• altitude
• altitudine
• sounding
• sonda
• balloon
• pallone
• weather
• meteo
• stabilization
• stabilizzazione
• actuators
• attuatori

The purpose of this thesis is to deeply analyse the sounding balloon altitude control problem, analysis that is later used to create a preliminary version of an altitude control system. In the first part, the balloon-stratospheric environment is examined, concentrating on the investigation on equilibrium points and on balloon dynamics. The results of this analysis are used to identify the minimum requirements that the altitude stabilisation system has to satisfy in order to fulfil the mission. Finally, a preliminary altitude control system able to satisfy the aforementioned requirements is dimensioned and manufactured, together with a balloon neck interface to facilitate the balloon inflation process. The main characteristics of the mechanisms, the electronics and the sensors are presented, followed by the presentation and the discussion of the two missions where the system operated. Even though the system did not behave as expected in the final mission, it can be considered completely validated through the empirical tests completed in the University workshop, during which it performed significantly better than demanded from minimum requirements.
Finally, in the concluding section, considerations on the system are made, concentrating on mission results and future works, in order to create in the near future a cheap, yet commercially competitive near-space platform.