This is for Project Loon, a spin off of the google research and development department. We did the control system working closely with the mechanical R&D team.

Platform:

Shuttlelift boat crane, modified with the addition of motorized hangar doors to act as a wind blocking structure.

The center structure is a custom built balloon and payload management system, called “the perch”.

Control systems:

All launch system devices are controlled by a locally mounted Allen Bradley PLC.

All wiring is intrinsically safe compliant with lightning protection.

All systems on the perch are controlled by intrinsically safe remote IO over Ethernet/IP.

Crane controls are handled by a Parker CanBus system.

User control is via Hetronic industrial radio controller.

Data collection is via fiber optic cable to a remote server running Factorytalk Historian and Vantagepoint.

User interface for information only is by Ignition.

A CMore HMI is acting as an HDMI driver for an onsite LED message board that conveys pertinent launch system information and constant onsite wind speed and direction.