Internet linked environmental data collection system and method

• US 20110006153A1
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward R. Silansky, Harry Darlington IV, Kenneth E. Burton Jr, Sandra Silansky
• Original Assignee: Edward R. Silansky, Harry Darlington IV, Kenneth E. Burton Jr, Sandra Silansky
• Inventors: Silansky, Edward R., Burton, Kenneth E. JR., Darlington, Harry IV, Silansky, Sandra
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/02 Non-rigid airships B64B1/58 takes precedence; balloons B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/06 Rigid airships; Semi-rigid airships B64B1/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/60 Gas-bags surrounded by separate containers of inert gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/08 Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18595 Arrangements for adapting broadband applications to satellite systems

Abstract

An environmental data collection system and method is provided having an internet link for providing an additional level of security for a remotely controlled data collection platform having a security alarm for protecting the platform and the environmental subject of the study. A novel lighter-than-air platform having a novel snorkel for detachably securing, mooring and providing buoyancy control is provided for the collection of data in the form of real time audio and video linked to the internet and subscribers. The novel snorkel is flexible and retractable into the novel airship to provide remote buoyancy control of the airship together with silently operating electrical motors for allowing the novel airship to be remotely controlled and moved at will to track and monitor wildlife and make environmental measurements necessary for the protection of the environment, wildlife and the operation of the novel airship. Detachable securing means provide an anti-tethering feature of the novel airship and allow the collection of data from both, an aerial perspective and a ground perspective, while providing for the collection of data from either the surface of the earth or below the surface of the water while transmitting the data to scientists, environmentalists and subscribers through the internet.

Claims

1-49. -49. (canceled)

50. An airship snorkel device comprising:

(a) a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end to provide a detachable anchor means to control altitude of a lighter-than-air aircraft and anchor said lighter-than-air aircraft in place above a surface of water;

(b) means for extending and retracting said flexible conduit;

(c) a water pump for pumping a liquid in said flexible conduit to control the level of liquid in said flexible conduit and control the altitude of said lighter-than-aircraft; and

(d) a remote controlled device disposed on said flexible conduit or on a lighter-than-air aircraft having said flexible conduit and said water pump to operate said water pump and said means for extending and retracting said flexible conduit to anchor said lighter-than-air aircraft in place above a surface of water.

51. The airship snorkel of claim 50 wherein said flexible conduit is constructed of a hydrophobic material.

52. The airship snorkel of claim 50 wherein said means for extending and retracting said flexible conduit is a spool.

53. The airship snorkel of claim 52 wherein said first end is connected to a water ballonet and said second end is connected to said water pump.

54. The airship snorkel of claim 52 wherein said water ballonet is disposed in a lighter-than-air aircraft.

55. The airship snorkel of claim 52 wherein said water ballonet is disposed in an instrument pod.

56. The airship snorkel of claim 53 further comprising a motor for operating said spool.

57. The airship snorkel of claim 52 further comprising a second water pump disposed intermediate said water ballonet and said first end.

58. The airship snorkel of claim 57 wherein said flexible conduit is composed of a hydrophobic material.

59. The airship snorkel of claim 58 wherein said hydrophobic material is an elastomeric material.

60. The airship snorkel of claim 59 wherein said elastomeric material is rubber.

61. The airship snorkel of claim 60 wherein said elastomeric material is hypalon.

62. The airship snorkel of claim 57 further comprising a second flexible conduit having a first end and a second end disposed inside said flexible conduit.

63. The airship snorkel of claim 62 wherein said second water pump is connected to the second end of said second flexible conduit.

64. The airship snorkel of claim 63 wherein said first end of said flexible conduit and said first end of said second flexible conduit include a filter.

65. The airship snorkel of claim 51 further comprising a second flexible conduit disposed inside said flexible conduit.

66. The airship snorkel of claim 51 further comprising a data acquisition device attached to said second end of said flexible conduit.

67. The airship snorkel of claim 142 wherein said data acquisition device is an underwater camera and hydrophone combination.

68. The airship snorkel of claim 51 wherein said flexible conduit and said means for extending and retracting said flexible conduit are housed in a housing.

69. The airship snorkel of claim 68 wherein said housing includes a water ballonet connected to said first end of said flexible conduit.

127. The airship snorkel of claim 50 further comprising an underwater camera attached to said flexible conduit.

128. The airship snorkel of claim 127 wherein said underwater camera is detachable from said flexible conduit.

129. The airship snorkel of claim 128 wherein said underwater camera includes a recovery capsule.

142. The airship snorkel of claim 50 further comprising a data acquisition device attached to said flexible conduit.

70. A method of monitoring an environment comprising:

(a) establishing a local remote-controlled observation platform with a first data acquisition means for collecting and providing data from the ground on local conditions on the ground to operate a remote controlled flyable lighter-than-air aircraft while collecting and providing data from the ground on a subject of study;

(b) utilizing a first communications link to control said first data acquisition means and said local remote-controlled observation platform;

(c) deploying a remote controlled flyable lighter-than-air aircraft with a second data acquisition means for collecting and providing data on a subject of study from the air in the vicinity of said lighter-than-air aircraft;

(d) utilizing a second communications link connected to the internet to provide for a periodic control of said step of collecting data from said second data acquisition means on said subject of study or to control said local remote controlled flyable lighter-than-air aircraft;

(e) providing a security system to protect said remote-controlled flyable lighter-than-air aircraft and the subject of study providing data;

(f) utilizing a telecommunications link connected to the internet to assist said security system; and

(g) establishing a master station to link data collected from said local remote-controlled observation platform and said data collected from the air for transmission by a telecommunications link connected to said internet.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising the step of creating an internet interest group in protecting said subject of study.

72. The method of claim 71 further comprising the step of providing a map and position data of said subject of study to said internet interest group.

74. The method of claim 70 wherein said master ground station includes means for processing data on local conditions on the ground with data collected from the air.

76. The method of claim 70 wherein said lighter-than-air aircraft is remotely controlled by said local remote-controlled observation platform.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein said lighter-than-air aircraft includes a remotely-controlled camera.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein said master station is linked to said local remote-controlled observation platform said remote controlled flyable lighter-than-air aircraft and said internet.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein said master ground station includes a bidirectional communications link with members of an internet interest group.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein members of said internet interest group in combination with said master ground station periodically control said remotely controlled camera.

73. (canceled)

75. (canceled)

81-126. -126. (canceled)

130. The method of monitoring comprising:

(a) providing a remote controlled observation platform having a first data acquisition means to collect data from the ground on a subject of study and a second data acquisition means to collect data from the air on the subject of study to provide both an aerial and ground perspective;

(b) utilizing a communications link to remotely control said first data acquisition means;

(c) providing a first security system to protect said remote controlled lighter-than-air aircraft while providing observation of the subject of study;

(d) utilizing a telecommunications link to the internet to provide a second security system for said first security system; and

(e) establishing a ground station telemetry, command and control link between said remote controlled observation platform and said telecommunications link to the internet.

131. The method of monitoring of claim 130 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of remote controlled observation platforms.

132. The method of monitoring of claim 131 wherein at least one of said plurality of remote controlled observation platforms is a lighter-than-air aircraft.

133. The method of monitoring of claim 132 further comprising the step of providing a master ground station with an internet connection.

134. The method of monitoring of claim 133 further comprising the step of creating an internet interest group having an interest in observing said subject of study.

135. The method of monitoring of claim 134 further comprising the step of providing a map and position data on said subject of study to said internet interest group.

136. The method of monitoring of claim 130 further comprising the step of creating an interest group in said subject of study and the step of providing a bidirectional communications link between said master ground station and members interested in said subject of study.

137. The method of monitoring of claim 136 further comprising the step of deploying a plurality of remote controlled lighter-than-air aircraft.

138. The method of monitoring of claim 130 further comprising the step of creating members of an interest group in said subject of study and the step of allowing members interested in said subject of study to periodically remotely control said second data acquisition means on said lighter-than-air aircraft.

139. The method of monitoring of claim 138 wherein said second data acquisition means is a camera.

140. The method of monitoring of claim 138 further comprising the step of allowing members to control said first data acquisition means disposed on said remote controlled observation platform.

143. The method of monitoring of claim 130 further comprising the step of providing a communications link to law enforcement officials.

141. A method of environmental monitoring comprising:

(a) establishing a ground based remote controlled observation platform having a first data acquisition means;

(b) utilizing a communications link to remotely control said first data acquisition means on said ground based remote controlled observation platform;

(c) providing a remote controlled long duration lighter-than-air aircraft with a snorkel anchor device with a flexible conduit and a device for extending and retracting the snorkel anchor device and a water pump to add water in the snorkel anchor device to anchor and control altitude of a lighter-than-air aircraft in place above a surface of water and to add water ballast and release water ballast to provide a lighter-than-air aircraft capable of long duration deployment in a remote environment, said long duration lighter-than-air aircraft having a remote controlled flight system and a second data acquisition means on said remote controlled long duration lighter-than-air aircraft;

(d) utilizing a communications link to remotely control said second data acquisition means and said remote controlled flight system;

(e) providing a security system to protect said remote controlled long duration lighter-than-air aircraft and a subject of study providing data to said second data acquisition means;

(f) utilizing a telecommunications link connected to the internet to assist said security system; and

(g) establishing a master ground based station remote from said ground based remote controlled observation platform and said remote controlled long duration lighter-than-air aircraft to control said first data acquisition means and said second data acquisition means and said telecommunications link connected to the internet and to control the flight of said remote controlled long duration lighter-than-air aircraft and said snorkel anchor device.