Unmanned lighter-than-air safe termination and recovery methods

• US 7,203,491 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Inventors: Knoblach, Gerald M., Frische, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stein; Julie E
• Application Number:
  US10/129,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/436, 455/440, 455/441, 455/90.3, 342/26.B, 342/104, 342/118, 342/147, 342/367, 701/5, 701/7, 701/8, 701/10, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/40 Balloons B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/44 adapted to maintain predetermined altitude
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/64 Gas valve operating mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/70 Ballasting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform

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.

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.

2. The system of claim 1, the payload further comprising an altitude sensor, a position sensor and a power source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said payload is within 500 feet of the lighter-than-air gas enclosure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if the free-floating platform is determined to be outside specified geographic boundaries.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if the free-floating platform is outside of a specified altitude range.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if the free-floating platform has a lateral or vertical velocity outside a specified range.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if the processor fails.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if a power source fails.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if a command and control communications link fails.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision comprises the release of a ballast.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision comprises stopping a signal to a discharge circuit to start a battery discharging.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the decision comprises releasing the free-floating platform from the payload.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the free-floating platform operates in range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein 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.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a payload, an altitude sensor, a position sensor and a power source.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if the free-floating platform is determined to be outside specified geographic boundaries.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if the free-floating platform is outside of a specified altitude range.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if the free-floating platform has a lateral or vertical velocity outside a specified range.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if a processor on the free-floating platform fails.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if a power source on the free-floating platform fails.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision is based at least in part on if a command and control communications link fails.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision comprises the release of a ballast.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision comprises stopping a signal to a discharge circuit to start a battery discharging.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the decision comprises releasing the free-floating platform from the payload.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the free-floating platform operates in range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the free-floating platform operates with an altitudinal control.