Wireless Survillence Balloon is discussed in the text

1. CASE STUDY
ON
WIRELESS SURVEILLANCE BALLOON
By
NAME Roll No
Avelino Moses 13
Leonard D’souza 31
Vishnu RC Vijayan 74
Jeetson Gonsalves 76
Under the guidance
Of
Prof. Sudhakar Ambhore
DON BOSCO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
PREMIER AUTOMOBILES ROAD
KURLA(W)
MUMBAI – 400070
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2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are grateful to Don Bosco Institute of Technology, the Principal Dr.Prasanna
Nambiar and our HOD, Dr. RK Sarangi for providing the necessary resources for
the completion of the project.
We would like to express our gratitude to Prof. Sudhakar Ambhore for his
constant encouragement, support and guidance during the entire course of the
project.
We express our sincere thanks to all those who have directly and indirectly helped
us in the completion of this project.
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3. CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project entitled “WIRELESS SURVILLENCE BALLOON”
is a bonafide work of
Avellino Moses (Roll No- 13)
Leonard D’Souza (Roll No- 31)
Vishnu RC Vijayan (Roll No- 74)
Jeetson Gonsalves (Roll No -76)
Submitted to the University of Mumbai in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the term work of
the subject “Mechatronics” [Course Code: MEC605] studied in Semester VI of
Third Year of Mechanical Engineering.
Sudhakar Ambhore
Date: Subject In charge
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4. INDEX
SR. NO CONTENTS PAGE NO
1
Introduction 7
2
2.1
2.2
Surveillance Balloon
Purpose
Working
9
9
10
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
Mechatronics Contribution
Sensors
Advantages
Disadvantages
13
13
14
14
4 Conclusion 15
5 Reference 15
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5. List of Figures
Dia. No Representation Pg. No
Dia. 1 Figure Showing Surveillance Camera 8
Dia. 2 General Part of Surveillance Camera 10
Dia. 3 Data Transmission Layout 12
Dia. 4 Pneumatic and Electric circuit 13
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6. Abstract
The demand for high-capacity wireless services is bringing increasing challenges, especially for
delivery of the ‘last mile’. Terrestrially, the need for line-of-sight propagation paths represents a
constraint unless very large numbers of base-station masts are deployed, while satellite systems
have capacity limitations. An emerging solution is offered by high-altitude platforms (HAPs)
operating in the stratosphere at altitudes of up to 22 km to provide communication facilities that
can exploit the best features of both terrestrial and satellite schemes.
A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that can be used in military and public
safety situations for real-time observations. They are as small as feasibly possible, low-cost and
expendable, and typically are deployed in clusters. Balloons may act individually or alternately
clusters may act robotically (in unison) without command input at times.
Video surveillance information is preprocessed and then sent via wireless communications links.
Batteries and/or gas cylinders may be selectively jettisoned to facilitate vertical movement.
Balloons may optionally have thruster mechanisms to facilitate lateral movement which may in
some embodiments be powered by a source of combustible gas which is also used for providing
lift.
This study outlines the application of surveillance balloon as low cost alternative for HAPs for
delivery of future wireless surveillance system. This article stresses the importance of wireless
surveillance with integration of mechatronics in the system.
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7. 1. INTRODUCTION
With the ever growing threat of terrorism the needs for a more economic method of
surveillance to constantly monitor large areas of concern keeps on growing. Conventional
surveillance systems, both wired and wireless, become uneconomical when the subject area is a
large open land mass where an overall broad perspective view is important.
It is in such domains of surveillance that aerial surveillance becomes both necessary and
economical. This article evaluates the feasibility of using Aerostats or tethered balloons as
platforms for carrying surveillance cameras and their usefulness for both military and civil
operations in an Indian perspective. Aerostats, also sometimes referred to as captive balloons are
tethered Lighter-than-Air (LTA) platforms filled with either Helium or Hydrogen which helps
them stay aloft in air due to buoyancy. Their relative cheapness and ease of maintenance makes
them an attractive option to be considered as a platform for carrying surveillance camera
payloads high-up in the air to obtain a broader perspective view of the target area.
Need for Aerostats in the present scenario as the threat of terrorism grows, a common prevailing
need of surveillance is to monitor large areas of concern in the civil sector with a general overall
perspective rather than acquiring pin-point detail.
Consider the case of an exhibition being held at Pragati Maidan Grounds in
New Delhi. Take for example the International Trade Fair currently being held in Delhi, where
around 30 lakh people visited the 14 day long fair. Now monitoring all these people solely
through surveillance cameras mounted on poles and exhibition walls, becomes a very tedious an
uneconomical task. The relative efficiency still remains low.
The Delhi Police is using around 850 armed personnel along with 4 companies of paramilitary
forces, all aided by 50 CCTV cameras installed at critical areas. Though this is a fairly tight
security installation, the level of situational awareness remains low. For example, if we have to
track a trouble-maker running away from a scene, owing to the large crowd of people, the task is
fairly difficult. The task however becomes relatively easy if we have a broader perspective view
of the area using an aerially mounted camera. Again, if for some reason, a stampede occurs,
situational awareness gained through a broader perspective helps tremendously by letting us
know the areas where people are running to, allowing the security forces to know the specific
points where they should mobilize the security personnel to stop the stampede.
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8. The major advantage of aerial surveillance is to provide a broad perspective view of
the area from air, which leads to increased situational awareness and hence faster and more
efficient surveillance. The concept of broader perspective becomes obvious in some situations
like border and coastal surveillance. The Indo-Pak border is one of the longest high-tension
border in the world. The border stretching 3323km is constantly under vigil and major sectors
like the Jammu sector in Kashmir and Gujarat sector have already been fenced. However, despite
the fencing, the infiltration still continues. Any attempt to have a round-the-clock constant video
surveillance through cameras mounted on poles is unfeasible because of elaborate wiring and
network requirements. On the other hand, cameras mounted on aerostats can cover a much larger
area making the whole idea feasible.
Figure 1- A figure showing Surveillance Camera installed
Aerostats can also be used as platforms for terrestrial radars, which will constantly map the
surface and detect infiltration. Such Radars mounted on tethered aerostats are already in use
along the southern US border along Mexico and Caribbean.
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9. 2. SURVEILLANCE BALLOON
Surveillance balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms
for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary
Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today.
Historically, observation balloons were filled with hydrogen. The balloons were fabric envelopes
filled with hydrogen gas, whose flammable nature led to the destruction of hundreds of balloons
on both sides. Observers manning these observation balloons frequently had to use a parachute to
evacuate their balloon when it came under attack. To avoid the potentially flammable
consequences of hydrogen, observation balloons after World War I were often filled with non-
flammable helium.
Typically, balloons were tethered to a steel cable attached to a winch that reeled the gasbag to its
desired height (usually 1,000-1,500 meters) and retrieved it at the end of an observation session.
2.1 PURPOSE
In the military scenario, the Indian government realized the potential of aerostat as a
platform and has sanctioned the purchase of Aerostat mounted Radar Surveillance systems for
the Indian Air force. Two such Radars have been placed in Gujarat and Punjab. But the IAF has
expressed the need for at least ten more such systems. Besides surveillance, aerostats also
provide a very good platform for mounting telecommunication and broadband equipment.
Access points enclosed in a weather-proof box can be hanged from a series of aerostats in a mesh
network topology providing an efficient and economical city-wide broadband network.
Similarly, Television and radio transmitters can be mounted on an aerostat and
elevated to big heights providing a cheap and efficient way of providing these facilities in cities.
This saves us the cost of erecting expensive TV-towers, which are still not as high as aerostats
causing lower reception. Cellular phone companies can also use aerostats as platforms for
mounting their transmitting antennas instead of land-based transmitters. Similarly various other
applications of aerostats can be thought of from communication’s perspective. Conclusion With
the current trend, it is apparent that aerostats will soon become an indispensable part of civil and
military surveillance.
As India’s economy continues to grow, and as long as the threat of terrorism
continues to prevail, it is only obvious that we should adopt this new technology sooner.
However, an Indian initiative in this field is definitely required as the Indian climate presents
great challenges which can only be met if the design has been optimized for such conditions.
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10. 2.2 WORKING
Figure 2- General parts of surveillance balloon
2.2.1 Size
The balloon system should be as small and light as possible, while still performing its required
mission.
2.2.2 Gas Sack and Gas
The balloon gas sack may be rigid or inflatable. If inflatable, it may be inflated before
deployment or may inflate at the time of deployment from gas stored in a small cylinder. If a
cylinder is used, the cylinder may have the ability to be jettisoned in order to reduce the overall
weight of the balloon system. The gas used may be helium or hydrogen or other “lighter-than-
air” gas. If hydrogen, there may be included the ability to selectively oxidize some of the
Hydrogen gas in a controlled manner to produce thrust and/or produce electricity (as in a fuel
cell).
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11. 2.2.3 Electrical Power
The balloon's electronics systems may be powered by battery, solar power, and/or hydrogen
power (fuel cell). The outer surface of the balloon's gas sack may implement a solar cell or have
multiple solar cells deployed upon it. Batteries may be re-chargeable from the solar cells, or by
energy conversion from hydrogen gas.
2.2.4 Batteries
The system may be designed such that the batteries are implemented as a group of individual
batteries where the physical mounting and electrical connection means is such that individual
batteries may be jettisoned in order to make the balloon system lighter. Batteries may be re-
chargeable or not.
2.2.5 Electromechanical Controls
These may be implemented using miniature conventional solenoid mechanisms, or alternately by
micro-machines implemented in advanced semiconductor technology, or some combination of
the two.
2.2.6 Directional Travel and Thrusters
In general, the balloon system may be encouraged to travel in the vertical direction by releasing
gas from the bag to descend and by either injecting gas from the compressed gas cylinder and/or
jettisoning weight to ascend. The balloon system may optionally include some form of
directional thrusters to allow it to travel in a specific horizontal direction and/or travel in a
vertical direction at a rate faster than the effects of lift and weight would allow. Thrusters may be
provided by solid rocket propellant, or alternately by miniature engines that burn hydrogen gas
from the bag or from the gas cylinder.
2.2.7 Vision System
The system will include at least one image sensor providing at least a static image and more
desirably, a video image. This system will provide a 360 degree view. The 360 degree view can
be accomplished by having multiple image sensors or by having a single image sensor array
combined with a lens that enables a 360 degree capture (see IPIX method). If there are multiple
sensor arrays, there may be for instance 3 image sensor arrays, each covering a 120 degree view.
If video capability is included, the frame rate may be variable such that the capacity of the
available communications link is not overloaded. Video compression is typically performed and
image preprocessing may also be performed to eliminate unwanted information and further
lessen the bandwidth requirement that is placed on the communications system. The vision
system may include IR capability for night viewing.
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12. Figure 3- Data Transmission Layout
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13. 3. Mechatronics Contribution
The shown system can be used for actuating the fins of surveillance balloon
Figure 4
When signal is sent from the base station the relay is activated. This relay actuates DAC and fins
are actuated. Due to this Balloon changes direction.
3.1 Use of data loggers
Data loggers are used in order to save total flight data. Balloons are also provide with memory to
store the captured images
3.2 Sensors
For camera directions various sensors are set. Sensors also monitor balloon pressure, height of
balloon from the ground etc. In general mechatronics is used to automate the process.
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14. 3.2 CERTAIN KEY ADVANTAGES THAT AEROSTATS ENJOY ARE:
1. Cheaper
2. Safe
3. Rapid deployment in rural or non-urban areas allows for quick and inexpensive establishment
of communication networks.
4. Easy to deploy and maintain.
5. Require minimum crew-training for handling, making it easier to incorporate into the already
established surveillance infrastructure.
6. Provides a broad perspective/view of target area for video surveillance.
7. Aerostats can be used as a platform for Radars, IR/optical sensors, and other sensor
equipment’s.
8. Can be used as cheap low-altitude telecommunications relay platforms for purposes like
broadband communication and wide area networks (WAN).
9. Bigger more sophisticated aerostats flying at an altitude of 15000m can be used as cheap low-
maintenance geostationary satellites.
3.3 CERTAIN KEY ISSUES THAT WILL HAVE TO BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE CHOOSING
AN AEROSTAT FOR THE INDIAN MARKET:
1. Cheap
2. Durability of envelope in tropical continental weather.
3. Durability of envelope against the severe monsoons (extreme humidity).
4. The tropical weather generates strong turbulent gusts during noon-time, and so the aerostat
should be designed to withstand such gusts.
5. Good stability in high-wind conditions and the ability to not lose altitude in such winds.
6. The balloon itself should be easy to manage and replace when required.
7. The electronic equipment should be weatherproof, and the gimbal system to mount these
electronics should be gyrostabilized.
8. It is very essential that the parts should be easily accessible as unavailability of spare parts can
be a major setback.
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15. 4. CONCLUSION
With the current trend, it is apparent that aerostats will soon become an indispensable part of
civil and military surveillance. As India’s economy continues to grow, and as long as the threat
of terrorism continues to prevail, it is only obvious that we should adopt this new technology
sooner. However, an Indian initiative in this field is definitely required as the Indian climate
presents great challenges which can only be met if the design has been optimized for such
conditions.
5. REFERENCES
5.1 Websites
srividyaengg.ac.in
svce.ac.in
Srce-mech.weebly.com
Tocs.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de
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