枝本 雅史

Small balloons provide an effective means of conducting in situ observations in the stratosphere. However, payload recovery has been challenging due to their passive and wind-dependent flight during both the ascent and descent phases. In this study, a parafoil-controlled payload module was developed to improve the recoverability of such payloads. The payload module consists of a parafoil with a 2.25 m wingspan and a control unit. To evaluate its performance, a balloon release experiment was conducted. The payload module was carried by a small balloon to an altitude of 4,522 m, where it was separated. After separation, the module glided under remote control. The mission was successfully concluded with a successful recovery in the designated sea area, establishing the feasibility of guided descent and demonstrating the potential for reliable payload retrieval. This manual control experiment serves as a proof of concept for future autonomous guidance systems, thereby expanding the technological scope of small-balloon missions.

<p>Technological innovations in recent years have enabled the downsizing of high-altitude balloon systems to be realized. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to utilize these technologies to develop a small high-altitude balloon operating system. Using this novel system, it will be possible to design an inexpensive experimental plan with a flexible schedule. This operating system is expected to be used for general observational purposes, such as the measurement of acoustic waves, sampling of air-particulate matter, and optical observations at high altitude. In this report, we introduce a novel mobile operational system for a small high-altitude balloon and experimental data obtained via a collaborative flight experiment.</p>