Unmanned lighter-than-air safe termination and recovery methods
First Claim
1. A system comprising a free-floating platform and a communication device that is separate from the free-floating platform, the free-floating platform comprising a lighter-than-air gas enclosure and a payload, the payload comprising a processor and a transceiver, wherein the processor is capable of making a decision to terminate a flight of the free-floating platform, the transceiver is capable of receiving a signal from the communication device, and the communication device is adapted to handoff the signal to another transceiver of another free-floating platform, wherein the free-floating platform operates without a longitudinal and latitudinal position control, and optionally the free-floating platform operates with an altitudinal control.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air free floating platforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flight termination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing, and recovery of these devices are provided. Especially, termination of radio transmissions and flight related to regional, governmental and international border requirements, regulations and laws. The new methods comprise specific criteria, detection of the criteria and elements of operation for reducing or preventing illegal transmissions, for producing rapid descend to the ground, for environmentally acceptable landing and for facilitating recovery all with improved safety and enhanced compliance with known regulations.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. A system comprising a free-floating platform and a communication device that is separate from the free-floating platform, the free-floating platform comprising a lighter-than-air gas enclosure and a payload, the payload comprising a processor and a transceiver, wherein the processor is capable of making a decision to terminate a flight of the free-floating platform, the transceiver is capable of receiving a signal from the communication device, and the communication device is adapted to handoff the signal to another transceiver of another free-floating platform, wherein the free-floating platform operates without a longitudinal and latitudinal position control, and optionally the free-floating platform operates with an altitudinal control.
- 15. A method of terminating a flight of a free floating platform, wherein the free-floating platform comprises a transceiver capable of receiving a signal from a communication device that is separate from the free-floating platform, the method comprising determining a geographic position or a velocity of the free-floating platform, making a decision with a processor on the free-floating platform to terminate the flight of the free-floating platform, executing a handoff of the signal to another transceiver of another free-floating platform and terminating the flight of the free-floating platform, wherein the communication device executes the handoff of the signal to said another transceiver of said another free-floating platform, wherein the free-floating platform operates without a longitudinal and latitudinal position control, and optionally the free-floating platform operates with an altitudinal control.
Specification