Difference between revisions of "Cycloon"

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'''Project Cycloon''' is a project on SSI's Balloons team with the aim of designing and operating altitude-controlled, long-endurance, aero-marine balloon platforms for tropical cyclone research.
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[[File:Cycloon.png|400px|thumb|Project components]]
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'''Project Cycloon''' ({{slack-channel|balloons-cycloon}}) is a core project on SSI's [[Balloons]] team with the aim of designing and operating altitude-controlled, long-endurance, aero-marine balloon platforms for tropical cyclone research. Begun in January 2019, Cycloon has launched five payloads as of August 2019 and has deployed proof-of-concepts of several novel techniques in high-altitude ballooning, as well as giving rise to [[HABSIM]]. Please contact the current lead of Cycloon, {{slack-user|sunet-id = hagop|display-name=Hagop Chinchinian}}, to get involved!
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All flight code, simulations, communications protocols, and flight data/analysis for Cycloon are maintained on [https://github.com/stanford-ssi/cycloon GitHub] and repository notifications arrive in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-git}}. The flight control channel is {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-flops}}.
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==Aims==
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Balloons platforms exhibit a very wide range of operating altitudes, making them uniquely well suited to study the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone#Physics_and_energetics secondary circulation and energetics] of tropical systems. Understanding such aspects of tropical cyclones is key to improving forecast models of cyclone intensity, whose reliability has lagged significantly behind that of storm track forecasts. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Michael Hurricane Michael] is a prime example of a storm where poor intensity forecasts resulted in substantial loss of life and property and was a key inspiration for the project. Additionally, balloons platforms can be deployed at significantly lower cost than planes and buoys, and are therefore significantly more scalable.
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Key projects being undertaken within Cycloon (and their respective Slack channels) include:
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*'''Altitude control:''' Cycloon aims to master and extend the legacy of altitude control on latex balloons pioneered by previous SSI projects. This entails both mechanical and algorithmic aspects. Design and production of the primary vent and ballast mechanisms is undertaken in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-platform}}.
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*'''Marine tether:''' In order to extend the flight endurance beyond the inherent limitations of latex, Cycloon is developing an tether and floater to rest on the surface of the ocean for days at a time. This architecture was successfully demonstrated in [[SSI-83|CY-1]].
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*'''Simulations:''' The need to predict trajectories from California to the Pacific and Atlantic topical basins using the GEFS forecast ensemble has given rise to [[HABSIM]] and its associated work. See also {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-sims}}.
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*'''Payload:''' Ultimately, the purpose of the balloon platform will be to carry low-cost, lightweight radiosondes. See {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-dropsonde}}.
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*'''Communications:''' To augment data uplink rates, Cycloon is developing a skywave communications system and protocol in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-comms}}.
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*'''Avionics:''' Core avionics work involving circuit board design and flight code is undertaken in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-avionics}}.
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*'''ZPB:''' Polyethylene envelopes have intrinsically more desirable properties compared to latex envelopes. In-house manufacture of such envelopes is being explored in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-zpb}} and was first demonstrated in [[SSI-90|CY-4]].
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==Missions==
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
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!|Number
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!|Link
 +
!|Launch date
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!|Launch site
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!|Flight duration
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!|Notes
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|-
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|1
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! [[File:Ssi83.png|200px|frameless|link=SSI-83]]
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| April 17, 2019
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| Pigeon Point
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| 60 hours, 33 minutes
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| Demonstration of long-endurance marine tether. Float-only profile. Lost off the coast of San Luis Obispo county.
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|-
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|2
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! [[File:SSI-86.png|200px|frameless|link=SSI-86]]
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| May 18, 2019
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| Hollister
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| 5 hours, 12 minutes + 5 hours, 40 minutes
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| Latex ballast control. Flight through inclement weather and resumption of flight after 24 hours. Final location in Yosemite National Park.
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|-
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|3
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! [[SSI-87]]
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| June 1, 2019
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| Le Grand
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| 3 hours, 52 minutes
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| Latex full altitude control. Recovered from near Mendota, California on June 1, 2019.
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|-
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|4
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! [[SSI-90]]
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| July 27, 2019
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| Hollister
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| Unknown
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| First flight of in-house constructed polyethylene envelope. Telemetry error; final location unknown.
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|-
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|5
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! [[SSI-91]]
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| August 5, 2019
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| Hollister
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| 2 hours, 0 minutes
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| Second flight of in-house constructed polyethylene envelope. Recovered from near Tracy, CA on August 31, 2019.
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|-
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|6
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! [[SSI-92]]
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| October 5, 2019
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| Hollister
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| 9 hours, 28 minutes
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| First polyethylene tubing envelope. First SSI ZPB flight with full telemetry. First interstate Cycloon flight. Final location near Alamo, NV.
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|-
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|7
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! [[SSI-93]]
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| October 27, 2019
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| Hollister
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| 4 hours, 4 minutes
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| First ballast-controlled ZPB. Eventful launch and post-landing. Final location near Tulare, CA.
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|-
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|8
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! [[SSI-97]]
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| November 17, 2019
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| Pigeon Point
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| N/A
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| Extensive ZPB ground tests.
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|}
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[[Category: High Altitude Balloons]]
 
[[Category: High Altitude Balloons]]

Latest revision as of 00:26, 19 September 2021

Project components

Project Cycloon (SlackLogo.png#balloons-cycloon ) is a core project on SSI's Balloons team with the aim of designing and operating altitude-controlled, long-endurance, aero-marine balloon platforms for tropical cyclone research. Begun in January 2019, Cycloon has launched five payloads as of August 2019 and has deployed proof-of-concepts of several novel techniques in high-altitude ballooning, as well as giving rise to HABSIM. Please contact the current lead of Cycloon, SlackLogo.png@Hagop Chinchinian , to get involved!

All flight code, simulations, communications protocols, and flight data/analysis for Cycloon are maintained on GitHub and repository notifications arrive in SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-git . The flight control channel is SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-flops .

Aims

Balloons platforms exhibit a very wide range of operating altitudes, making them uniquely well suited to study the secondary circulation and energetics of tropical systems. Understanding such aspects of tropical cyclones is key to improving forecast models of cyclone intensity, whose reliability has lagged significantly behind that of storm track forecasts. Hurricane Michael is a prime example of a storm where poor intensity forecasts resulted in substantial loss of life and property and was a key inspiration for the project. Additionally, balloons platforms can be deployed at significantly lower cost than planes and buoys, and are therefore significantly more scalable.

Key projects being undertaken within Cycloon (and their respective Slack channels) include:

  • Altitude control: Cycloon aims to master and extend the legacy of altitude control on latex balloons pioneered by previous SSI projects. This entails both mechanical and algorithmic aspects. Design and production of the primary vent and ballast mechanisms is undertaken in SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-platform .
  • Marine tether: In order to extend the flight endurance beyond the inherent limitations of latex, Cycloon is developing an tether and floater to rest on the surface of the ocean for days at a time. This architecture was successfully demonstrated in CY-1.
  • Simulations: The need to predict trajectories from California to the Pacific and Atlantic topical basins using the GEFS forecast ensemble has given rise to HABSIM and its associated work. See also SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-sims .
  • Payload: Ultimately, the purpose of the balloon platform will be to carry low-cost, lightweight radiosondes. See SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-dropsonde .
  • Communications: To augment data uplink rates, Cycloon is developing a skywave communications system and protocol in SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-comms .
  • Avionics: Core avionics work involving circuit board design and flight code is undertaken in SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-avionics .
  • ZPB: Polyethylene envelopes have intrinsically more desirable properties compared to latex envelopes. In-house manufacture of such envelopes is being explored in SlackLogo.png#balloons-cy-zpb  and was first demonstrated in CY-4.

Missions

Number Link Launch date Launch site Flight duration Notes
1 Ssi83.png April 17, 2019 Pigeon Point 60 hours, 33 minutes Demonstration of long-endurance marine tether. Float-only profile. Lost off the coast of San Luis Obispo county.
2 SSI-86.png May 18, 2019 Hollister 5 hours, 12 minutes + 5 hours, 40 minutes Latex ballast control. Flight through inclement weather and resumption of flight after 24 hours. Final location in Yosemite National Park.
3 SSI-87 June 1, 2019 Le Grand 3 hours, 52 minutes Latex full altitude control. Recovered from near Mendota, California on June 1, 2019.
4 SSI-90 July 27, 2019 Hollister Unknown First flight of in-house constructed polyethylene envelope. Telemetry error; final location unknown.
5 SSI-91 August 5, 2019 Hollister 2 hours, 0 minutes Second flight of in-house constructed polyethylene envelope. Recovered from near Tracy, CA on August 31, 2019.
6 SSI-92 October 5, 2019 Hollister 9 hours, 28 minutes First polyethylene tubing envelope. First SSI ZPB flight with full telemetry. First interstate Cycloon flight. Final location near Alamo, NV.
7 SSI-93 October 27, 2019 Hollister 4 hours, 4 minutes First ballast-controlled ZPB. Eventful launch and post-landing. Final location near Tulare, CA.
8 SSI-97 November 17, 2019 Pigeon Point N/A Extensive ZPB ground tests.
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