Strategic position algorithm for stratospheric balloons

Abstract

The first moments after the event of a natural disaster are crucial to save as many lives as possible. Having a space platform that enables broadening communications and knowledge about the damaged area represents a fundamental aid for the rescue labors. Stratospheric balloons gain prominence as the most feasible and suitable option to perform this service, that is not only limited to the action after catastrophic incidents but can provide a wide range of services, such as the study of the planet climatology or the supply of broadband to certain regions. However, the characteristics of the motion and drift of the balloons make it necessary to design an innovative system that enables them to move in the desired direction. Thus, this project is focused on designing a procedure for balloons to use the winds to affect their location on a differential manner, by seeking the particular altitude where the air current will drive the balloon to the desired position. A Matlab code has been developed to depict the entire motion of balloons, subject to the atmosphere and climatology surrounding them. Moreover, an algorithm designed to make the balloons autonomous to perform the so called station keeping functionality has been included in the code, enabling thereby the configuration of clusters of balloons that act as space facilities to provide a wide range of services to the earth regions that are overflown. The software is a good tool to demonstrate the feasibility of such a configuration, as well as to predict and forecast the trajectories of the high altitude balloons under specific patterns of stratospheric winds.