Computer Simulations of Global Networks of Stratospheric Balloons
Matthew K. Heun, R. Stephen Schlaifer, Kim Aaron, Kerry Nock, Alexey Pankine,
Naomi Ehrich Leonard, Edward A. Belbruno, and Pradeep Bhatta
6th Symposium on Integrated Observing Systems, American Meteorological Society.
Global Aerospace Corporation, with funding provided by the NASA
Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC), is developing a
revolutionary concept for a global constellation and network of
hundreds of stratospheric superpressure balloons which can address
major scientific questions relating to NASA’s Earth Science
Mission by measuring stratospheric gases, collecting data on
atmospheric circulation, observing the Earth’s surface, and
detecting and monitoring environmental hazards. As part of this
overall effort, Global Aerospace Corporation and Princeton
University are studying methods of controlling the geometry of
these stratospheric balloon constellations using concepts related
to and inspiration derived from biological group behavior such as
schooling, flocking, and herding.
The balloons in the constellation float at a near-constant 35 km
altitude. Their trajectories are controlled by a StratoSail®
Trajectory Control System (TCS). The StratoSail® TCS provides
bounded and underactuated control of balloon trajectories, and the
balloons drift in the stratospheric winds, a non-uniform external
flow field.
In this paper, we investigate the use of the concepts of
Artificial Potentials and Weak Stability Boundary Theory to
provide coordinated control of the distributed balloons.
Artificial potentials are used to determine control actions for
individual members of a constellation. With artificial potentials,
it is possible to model simple, local (near-neighbor) traffic
rules that lead to higher functionality at the group level. This
concept of behavior and intelligence of a group that emerges from
decentralized, individual-level rules is inspired by natural
groupings. We model and control the geometry of the stratospheric
balloon constellation in much the same spirit as biologists
understand and model animal aggregations such as schooling fish
and flocking birds.