Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
First Claim
1. A control system to control a rise rate or a descent rate of a free-floating lighter than air platform comprising a vent actuator, an altitude sensor, a processor located on the free-floating platform, a termination controller adapted to terminate a flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, and a device that controls the vent actuator, wherein the processor comprises stored, programmed or calculated criteria for command and control of the flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, wherein the free-floating lighter than air platform is without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air (LTA) free floating platforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flight termination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing, and recovery of these devices are provided. The new systems and methods relate to rise rate control, geo-location from a LTA platform including landed payload and ground-based vehicle locations, and steerable recovery systems.
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Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A control system to control a rise rate or a descent rate of a free-floating lighter than air platform comprising a vent actuator, an altitude sensor, a processor located on the free-floating platform, a termination controller adapted to terminate a flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, and a device that controls the vent actuator, wherein the processor comprises stored, programmed or calculated criteria for command and control of the flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, wherein the free-floating lighter than air platform is without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control.
- 8. A method of controlling a rise rate or a descent rate of a free-floating lighter than air platform by a control system comprising a vent actuator, an altitude sensor, a processor located on the free-floating platform, a termination controller adapted to terminate a flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, and a device that controls the vent actuator, wherein the processor comprises stored, programmed or calculated criteria for command and control of the flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, the method comprising determining the rise rate or the descent rate and controlling the rise rate or the descent rate, wherein the free-floating lighter than air platform is without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control.
Specification