Comment by Marco Glattfelder on January 22, 2011 at 11:16am

The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdAPm17Z0WQ

Comment by Riccardo Kuebler on January 22, 2011 at 11:55am

It even did not hit the ground :D

Congratulations !

 

Best regards,

 

Ric

Comment by Sky Monkey on January 22, 2011 at 2:37pm

Great job!  As Ric noted, it is beautiful swinging just above the ground, mostly intact.

Thanks for sharing with us!

Comment by Riccardo Kuebler on January 22, 2011 at 3:38pm

Mediadroid,
I was wondering exactly the same, but with a FPV plane. Seen that we live close ...
Ric

Comment by Marco Glattfelder on January 22, 2011 at 3:51pm

My problem is more the lading. Something like a paraglide and an UAV controller may will be able to land on a safe spot. I am looking around for sponsors for next missions (even only the helium in Switzerland costs a lot!), but the uncertain landing is a problem. I need better telemetry (868MhZ at 500mW) and a way to control the parachute. Using a sort of rc glider as "capsule" will make the whole thing illegal because i can't fly LOS and autonomous flight is not allowed. Ironically an uncontrolled parachute it is. But I admit that some nice pictures from an FPV plane at take isn't a bad idea.

Comment by Mathew krawczun on January 22, 2011 at 8:16pm

 

“autonomous flight is not allowed. Ironically an uncontrolled parachute it is"

 

I've said the something about America's law.

 

Now first off I have to say this was great and I have some ideas you may like but some a little more up there then others so hear me out okay. 

 

you  try changing over to a parafoil design instead of a normal round chute you can get a lot of control with just adding two servos. I just don't know how well a parafoil would handles in the low Atmosphere and then the winds in the jet stream. if it doesn't handle well you could use a small round parachute you later cut to deploy the paraglider but that adds complexity. you could also have the capsule free fall until it would be low enough were we know a parafoil works. I would ass a streamer on the capsule then, it would keep the capsule from tumbling too much and slow it down some.

 

now if you've gone that far you might as well add a motor and propeller and make the capsule into a paraglider but that may be crossing the line into illegal territory.

 

also I have an interesting idea to help with your helium problem, if you add a small heater (I'm thinking some coils of nichrome wire in front of some small low power pc fan) suspended inside the balloon you could get more lift out of the same amount of gas. Of cause now that I typed that all out its most likely way to much work for most people sorry.

 

Well whatever you do next I'm sure it will be great and I can't wait to see it.

Comment by Johann Van Niekerk on January 23, 2011 at 3:04am

Marco Hi

Beauifull pictures ! I have one question, and its more food for thought then expecting a answer .

I live in South Africa and iv been thinking of the same thing te only thing that stops me from doing it is Aircraft above ,The AMA and FAA is in a romp in america over 400 foot limit and there are guys sending balloons with a payload into space never mind 400 feet. I always argued this away because i think its great what we doing but watching that video in slow motion I saw 2 comercial airline(white strip)  tracks in the sky arnt you afraid of your payload going through a jet engine?

 

P.S if you answer this Question well im starting my build in the morning ;-)

Comment by Marco Glattfelder on January 23, 2011 at 3:50am

The answer is simple: the aircrafts have to take care. I asked the same to our federal aviation bureau. They said to me that pilots are aware about that. Every day weather balloons aee going up. Asking about the radar reflector and the FAA rules they just said "we are not in USA here". Finally they tell me to do wathever I want if i start 5km away from any airport, the payload is less than 2.5 kg abd the balloon smaller than 30m3. Just the damage caused at landing may be an issue. Here an insurance is needed. Personally I beleive that the danger coming from any rc flight is greater.

Comment by Johann Van Niekerk on January 23, 2011 at 4:00am

Lucky you Marco

Comment by marshall scholz on January 23, 2011 at 9:21am

marco, to avoid buying all that helium you co0uld electrolise water to make hydrogen instead, and have the whole electroliser assembly pressurised to 20 or so psi to avoid compressing it after it comes out of the electroliser to bottle it.  it may seem like a bot of a bad idea, but as long as you keep the hydrogen and oxygen separated and ignition sources far away it should be fine.

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