DE202004013613U1 - Driveless missile for carrying atmospheric and weather measurement instruments is carried to a start height using a carrier system, e.g. a balloon, from where it is set in a controlled glide path to a known possible landing place - Google Patents

Abstract

Driveless missile for carrying measurement instruments, especially for weather and atmospheric data measurement, is carried to a start height by a start system, e.g. a balloon, rocket or aircraft, and then set in a gliding motion to one of a number of defined landing places. An independent claim is made for an automatic flight control unit that has a radio probe with sensors for flight path planning and control.

Description

starting point

For weather forecasts are daily many radio probe ascents carried out on balloons at which the balloon in large Height bursts and then the measuring devices go down somewhere on the parachute and are generally lost.

State of the art

The Radio probes for Weather services are daily often started in many places with balloons and at heights of lifted up to 35 km where the balloon bursts. The drifts Probe with the wind, measures temperature, humidity, dew point and the flight path using GPS and sends the measurement data by radio a ground station.

To the balloon burst the probe to earth and is braked by a parachute. The probes are designed as disposable probes because only a few are found by chance Probes are sent to the weather services.

Because if you expect the probes to be lost, there will be more interesting ones Measuring devices dispensed with or cheaper, less precise measuring devices are installed.

The Repatriation of Probes generally happen on a non-steerable parachute.

With Airplanes are not the heights reached with weather balloons reachable. Also would be the operation of aircraft significantly more expensive.

problem

Just Few of the radio probes used are found and reused sent back. Therefore, more elaborate Measurements too expensive and not often carried out.

solution

With the inventive Radiosonde sliders land the radiosonde on a predetermined one Landing site and can salvaged and reused.

The housing used anyway The radio probes made of rigid foam are aerodynamically designed so that a glider arises, which is able to cover the distance that the probe travels during the Climbing the balloon has to slide back against the wind.

For control will be additional only one microprocessor and one servo required for the radio probe. As Sensor for the navigation serves a positioning system that is already present in the probe, for example GPS. The battery of the radio probe is designed a little larger, thus the control system in addition can be supplied.

The Aircraft is designed and the center of gravity trimmed so that the aircraft slides stably near the best glide ratio and that it flies so stably that low-frequency Corrections to the side steering calculated from the GPS measurements will be sufficient to steer the aircraft onto the target site.

Become for extreme winds several alternative finish areas entered, the on-board computer can use the measurements during the ascent and its programmed flight performance decide which of the potential finish area is approached, then calculate and execute the approach strategy.

provides the on-board computer rapid loss of altitude fixed (e.g. according to GPS or pressure probe) then the balloon has burst. With a full servo deflection e.g. the glider turns to the right separated from the remains of the balloon.

In Sufficient height is triggered before landing by a short full servo deflection to the other side Flap triggered, which leads to a second stable gliding state at minimum speed leads. The landing takes place in this state.

The Glider preferably consists of a few hard foam parts, so are designed that inside equipment and control of the radio probe slider simply attached and against landing and protected from extremely low temperatures is and a suitable aircraft form with already trained ones Flaps and sufficient strength for flight and landing arises.

The the heat generated on board is good insulation used the temperature sensitive parts like battery and Servo on for the function to maintain necessary temperatures. If necessary, the Power consumption increased by controlled shaking of the servo.

benefits

• - Because the radio probe gliders return to a relatively small landing area, can Recover them and after charging or replacing the battery be used.
• - The balloon probe ascents with radio probe gliders are priced significantly overall more valuable than disposable probes
• - The Radiosonde glider allows the economical use of high quality, more specific or additional Sensors.
• - Because of the construction and the use of very few additional ones The glider does not become much heavier and larger than known ones Radiosondes. The threat of aviation and the uninvolved people stays up a generally accepted level.
• - more environmentally friendly, by avoiding waste.

Claims (8)

Non-propelled missile for receiving measuring devices, in particular for weather and atmospheric data measurement, characterized in that it is brought to a height by a launch system (e.g. balloon, rocket or airplane) and then automatically glides to one of several defined landing sites and lands there. missile according to claim 1, characterized in that it essentially, e.g. consists of rigid foam parts that are simultaneously aerodynamic Shaping, as a structure, for receiving, fastening and protecting the equipment and also for thermal insulation of the equipment against extremely low temperatures in the upper atmosphere serve. missile according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shape and center of gravity sufficient longitudinal stability both when gliding as well as in the landing state with the flap knocked out. Automatic flight control, characterized, that the sensors for flight path planning already present in the radio probe and control can be used. Control according to claim 4, characterized in that only the flight direction is controlled. Control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the Servo the rudder and one at full deflection Separation coupling for separation from the balloon as well as with full deflection in another direction a device for setting up a wing flap actuated. Control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized by occasional activation of the servo during the ascent, the servo with Hillfe the resulting waste heat in connection with the thermal insulation through the missile Made of rigid foam, kept functional even at extremely low temperatures becomes. Control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that during the Probe ascent of the on-board computer from probe data the wind profile over the Height calculated which is then used in order to achieve the cheapest that can still be achieved Select landing site.