Possible projects
• Photovoltaics – recharging batteries and powering probe systems, storing energy for probe systems, etc. (consider charging of ultracapacitors)
• Aerobots and novel descent probe configurations, parachuteless descent probes
• Acoustic sounder for altitude determination near the surface
• Measurements of clouds and aerosols, dust collection, etc.
• Nephelometer – shine laser and measure light scattered / reflected from clouds, aerosol, dust
• Atmospheric radiation - Ultraviolet sensor
• Radiation detector (Geiger counters to measure cosmic rays, etc.)
• Multispectral imaging of surface – filters and filter wheels
• Targeted descent and landing
• Inflatable devices for altering probe ballistic coefficient, for absorbing landing shock
• Ozone measurement as function of altitude
• Measurement of Muon flux as function of altitude
• Measurement of magnetic field direction and magnitude
• Reaction wheels to control vehicle pointing
• Extreme environment actuators, robotics (high altitude in near vacuum, low temps, etc.)
• Microprobes (< 1kg)
• Microgravity experiments (done during free fall)
• Deployment of robotic arm or sensors in flight
• Deploy second balloon system from the balloon capsule while under parachute
• Deploy system on landing – rover, surface temperature probes, seismometer, etc.
• Generate power on ascent / descent with small windmill
• Electromagnetics – fly antenna to monitor atmospheric electricity, lightning, Langmuir probe to measure atmospheric conductivity, etc.
• Tilt / Rotation sensors (accelerometers) to measure pendulum motion, turbulence, buffeting, rotation, etc.
• Automated surface feature recognition – roads, mountains, rivers and lakes, etc.
• Optical altitude determination – horizon analysis, change in size of surface feature sizes, etc.
• Optical drift determination
• Optical attitude determination
• What can we learn by observing the limb of the Earth?
• Deploy camera arm to take directed photos.
• Stabilize balloon during flight.
• Design lighting system for night flights (see FAA regulations).
