Techniques for intelligent balloon/airship launch and recovery window location

• US 20160196757A1
• Filed: 12/23/2015
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Inventors: Knoblach, Gerald Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,403,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/40 Balloons B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/105 specially adapted for unpowered flight, e.g. glider, parachuting, forced landing parachutes per se B64D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/1062 specially adapted for avoiding bad weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/1064 specially adapted for avoiding collisions with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/04 Anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18502 Airborne stations

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.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor in communication with a memory, the processor 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.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the flight-path vector based on one or more of an inertial navigation system, a transponder, a flight schedule, optical detectors, a radar, a lidar, a VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) signal, origin and destination of the aircraft.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store a database for positions of aircrafts and flight plans of aircrafts in a vicinity of a launch location, and along an estimated flight path of the floating platform.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the flight-path vector based on data obtained from an aviation authority.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein determining the probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform comprises simulating a plurality of flight-paths for the floating platform based on one or more of local atmospheric data, a projected launch time, a projected launch location, operating parameters of the floating platform, ascent characteristics of the floating platform, propulsion characteristics of the floating platform, flight characteristics of the floating platform and descent characteristics of the floating platform.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the local atmospheric data is obtained from a floating platform launched previously.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the local atmospheric data is obtained from a public database.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a probability of intersection of a flight-path of the floating platform and a pre-determined airspace.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically determine, while the floating platform is in flight, the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft after the floating platform is launched.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically determine, while the floating platform is in flight, the operating parameters of the floating platform that minimize the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically determine, while the floating platform is in flight, the operating parameters of the floating platform that maintain at least a pre-determined separation from the aircraft.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor, in response to a determination that the probability of collision is higher than a threshold, is further configured to initiate a change in the flight-path of the floating platform.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein initiating the change in the flight-path of the floating platform includes one or more of adjusting an ascent rate of the floating platform, adjusting an altitude of the floating platform, adjusting a lateral velocity of the floating platform, adjusting propulsion of the floating platform, adjusting a descent rate of the floating platform, initiating a descent of the floating platform, and initiating a break-up of the floating platform.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a time window during which, a probability of a collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in flight is minimized.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the operating parameters for the floating platform include launch or recovery time, launch or recovery location, ascent rate, float location, float altitude, propulsion capability, and descent rate.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a communication device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate with a base station.

18. A method being implemented in a computer that includes a processor, the method comprising:

obtaining a flight-path vector of an aircraft;

determining, by the processor, 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

determining, by the processor, 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.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining the probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform comprises simulating a plurality of flight-paths for the floating platform based on one or more of local atmospheric data, a projected launch time, a projected launch location, operating parameters of the floating platform, ascent characteristics of the floating platform, propulsion characteristics of the floating platform, flight characteristics of the floating platform and descent characteristics of the floating platform.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the local atmospheric data is obtained from a floating platform launched previously.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the local atmospheric data is obtained from a public database.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining, by the processor, a probability of intersection of a flight-path of the floating platform and a pre-determined airspace.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising dynamically determining, by the processor, while the floating platform is in flight, the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft after the floating platform is launched.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising dynamically determining, by the processor, while the floating platform is in flight, the operating parameters of the floating platform that minimize the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising dynamically determining, by the processor, while the floating platform is in flight, the operating parameters of the floating platform that maintain at least a pre-determined separation from the aircraft.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising, in response to a determination that the probability of collision is higher than a threshold, initiating a change in the flight-path of the floating platform.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein initiating the change in the flight-path of the floating platform includes one or more of adjusting an ascent rate of the floating platform, adjusting an altitude of the floating platform, adjusting a lateral velocity of the floating platform, adjusting propulsion of the floating platform, adjusting a descent rate of the floating platform, initiating a descent of the floating platform, and initiating a break-up of the floating platform.

28. A floating platform comprising:

a payload comprising;

a processor in communication with a memory, the processor configured to;

obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft;

determine a probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of the 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.

29. A floating platform comprising:

a payload comprising a communication device configured to communicate with a base station, the base station comprising;

a device comprising;

a processor in communication with a memory, the processor configured to;

obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft;

determine a probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of the 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.

30. A base station configured to communicate with a floating platform, the base station comprising a device comprising:

a processor in communication with a memory, the processor configured to;

obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft;

determine a probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of the 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.