Developing a GPS system onboard a high altitude balloon

• Main Author: Wan, Chia Sing
• Other Authors: Low Kay Soon
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Antennas, wave guides, microwaves, radar, radio
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60185
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Representing Nanyang Technological University, the Satellite Research Centre (SaRC) is in the midst of launching a High Altitude Balloon. The rationale behind the project’s initiation is primarily for its economical approach. This method is an inexpensive alternative to access near space environment, which is approximately 25km above Earth’s surface. The ability to obtain and tabulate data from a near space environment will positively contribute to a myriad of dynamic and progressive experiments and testing on the other components of the High Altitude Balloon. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the balloon’s free roaming, and hence, inability to control, calls for the installation of a GPS. The purpose of which is crucial for the tracking and retrieval of the High Altitude Balloon. Due to the balloon’s vast physical mass, it is essential to retrieve it in a bid to avoid land obstruction. Additionally, the GPS will aid in tracking and understanding the real time flight path. The information can then be extracted and used to compare the flight path with external conditions like wind. The said material can also be further used to formulate the amount of helium gas required to attain the desired height. Hence, it is critical for the GPS reading to fall within a small error of margin so as to provide reliable flight data collection. Considerable amount of time and effort has been invested to ensure the GPS data is accurate, such as, experimenting and conducting numerous simulations to test for the accuracy (error of margin).