andy watson Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Our science club are busy putting together 10 indoor fliers, and so will be busy for a while, but I am thinking about their next project. I remember seeing a number of programmes where various people have bought weather balloons, filled them with Helium and released them. These balloons will rise rapidly to the edge of space, but also show wind conditions on the way up. They eventually burst and fall back to Earth many miles away. My idea.........and as usual I am miles out of my comfort zone here- is to do this, but the balloon (as per the TV) is carrying a box containing a camera and GPS tracking- allowing us to follow the balloon and retrieve the box. Ideally I would like the balloon to transmit live video feed and GPS data back so we can all watch it as it happens. The alternative would be that we get the video once we retrieve the box. The obvious worry is what if we lose the box- and hence the camera. Extra sensors such as temperature would be interesting too. Has anyone any experience of doing something like this, or the kind of equipment that would be suitable? Budget isn't as tight as you might expect for a school project- but if we could get everything back it would help!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-richards Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Im sure there is a post on here about this sort of thing but i dont know what it called, look on youtube because there is a short vid of the progress Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Have you seen the Flitetest show about their Space Glider? Available via Youtube or via the Flitetest website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Andy - maybe try doing it based on a Raspberry Pi type micro computer - then the project includes programming, sensor integration and other 'pratical' things. Diagrams and software is available open-source via the Raspberry Pi website, and they are a helpful bunch over there too. Olly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Cairns Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Can't you get mobile phones with trackers installed that you give to children? Hang one of them from your balloon and you should be able to get a geofix with a call to it. Assumes 3G signals can reach that high, but phones have been known to work from aircraft, haven't they? Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Loads of info here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.