Lighter-Than-Air Systems, Methods, and Kits for Obtaining Aerial Images

• US 20120223181A1
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Ciampa
• Original Assignee: John Ciampa
• Inventors: Ciampa, John
• Application Number:
  US13/405,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223181A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/62 Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/30 Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls

Abstract

Lighter-than-air systems, methods, and kits for obtaining aerial images are described. For example, various methods for determining planned ascent, drift, and/or descent of a lighter-than-air system are described. In addition, various structural arrangements of lighter-than-air systems for accomplishing planned ascent, drift, and/or descent and obtaining aerial images are described.

Claims

1. A lighter-than-air system comprising:

an airship comprising a cruise balloon having a wall defining a cruise chamber, a reserve balloon disposed within said cruise chamber, and a spill balloon attached to the wall of said cruise balloon; and

a thruster attached to said airship, said thruster comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a plurality of membranes, said first portion defining a first opening in a first plane that is in communication with said cruise chamber, said second portion defining a plurality of second openings, at least one of said plurality of second openings is defined in a second plane that is different from said first plane, wherein a membrane from said plurality of membranes is disposed over each of said plurality of second openings.

2. The lighter-than-air system of claim 1, further comprising an instrument case attached to said thruster, said instrument case comprising a housing.

3. The lighter-than-air system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of membranes is adapted to move from a first configuration in which the membrane seals the opening over which the membrane is disposed, to a second configuration in which the membrane allows for fluid to pass through the opening.

4. The lighter-than-air system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of perforators;

and

wherein each of the plurality of perforators is adapted to move a membrane of said plurality of membranes from the first configuration to the second configuration upon receipt of a signal.

5. The lighter-than-air system of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of perforators comprises a length of a conductive material that is adapted to receive a current and the conductive material is adapted to move between a first configuration in which the length of conductive material has a first temperature, and a second configuration in which the length of conductive material has a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

6. The lighter-than-air system of claim 1, wherein the system has a total weight;

and

wherein said reserve balloon is adapted to contain a volume of fluid offsetting about fifty percent to about eighty percent of the total weight of the system.

7. The lighter-than-air system of claim 6, wherein the system has a total weight;

and

wherein said cruise chamber is adapted to contain a volume of fluid offsetting about twenty percent to about fifty percent of the total weight of the system.

8. The lighter-than-air system of claim 7, wherein the system has a total weight;

and

wherein said spill balloon is adapted to contain a volume of fluid offsetting about twenty percent to about fifty percent of the total weight of the system.

9. A lighter-than-air system comprising:

an airship comprising a cruise balloon having a wall defining a cruise chamber, a reserve balloon disposed within said cruise chamber, and a spill balloon releasably attached to the wall of said cruise balloon;

a thruster attached to said airship, said thruster comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a plurality of membranes, said first portion defining a first opening in a first plane that is in communication with said cruise chamber, said second portion defining a plurality of second openings, at least one of said plurality of second openings is defined in a second plane that is different from said first plane;

wherein a membrane from said plurality of membranes is disposed over each of said plurality of second openings; and

wherein each of said plurality of membranes is adapted to move from a first configuration in which the membrane seals the opening over which the membrane is disposed, to a second configuration in which the membrane allows for fluid to pass through the opening.

10. The lighter-than-air system of claim 9, further comprising an instrument case attached to said thruster, the instrument case comprising a housing.

11. The lighter-than-air system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of perforators;

and

wherein each of the plurality of perforators is adapted to move a membrane of said plurality of membranes from the first configuration to the second configuration upon receipt of a signal.

12. The lighter-than-air system of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of perforators comprises a length of a conductive material that is adapted to receive a current and the conductive material is adapted to move between a first configuration in which the length of conductive material has a first temperature, and a second configuration in which the length of conductive material has a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

13. The lighter-than-air system of claim 9, wherein the system has a total weight;

and

wherein said reserve balloon is adapted to contain a volume of fluid offsetting about fifty percent to about eighty percent of the total weight of the system.

14. The lighter-than-air system of claim 13, wherein the system has a total weight;

and

wherein said cruise chamber is adapted to contain a volume of fluid offsetting about twenty percent to about fifty percent of the total weight of the system.

15. The lighter-than-air system of claim 14, wherein the system has a total weight;

and

wherein said spill balloon is adapted to contain a volume of fluid offsetting about twenty percent to about fifty percent of the total weight of the system.

16. A method for acquiring one or more aerial images using a lighter-than-air system and ground control software stored on a computer readable medium, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the location of one or more images to be acquired;

inputting data into said ground control software to calculate one or more data points;

introducing a predetermined volume of fluid into a reserve balloon of a first lighter-than-air system comprising;

an airship comprising a cruise balloon having a wall defining a cruise chamber, a reserve balloon disposed within said cruise chamber, and a spill balloon releasably attached to the wall of said cruise balloon;

a thruster attached to said airship comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a plurality of membranes, said first portion defining a first opening in a first plane that is in communication with said cruise chamber, said second portion defining a plurality of second openings, at least one of said plurality of second openings is defined in a second plane that is different from said first plane; and

an instrument case attached to said thruster, the instrument case comprising a housing;

introducing a predetermined volume of fluid into said cruise chamber;

introducing a predetermined volume of fluid into said spill balloon;

launching said first lighter-than-air system; and

receiving data sent by said first lighter-than-air system;

wherein a membrane from said plurality of membranes is disposed over each of said plurality of second openings.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said one or more data points calculated by the ground control software are selected from the group consisting of a launch site, landing site, planned ascent time, planned drift time, planned drift flight path, and planned descent time of the first lighter-than-air system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising launching a second lighter-than-air system;

and

wherein said second lighter-than-air system is in communication with said first lighter-than-air system.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of communicating one or more low-resolution images to said ground control software.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of communicating one or more high-resolution images to said ground control software.