Tree recovery system
After experiencing a balloon stuck in a tree top, I got to consider ways to simplify the recovery process. I saw the blog post using the ez tool (tennis ball and a string) and thought of a new approach that could be explored. Why not have a pod that contains a tennis ball and a spool of string (say 100 feet for good measure). If upon recovery the balloon is found to be in a tree, issue an electronic command to the pod to deploy the tennis ball. The ball, dropping straight to earth, would have a very low probability of getting stuck in another branch. Once the ball reached the earth, one could simply pull out any remaining string (be sure the string is firmly attached to the spool and therefore the pod), then proceed to pull the balloon system from the tree.
I must say I have not built this pod system (yet), but I am very open to discussing possible solutions with others. I think it could easily be accomplished using standard, off-the-shelf remote control vehicle servos. Considerations would include that the pod must be able to drop the ball from any orientation, the bottom may be facing up. Any thoughts?
I must say I have not built this pod system (yet), but I am very open to discussing possible solutions with others. I think it could easily be accomplished using standard, off-the-shelf remote control vehicle servos. Considerations would include that the pod must be able to drop the ball from any orientation, the bottom may be facing up. Any thoughts?
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Comment by Shane DeMeulenaere on July 12, 2010 at 3:44pm -
My team experienced a similar situation, and after seeing your post I began to think about the topic. My solution to the pod orientation issue is to have the loose end of the spool be connected to the balloon train. The pod itself would only have that one point of contact. It would always hang towards the ground regardless of landing orientation. The pod would or course have to be designed to slip through tree branches, maybe some sort of cylinder shape with a taper on the bottom side. At the press of a button, the whole pod would descend on the string like a spider on a thread of silk. This also carries the benefit of using the using the pods own mass to pull it down, eliminating the need for an extra mass, i.e. the tennis ball.
Any thoughts?
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Comment by Howard Brooks on April 13, 2009 at 3:43pm -
My biggest worry would be the attachment of the spool to the pod to withstand the pulling without adding excessive weight. On both recoveries where we used the EzHang, there were multiple failures of connectors (swivels) or connections the HALO II pod.
It would be a great engineering project, particularly considering the pod orientation issue.
© 2012 Created by Jason Krueger.
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