Techniques for intelligent balloon/airship launch and recovery window location
First Claim
1. A floating platform comprising a free floating balloon, a payload comprising a plurality of releasably-coupled component parts, and a device comprising:
- a processor in communication with a memory, the processor configured to;
obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft;
determine a plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data, including a local wind vector of a local wind along the plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform, wherein the device is configured to estimate a plurality of individual flight-paths between consecutively determined dimensional points during travel of the floating platform over the period of time;
determine, based on the flight-path vector and the plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in a flight;
decide whether to terminate the flight of the floating platform; and
release the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts such that the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts are configured to descend under gravity separately or in groupings smaller than the payload in entirety.
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Abstract
Devices, methods and systems for minimizing the probability of a collision between an aircraft and a floating platform are described. The device may include a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is configured to obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft; determine a probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of a floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data; and determine, based on the flight-path vector and the probability related to the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and/or a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a probability of a collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in flight.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A floating platform comprising a free floating balloon, a payload comprising a plurality of releasably-coupled component parts, and a device comprising:
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a processor in communication with a memory, the processor configured to; obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft; determine a plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data, including a local wind vector of a local wind along the plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform, wherein the device is configured to estimate a plurality of individual flight-paths between consecutively determined dimensional points during travel of the floating platform over the period of time; determine, based on the flight-path vector and the plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in a flight; decide whether to terminate the flight of the floating platform; and release the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts such that the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts are configured to descend under gravity separately or in groupings smaller than the payload in entirety. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method being implemented in a computer that includes a processor for controlling flight of a floating platform, wherein the floating platform comprises a free floating balloon, a payload comprising a plurality of releasably-coupled component parts, a device and a release mechanism to release one or more components from the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts such that the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts are configured to descend under gravity, the method comprising:
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obtaining a flight-path vector of an aircraft; determining, by the processor, a plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data, including a local wind vector of a local wind along the more than one individual estimated flight-paths of the floating platform, wherein the device is configured to estimate a plurality of individual flight-paths between consecutively determined dimensional points during travel of the floating platform over the period of time; determining, by the processor, based on the flight-path vector and the plurality of estimated flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in a flight; deciding whether to terminate the flight of the floating platform; and releasing the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts such that the plurality of releasably-coupled component parts are configured to descend under gravity separately or in groupings smaller than the payload in entirety. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification