# US 2014/0191893 A1 · System and method for wide-area stratospheric surveillance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191893 A1 - Document ID: US20140191893A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/835,574 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-25 - Assignees: Raven Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Phillip A. Fox; Michael Scott Smith; George W. Moe; Joseph W. Maresca, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191893A1 ## CPC - G01S 13/0218: {Very long range radars, e.g. surface wave radar, over-the-horizon or ionospheric propagation systems (for meteorological use G01S13/95)} - G01S 13/89: for mapping or imaging - G01S 13/867: {Combination of radar systems with cameras} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses for providing wide-area surveillance with a radar and/or other sensors from a stratospheric balloon launched from a land or ship platform for detection, tracking, and classification of maritime, land, and air objects such as ships, people/vehicles, or aircraft are described generally herein. In one or more embodiments, an apparatus is battery operated and includes a stratospheric balloon filled that is filled with helium when it is launched and a gondola with a radar system and communication equipment suspended therefrom. When launched, the apparatus can travel with the wind until it reaches an altitude of approximately 68,500 ft., then it can move substantially horizontally with the stratospheric winds until it returns to earth via a parachute. Multiple apparatus launches at periodic intervals can help provide continuous coverage of the surveillance area. The apparatus can be recovered and re-used or can be considered expendable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: detecting land, maritime, or air targets in a radar surveillance area with a radar system mounted on a freely floating stratospheric balloon platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the balloon platform moves over the radar surveillance area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the balloon platform moves via stratospheric winds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating propulsion means on the balloon platform. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising using the propulsion means to have the balloon platform remain approximately stationary over the radar surveillance area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radar system is mounted in a gondolier structure suspended from the balloon platform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the gondolier structure is comprised of a battery power supply system, an antenna system, a command and control system, and a radar data collection and processing system ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Then method of claim 7, wherein the antenna system is protected by a structural enclosure during launch and recovery of the gondolier structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising wherein the antenna system is configured to open during radar surveillance to allow the antenna to rotate for data collection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the antenna rotates 360 degrees in a set rotation rate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the command and control system is configured to set or change the rotation rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the command and control system includes a GPS. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, communicating from the balloon platform, output from the radar system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein communicating from the balloon platform includes communicating using a high frequency system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radar system is a non-coherent radar system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: computing a power spectrum from radar data collected using the radar system; and after computing the power spectrum processing the radar data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radar system is a coherent radar system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising launching the balloon platform from a land, maritime, or air platform. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: collecting radar data from the stratosphere using the balloon platform. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: collect sensor data from a camera on the balloon platform.