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Iowa State University
At Iowa State University, researchers from the Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) are exploring the use of tethered Helikites as a means to collect data. Helikites are being evaluated for their potential use in transportation planning and disaster assessment and response for critical infrastructure.
History of Balloons and Kites in Remote Sensing
1858 – First aerial photograph is taken 366 meters over Paris by Gaspar Felix Tournachon Nadar
1859 – Photographic images of a French village taken from a hot-air balloon
1860 – Boston, MA photographed from balloon at 366 meters1862 – US Army Balloon Corps created to observe Confederate positions around Richmound, VA1870 – Free Balloons used to take pictures from 10060 – 10360 meters
History (Cont)1877 – Germans use balloons to
take aerial photographs of forests
1889 – Arthur Batut takes first aerial photograph using a kite
1906 – George Lawrence takes aerial photographs of San Francisco using a series of kites
1920 – Henry Chardin developed fully automatic device for KAP
1936 – Captain Albert W. Stavens takes the first aerial photograph of curvature of earth taken from 21,946 meters
Today Today, aerial
photographs can be taken from a helium balloon-kite combination called a Helikite.
Helikites are being explored for their uses as rapidly deployed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Why use a Helikite? The unique shape of the balloon-kite combination allows
it to capture aerodynamic lift more effectively. This
allows launching to take place regardless of wind speed. Tethered Balloon Tethered Balloon-kite
No Lift Aerodynamic Lift
Front View
Side View
Why use a Helikite? A balloon-kite of only 2.5m3 can fly in a
56 kph wind at an elevation of 1677 meters.
A conventional tethered blimp would need to be 25m3 to accomplish this task.
2.5 m3
Skyhook Helikite
25 m3Standard Aerostat
Competing Technologies Helikites can be used
for the majority of Wind conditions
Balloon component allows it to lift camera equipment in little wind
Kite component stabilizes the apparatus in high wind conditions
Wind Speed vs. Photographic Characteristics for Competing Alternatives
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Wind Speed (kph)
Phot
ogra
phic
Cond
ition
HelikiteHelium BalloonHelium BlimpKite
Not Advised
Dangerous
Difficult
Fair
Good
Excellent
Competing Technologies In order to lift 8 kg of
camera equipment in 3-Bft of wind, one would need to purchase
3.5 m3 Helikite 7.9m3 Helium Balloon 13.8 m3 Helium Blimp Sutton Flow Form 30
Kite
Lift vs. Gas Volume for Competing Alternatives
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Gas Volume (cubic meters)
Lift
(Kilo
gram
s) Helikite (No Wind)Helikite (Wind)Helium BalloonHelium Blimp
Benefits of Helikites vs. Balloons and Kites
Helikites use a combination of Helium and wind, thus requiring less helium than traditional balloons
No operator is required after launch – They fly themselves
They can be easily launched in confined areas
Benefits Easy to transport They are reusable Low maintenance Inexpensive
Transportation Applications
Because Helikites are affordable, easy to maintain, and fly in all conditions, they are a perfect tool for: Planning Surveillance Disaster Assessment and Response
Transportation Planning
Monitoring Traffic Issues Evaluating Safety Problem Areas Observing Driver Behavior
Merging on Freeway Ramps Car following
Operations
Surveillance
Special Events Monitoring Controlling Resolving Traffic and Parking Issues
Infrastructure Protection Continuously Fly Helikites Over
Critical Infrastructure Such as Bridges
Disaster Assessment and Response
Terrorism Events Managing Evacuation Events Assessing Large Car or Train
Crashes Planning Natural Disaster
Responses
Limitations Weight Limits Stationary Minimum of 3
people to set up
CTRE Helikite
Camera Equipment
CTRE Helikite Picavet
Suspension System
CTRE Helikite Miscellaneous
Supplies 600-lb Darcon Kite
Line Windbreaker Hand
Reels Helium Storage
Containers Picture Taken From Helikite
