Background
High-altitude balloons, often referred to as weather balloons, play a critical role in weather forecasting by collecting essential atmospheric data. These balloons, typically filled with hydrogen or helium, carry radiosondes aloft, which measure temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction and various altitudes. High-altitude balloons have also emerged as an essential tool for aerobiological sampling, which allows scientists to collect and analyze airborne microorganisms at various altitudes. These balloons are equipped with specialized devices, including solid-state impactors and liquid impingers, which efficiently capture biological particles suspended into the atmosphere. This information has significant implications for understanding the role of airborne microbes in cloud formation, precipitation, and biogeochemical cycling.
Invention Description
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a lightweight, low size weight and power (SWaP) high-altitude balloon payload for aerobiological sampling. This technology incorporates the latest drone flight control technologies and custom designed environmental sensing hardware. The design includes many different levels that each perform different functions related to aerobiological sampling including collecting air samples, conducting atmospheric measurements, stabilizing yaw angle to head in a desired direction, batteries to power the components, and a flight controller and antennas.
Potential Applications
- Aerobiological sampling (e.g., research on cloud formation, precipitation, and biochemical cycling)
- Autonomous CubeSats
Benefits and Advantages
- Low-cost: ground-based prototype estimated to be less than $300
- Autonomous decision-making: computations split between flight controller, sensor probe, and computing chip for image processing tasks
- Solar-charged: lithium polymer batteries recharged with actively oriented solar panels
- Increased imaging capabilities: advanced tracking features can enable imaging of the sun or tracking of solar eclipse shadows