WB9SBD

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