B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
Colorado Space Grant Consortium
GATEWAY TO SPACE
FALL 2012
DESIGN DOCUMENT
Team Up, Up, and Away
Written by:
Trevor Arrasmith, Ty Bailey, Cameron Coupe,
Samuel Frakes, Brandon Harris, Carolyn Mason,
Soo Rin Park, and Peter VanderKley
October 22, 2012
Revision A/B
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
Table of Contents
1.0 Mission Overview ............................................................................................................... 3
2.0 Requirements Flow Down.................................................................................................. 4
3.0 Design ................................................................................................................................. 5
4.0 Management....................................................................................................................... 7
5.0 Budget ................................................................................................................................. 9
6.0 Test Plan and Results .......................................................................................................... 10
7.0 Expected Results................................................................................................................. 13
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
MISSION OVERVIEW:
The mission of team Up, Up, and Away is to successfully send a balloon satellite to an
altitude of 30,000 meters and test a cloud seeding mechanism at altitudes of 5,000 meters and
15,000 meters. 5,000 meters is the standard altitude of cloud seeding, at which Cumulonimbus
and Nimbostratus clouds exist, which are the clouds that commonly produce rain. 15,000 meters
is the highest altitude at which clouds exist. [1] Team Up, Up, and Away is attempting to study
the feasibility and efficacy of a balloon-mounted cloud seeding system at varying altitudes. Our
BalloonSat, named B.O.S.S. (Balloon-Operated Seeding System) will contain a particle
substance of finely milled Sodium Chloride, the use of which in cloud seeding is called
hygroscopic cloud seeding.[2] The powder will be released at two separate times, one for each of
the two cones contained inside the BalloonSat. We will then compare the results of the physical
experiment with the data on humidity, temperature, and pressure to prove or disprove the
effectiveness of our mechanism.
Our mechanism will consist of two funnels, each containing approximately 55 grams of a
Sodium Chloride and reflective glitter mixture. A servo below the funnel opening will control
the release of the mixture out the bottom of the cube at the determined altitudes. An additional
panel of foam core will be placed on the bottom of the cube, partially in the frame of the GoPro,
in order to provide a backdrop to better witness the release of the mixture.
To our knowledge, no such experiment has been performed, and our findings should be
completely original. We hope to be able to achieve data in several different subareas. First and
foremost, we hope to prove the feasibility and cost effectiveness of balloon-sourced cloud
seeding at standard cloud seeding altitude. The next goal is to find data on the efficacy of our
cloud seeding mechanism at standard and high altitude. If this is proven useful, it could have
major effect on cloud seeding as a whole. If water vapor exists at higher altitudes at low enough
temperatures, only without a particle upon which to condensate, high altitude particle cloud
seeding would reveal a previously untapped source of water.
Further research in cloud seeding can have long-lasting and global impact. Almost all
locations in the world are at one point or another affected by drought or can benefit from
additional precipitation. It is cost-efficient as well, as the cost of materials and implementation is
fairly cheap even on a large scale, and the resulting precipitation saves a significant amount of
money to the area below. The issue strikes particularly close to home here in Colorado, both
with the recent drought we have been facing and with the numerous ski resorts in the state
dependent on snowfall. If our experiment is proven successful, it may reveal the possibility for
even further cloud seeding opportunities in areas which it may not have been previously feasible.
Sources Cited:
1. Common Cloud Names, Shapes, and Altitudes. http://nenes.eas.gatech.edu/Cloud/Clouds.pdf
2. Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding. http://www.just-clouds.com/hygroscopic_cloud_seeding.asp
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
REQUIREMENTS FLOW DOWN:
The requirements of B.O.S.S. are based upon completing the mission objective of proving the
feasibility of balloon-based cloud seeding. In order to accomplish this, we must create a
functional and reliable mechanism to release powder at the altitudes where it would be most
useful in aiding precipitation from clouds. Furthermore, we must fulfill the requirements of the
Request for Proposal- namely the collection of additional science data.
Requirement
Number
Requirement
Derived from:
Level 0 Requirements
Objective 1.0
Objective 2.0
Team Up, Up, and Away will prove the possibility and
efficiency of a balloon-mounted mechanism for cloud
seeding.
Team Up, Up, and Away will test the effectiveness and
reliability of the funnel dispersing system of the BalloonSat.
Objective 3.0
B.O.S.S. will collect the data of humidity, air pressure,
acceleration, wind speed, and inside and outside temperature.
Objective 4.0
The integrated GoPro camera in B.O.S.S. will record the
flight and also the cloud seeding process.
Mission Objective
Mission Objective
Level 1 Requirements
Objective 1.1
Objective 2.1
Objective 2.2
Objective 2.3
Objective 2.4
Objective 3.1
Objective 4.1
Team Up, Up, and Away will prove that given the ability to
use enough of the correct substance for cloud seeding, a
balloon-mounted mechanism will be feasible and economic.
Using the two integrated funnels and servos, the BalloonSat
will disperse sodium chloride at two different altitudes.
Objective 1.0
The mechanism to release the powder will consist of an
oscillating triangular aluminum plate controlled by a Servo,
which will block the flow of salt out of the container except
when prompted to move.
The base plate on which the oscillating plate will rest will also
be made out of a 3mm thick aluminum sheet and will assure
that the triangular piece can oscillate smoothly against its
surface.
The funnel will be supported by cross wires so that it does not
fall over or get shaken or broken in flight. We will make sure
that the salt will not fall out of the cone by securing a lid on
the top of it.
With the GoPro facing down, it will capture the process of
cloud seeding.
Using the Arduino and the sensors, the BalloonSat will record
the data for temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind speed
during the duration of the flight.
Objective 2.0
Objective 2.0
Objective 2.0
Objective 2.0
Objective 3.0
Objective 4.0
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
DESIGN:
Because the purpose of our mission is to test the feasibility of balloon-base cloud
seeding, we will determine our success based on the functionality of our release system. The
BalloonSat will contain two separate but identical release systems, one of which will be
programmed to release at an altitude of 5,000 meters and the other of which will be programmed
to release at 15,000 meters. To ensure release is successful, there will be a redundancy in the
programming that will prompt the servo at a specific time if the determined altitude has not
already prompted it.
Each system will consist of an aluminum funnel, an aluminum base plate, an oscillating
plate, and a servo. The aluminum funnel will contain approximately 55 grams of powder, all of
which will release at the predetermined altitude. In order to release, the servo will rotate the
oscillating aluminum plate along the top surface of the base plate in order to align the series of
holes that will allow powder to flow freely from the funnel and out the bottom of the cube. This
system will be mounted to the inner sides of the cube using steel wire, hot glue, and aluminum
tape. Two Arduino UNO units will be flown in order to be able to command the servos and
collect data from all sensors. The outer structure will consist of foam core, insulation, and a nonmetal flight tube to accommodate the flight string.
This design complies with all requirements specified in the Request for Proposal. An
anemometer will be included in order to collect additional science data. The mass of the
BalloonSat will be at the maximum allowable mass of 1125 grams, but will not exceed it. All
required sensors and components such as the Arduino, digital camera, and heater will be flown
and the internal temperature will remain above -10 degrees Celsius. The outside of the
BalloonSat will have an American flag sticker, contact information, and a CU Buffs sticker in
order to assist with its retrieval. In addition, an LED light on the outside of the cube will confirm
that all systems are powered on. After flight, the BalloonSat will be analyzed and returned to
Professor Koehler in working condition and ready for another flight.
The functionality of the mechanisms is dependent on many of the BalloonSat’s parts. The
Arduino must command the Servos to oscillate, at which point the oscillating aluminum plate
will move along the surface of the base plate and allow the powder to be released. The other
Arduino will collect data from the anemometer, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, humidity
sensor, and accelerometer, as well as power on the digital camera. The heater will be controlled
with an external switch and the GoPro will operate on its own battery power and record data to
its own SD card.
All parts and hardware have been acquired except for those that can be purchased at local
stores such as the reflective glitter and sodium chloride. Ty Bailey has an additional backup
servo that we will use in the event of one of our servos failing. We will purchase enough salt and
glitter to allow for thorough testing of our mechanism before the flight date.
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
LIST OF PARTS
Item
Quantity
Place of Purchase
9v batteries
HS 430BH Servo
Tin Funnels
Sodium Chloride
Glitter
Dry Ice
Mathmos Wind Light
Aluminum Sheet
GoPro
Canon Camera
9v batteries
Switches
Heater
Foam Core
Insulation
Steel wire
10
2
2
1 kg
1 bottle (~0.5 kg)
7kg
1
0.5 m2
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
1m
Wal-Mart
ServoCity.com
McMaster.com
King Soopers
Wal-Mart
King Soopers
Lamplust.com
Provided
Donated
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
Status
Not yet acquired
Not yet acquired
Acquired
Not yet acquired
Not yet acquired
Not yet acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Acquired
Not yet acquired
VISUALIZATION
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM
MANAGEMENT:
Effective project management is crucial to the success of Team Up, Up, and Away’s
mission. Therefore, areas of focus are assigned to each team member, while ensuring that no
team member is left alone in any task. A rigid schedule has been constructed to keep the team on
track with testing, construction, and other work. Team meetings are held every Saturday at noon.
Additional meetings are scheduled as needed, typically on Mondays and Wednesdays. Because
the duration of this project spans approximately three months, time limitations are a concern. All
team members must budget their time with other classes and will have to devote many hours per
week to this project.
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
TEAM MEMBERS AND ROLES:
Trevor Arrasmith
Ty Bailey
Cameron Coupe
Samuel Frakes
Brandon Harris
Carolyn Mason
Soo Rin Park
Peter VanderKley
-
Design and Design Illustration-Lead
Science and Documentation
Videographer
Programming-Lead
Budgeter
Project Manager
Electrical
Structures-Lead
Science and Documentation
Science and Documentation-Lead
Structure
Electrical-Co-Lead
Foreman
Programming
Electrical-Co-Lead
Vice Project Manager
Programming
Structures
SCHEDULE
Task to be Completed
Date
Task to be Completed
Date
First Design Complete
PDR
Authority to Proceed
Hardware Acquired
Initial Programming
Accelerometer Test
CDR
Sensor calibration Done
Heater Test
Camera(s) Test
Mass Model
Drop Test
Whip Test
Stair Test
Humidity Sensor Test
Pressure Sensor Test
Temperature Sensors Test
Anemometer Test
Final structure
Powder Release Test
9/27
10/1
10/5
10/10
10/10
10/16
10/18
10/18
10/18
10/20
10/21
10/21
10/21
10/21
10/27
10/27
10/28
10/28
10/29
10/29
Electronics Build
BalloonSat Completed
Complete Programming
Cooler Test
Complete Systems Test
Demo Mission Test
Launch Readiness Review
DD Rev C Due
Final Weigh-in
Launch
Troubleshooting
Analysis of Flight Data
ITLL Design Expo
Document Results
Final Report
Team Video Assembly
Final Presentation Due
10/31
10/31
11/2
11/
11/4
11/13
11/27
11/15
11/30
12/1
11/5 - 12/9
12/1 – 12/7
12/8
12/9
12/9
11/1 – 12/10
12/11
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
BUDGET:
Item
9V batteries
Mighty Mini Servo
(HS-225MG)
Aluminum Bare Sheet
Tin Funnels
(8996T12)
Sodium Chloride Powder
Mathmos Wind Light
(Part # not available)
GoPro
Canon Camera
Arduino Unos (2)
Heater
Foam Core and Insulation
U.S. Flag
Hot Glue
Aluminum Tape
Steel Wire
Quantity
5
2
Cost
$42.97
Weight
190 g
62 g
Place of Purchase
Wal-Mart
Servocity.com
0.5 meters2
2
$8.62
20 g
61.9 g
Space Grant
Mcmaster.com
110 grams
1
$25.20
110 g
11.5 g
King Soopers
Lamplust.com
1
1
2
1
2 sheets
1
2 sticks
5 meters
1 meter
-
150 g
130 g
158 g
30.4 g
185 g
~0g
6g
6g
5g
Provided (by student)
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
Provided
$76.79
1,124.8 g
Total
Company contact information:
Servocity
McMaster
Lamplust
Phone: (620) 221-0123
Phone: (630) 833-0300
Email: chi.sales@mcmaster.com
Address: 600 N County Line Rd. Elmhurst, IL 60126-2081
Phone: (866) 490-9358
Email: sales@lamplust.com
BUDGET MANAGEMENT: Ty Bailey
Ty Bailey is the budget manager. He will keep an itemized list of all the parts, their place of
purchase, cost of part and shipping. He will verify these costs with professor Koehler.
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
TEST PLAN AND RESULTS:
TESTING SCHEDULE:
Structures Testing:
•
Powder Release test (10/29)
•
Drop Test (10/21)
•
Whip Test (10/21)
•
Stair Test (10/21)
Electronics Testing:
•
Accelerometer (10/16)
•
Heater (10/18)
•
Camera(s) (10/20)
•
Humidity Sensor (10/27)
•
Pressure Sensor (10/27)
•
Temperature Sensors (10/28)
•
Anemometer (10/28)
Systems Testing:
•
Cooler Test (11/3)
•
Complete Systems Test (11/4)
•
Demo Mission Test (11/13)
STRUCTURAL TESTING:
DROP TEST: Once the structure is completed, we will test its integrity by dropping it from
several stories. We will start at the first story and then progress higher and higher until the
satellite has a major failure or we are confident that we have exceeded the situational
requirements. We will also include weights inside the satellite to simulate the weight of our
components to better simulate the scenario. Based on the results from these tests, we will
improve our structural design to better protect its contents. Once we have a design that exceeds
situational requirements, we will proceed testing the system as a whole.
TUMBLE TEST: In addition to the drop test, we will toss the satellite down several flights of
stairs with weights to observe how the structure will hold and protect its contents. This test also
shows how well or poorly everything will be secured inside the satellite. If anything breaks
loose, the part itself will fail its mission and possibly damage the other contents of the satellite
and damage more systems.
WHIP TEST: Finally, to ensure that the satellite will remain attached to the balloon rope, we will
test to ensure that the pipe used to hold the satellite to the rope will adhere to the satellite even
under extreme whiplash conditions. Once a desirable structure is selected, we will put the
satellite at the end of a string, attached exactly like it will be to the balloon rope, and test its whip
Team Up, Up, and Away
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
strength. We will take the apparatus to an overhang, hold it over the edge, and violently swing
the satellite back and forth to ensure its stability.
POWDER RELEASE TEST: We will create our own delivery system to release the powder used to
seed the clouds. We expect to modify and tune the system so that it will disperse the powder at
the desired altitudes without failure. The goal is to have a system that releases a portion of the
satellite’s stored powder at certain altitude intervals. Our initial tests will be run without powder
to make sure that the mechanism works. We will then run short tests with the powder in funnel,
to make sure that the Servo arm does not get caught and that the powder releases in the proper
amounts. Our final test will run for 90 minutes to simulate a long flight time and make sure every
part of the system acts as expected and the programming works without fail.
ELECTRONICS TESTING:
ACCELEROMETER : The accelerometer measures acceleration in three different axes, in order to
determine the orientation of the BalloonSat. It is important that the sensor is originally calibrated
from a level surface, so that all of the readings are accurate. The accelerometer is programmed to
reset to its calibrated level each time it is turned on to ensure that the readings are not skewed. To
test that the program works, we will hold the accelerometer flat against the table and then rotate
it by 90 degrees every 10 seconds.
HEATER: The heater will go through a series of tests:
a) Plug the batteries in the system and make sure that the heater can turn on
b) Leave the heater in a closed space for 1 hour, to ensure that the heater will not burn out or
overheat
c) Incorporate the heater in the cooler test (for 1 hour) to ensure that it will still perform, and
keep the inside of the box above -10 degrees Celsius during flight.
CAMERA: In order to test the functionality of the dual-camera system, we will turn the system on
for a full two hours, simulating the duration of the actual flight. For this time, the BalloonSat will
be left on a table undisturbed. The digital camera will take pictures every 15 seconds and the
GoPro will film for the entire two hours. The cameras will record to their respective SD cards,
and we will upload the data to a computer to ensure that the cameras and memory cards operated
correctly during the test.
HUMIDITY SENSOR: We will first expose the humidity sensor to varying humidity levels by
breathing on the sensor and noting if there is a change or not. Next we will test the humidity
sensor over a period of days to see if it accurately matches the outside temperature. We will
compare this data to various weather websites on the internet.
TEMPERATURE SENSOR (DIGITAL AND ANALOG ): We will first test the temperature sensors by
holding and then releasing them to see if they detect a change in temperature from the heat
provided by our hands. Once we know that they are working, we will work on calibrating them
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
by exposing the sensors to room temperature, refrigerator (0-4 degrees Celsius), and freezer
conditions (-5 to -15 degrees Celsius). We will place the sensors next to a thermometer, and
graph the readings of each sensors and the thermometer. To ensure that the data is accurate we
will wait until the readings stop fluctuating and level out to a constant number. We will then
repeat each of these tests a minimum of three times to make sure we are getting consistent
readings. After this, we will make the proper changes in the program so that each of the sensors
will give accurate readings. The sensors will be tested 3 times each again. Note: The digital
sensor will be placed inside the satellite so it only needs to be accurate to -15 degrees Celsius,
and may not work as well in the freezer. The analog sensor, however must work in the freezer.
ANEMOMETER: The Anemometer will measure wind speed on the outside of the BalloonSat.
We will test the anemometer system by setting it in a wind tunnel with a voltmeter connected to
the turbine. With the voltmeter data, we will record the speed to determine if it matches up with
the speed of the wind. We will test the turbine at 10, 25, and 45 mph, three times each.
SYSTEMS TESTING:
COOLER TEST: We will use a cooler filled with dry ice to simulate high atmosphere
temperatures. We will leave the BalloonSat in the cooler for 1.5 hours with its sensors, servos,
and anemometer powered on.
At the end of the two hours we will analyze the readings from the SD cards. We expect to see the
temperature sensor inside the satellite constant have a constant reading above -10 degrees
Celsius, the outside temperature sensor with a steady reading at or starting around 50 degrees
Celsius, constant readings from all of the other sensors, and confirmation that the anemometer,
and servos were running the whole time. No salt will be added to the system at this stage.
COMPLETE SYSTEMS TEST: We will set up the entire system, including both cameras and
adding the salt mixture to the funnels. The box will again be placed in the cooler with dry ice,
and the test will last for a full 2 hours. At the end we will analyze the readings from the SD cards
and make sure all the sensors and cameras preformed correctly. We then will compare the results
to the first cooler teat and note any differences. If the differences are too great, we will target the
specific sensor and do extra tests on it. For this complete systems test we will also note if the
powder was released and if it was released at the right time. We will use the cameras for a visual
confirmation, as we will during the flight. With this test we will also confirm that the program is
working well and without any bugs.
DEMO MISSION TEST: This test will be the same as described in COMPLETE SYSTEMS TEST
above, except for a period of 30 minutes as opposed to 2 hours.
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B.O.S.S. – Balloon-Operated Seeding System
EXPECTED RESULTS:
Team Up, Up, and Away expects to record and recover accurate information from all
sensors on the BalloonSat. First, we expect the temperature sensor to detect a decrease in
temperature until satellite flies above the ozone layer, where the measured temperature will
increase due to solar radiation (Figure 1). During descent, the opposite of this trend will be true
and we will see a clear difference the rapidity of the temperature change due to the increased rate
of change in altitude during free-fall.
We expect to discover with the anemometer that the wind speed will vary during ascent
and descent (as show in Figure 2), due to jet streams. We predict that the air pressure will
decrease during ascent at a relatively steady rate, and increase upon descent. This trend is due to
a decreasing amount of molecules in the surroundings as altitude increases (Figure 3). We expect
the humidity to follow a similar trend to temperature for the same reasons. Unlike temperature,
however, the humidity will level off before burst.
We expect to discover with the accelerometer that there will be an initial upward
acceleration at the beginning of the flight, but this will return to zero as the balloon stops
accelerating upward. We expect to see small variances in all three axes due to unknown and
unpredictable factors such as wind. Upon descent, the G-force in each direction will vary
erratically as a result of an unpredictable and turbulent descent. Lastly, we expect the cameras,
both the GoPro and the Cannon, to take clear pictures and video throughout the flight. The
GoPro will be focused on confirming the release of the sodium chloride powder.
Another aspect of expected results is how we predict our mechanisms will function
throughout the flight. Presuming the connections are stable and the tests which confirm this are
conducted accurately, all mechanisms should properly perform their specific functions
flawlessly. Mid-flight confirmation will come from the physical observation of the powder
(enhanced by reflective glitter) after its release. Post-flight confirmation will be made through
GoPro video of the release.
These graphs are used from one of Carolyn Mason’s high school rocket projects.
Figure 1 (Temperature vs. Altitude)
Figure 2 (Wind Speed vs. Altitude)
Figure 3 (Air Pressure vs. Time)
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