We designed a low cost balloon-launch platform that did not require the use of expensive equipment such as radio modems (the total cost of our device did not exceed 150 dollars) or complicated hardware hacking (all of the components of our device were common electronics available off-the-shelf in stores).
The GPS receiver was a Motorola i290 “Boost Mobile” prepaid phone with internet and GPS capability (set up with Accutracking to constantly report its GPS location).
We bought a AA-battery cell phone charger to sustain the phone’s power over the duration of the flight, and we used Energizer lithium batteries (rated to operate at temperatures are low as -40F) to power both this charger as well as our camera.
As a further safeguard against electronic/battery failure due to low temperature, we utilitzed Coleman disposable hand warmers (placed near our electronics) to help keep our equipment warm in the cold of the stratosphere.
We loaded a Canon A470 camera (bought used on Amazon) with CHDK open source software to enable a feature which allowed the camera to take pictures continuously (intervalometer). Using this feature, we set the camera to take a picture every 5 seconds at a 1/800 second shutter speed. With an 8GB card, the camera was able to chronicle the whole journey of the balloon from launch to retrieval. (~5 hours)
Equipment Used in the Launch Capsule
| Item | Weight | Cost |
| Sounding Balloon 350g from Kaymont | 350g | ~$20 +$20 (helium) |
| Parachute | ~10g | ~$3* |
| Motorola i290 Prepaid Cellphone | ~90g, | ~$50** |
| Styrofoam Beer Cooler | ~15g | ~$0 |
| Duct Tape | ~10g | ~$0 |
| Zip Ties | ~5g | ~$0 |
| Canon A470 with 8GB SD card | ~165g, | ~$40*** |
| Insulation material- newspaper | ~5g | ~$0 |
| Duracell USB phone charger powered by AA batteries | ~20g 1oz | ~$10 |
| Instant Hand warmer | ~5g | ~$2**** |
| 4 Ultimate Lithium AA batteries | ~15g * 4 = 60 g | ~$5 |
| Radar Reflector (aluminum foil) | ~0g | ~$0 |
| Total | ~800g, /w misc. | ~$150 |
* Two things:
(1) We had one of these laying around, so we’re actually a little unclear about how much it would cost to get a plastic parachute with strings, but we can’t imagine it would be that much. However, we actually created a second launch vehicle using a trash bag as a parachute, so that is one way people could probably cut costs.
(2) It may not even be necessary to attach a parachute. For instance, I think that a large number of streamers dangling off the back of the box might provide enough drag to slow it down to a comparable landing speed.
** Some people have told us (and we have confirmed after some searching online) that the cost of the cell phone (usable for a similar launch) can actually go as low as $30. We paid $50 for ours though.
*** This was a lucky grab for us. One can do the same with a 4GB SD card with picture intervals of 10s each, and that will save you about $10. You can find cheap cameras on ebay or Amazon (used). You probably want to send a used one up anyways, considering the harsh conditions it will be subject to.
**** A packet of 6 handwarmers can be bought for ~$5 from Target. We used two handwarmers for our launch, one pressed against the camera and one pressed against the cell phone.
***** Many people have asked about the antenna in our pictures. It was an extra part from a used wireless router. However, i don’t actually think it’s necessary to have one (and in our second vehicle, we actually didn’t add the antenna.) As long as the cell phone can report its location after landing, one should be okay.
Waaahhh!!! I’m so upset I didn’t think of this first! Waaahhh!!!
[...] 他们完成这一壮举依靠的是可供外行使用的现成组件。他们所用的硬件包括：350g重的探空气球，90g重的Motorola i290手机充当GPS接收器，带8GB SD卡的Canon A470照相机，Duracell USB手机充电器，4节AA锂电池。他们在9月2日释放了气球，它的最大飞行高度为大约28公里，他们使用Accutracking追踪飞行路径。气球上升到最高处共花了4个小时，降落花了40分钟。 [...]
Wow! This ia great example of what motivated people without a big budget can do if they really want to. As a teacher in a small private school with limited budget, I have a feeling this story will inspire students to think more simply: Why go out and build it from scratch if you can make good use of what is already around? Good work, all of you. Sure would like to see the pictures!
Mark Magill
North Bend, Oregon USA
How did you know the final altitude?
[...] of Equipment is [...]
really really cool, very good project
Fantastic job!!!!
It would be very interesting to add 2 more cameras, one aiming up & the other back at the earth. I wonder if a gps training tracker could be added to collect more data regarding flight path & max altitude. I know that would expand the budget but would still be under $500
Just an awesome achievement.
Im going to do this.
“We loaded a Canon A470 camera (bought used on Amazon) with CHDK open source software to enable a feature which allowed the camera to take pictures continuously (intervalometer).”
,,,,,,, can you give me more information about “chdk open source sofrware”?
i’m korean and also i’m living in korea i want to take near-space picture, but i can’t get
some hard ware. can you help me?
PS. your project is reports by korea’s news
Great job, it shows how simple things become when you think and act practical.
Sooooo Cool!!
I want to emulate it here in Brisbane Au
Well done
Hurm… where exactly can one get a balloon AND the helium for $40? Such a thing might be difficult for me to find, even in the urban city of Toronto.
You do realize that instant hand warmers require Oxygen to work, right? They may have been doing some good for a short time due to thermal inertia, but after that they were just dead weight. Cool pictures though.
[...] http://space.1337arts.com/hardware [...]
If you were to use a SPOT for tracking (www.findmespot.com) instead of a cell phone, you wouldn’t have to rely on landing within range of a cell phone tower. SPOT uses the globalstar satellite phone network and works anywhere in North America.
What happens when the parachute fails and the vehicle strikes a pedestrian?
You should add a second camera to shoot out of the bottom of the container.
or even a cheap digital movie cammera.
How much does the criminal lawsuit cost when people start getting jacked in the head from falling coolers? A project very similar to this was highlighted in Popular mechanics about three years ago (they strapped it to a kite), all the electronics setup was essentially the same. So the fellas aren’t exactly splitting atoms with this one but pretty cool.
The iReport appears to have mistakenly mentioned that a wireless ROUTER was attached to the contraption. I believe only the ANTENNA from the router was used, correct?
[...] That's what an enterprising Bellevue grad named Oliver Yeh did. For about $150 he bought a digital camera, a weather balloon and other misc items necessary for the flight. Then launched it to 93,000 feet and retrieved it later about 20 miles away with a payload of 4,000 photos. Neat. Read more… [...]