Composite air vehicle having a heavier-than-air vehicle tethered to a lighter-than-air vehicle
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a heavier-than-air vehicle having a propulsion system and mission payload;
a lighter-than-air vehicle; and
a tether coupled between the heavier-than-air vehicle and the lighter-than-air vehicle, wherein the tether is attached to the heavier-than-air vehicle at a first coupling and is attached to the lighter-than-air vehicle at a second coupling, wherein wings of the heavier-than-air vehicle when attached to the lighter-than-air vehicle are substantially horizontal, wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle is suspended below the lighter-than-air vehicle with respect to a direction of gravity, wherein the first coupling, the second coupling, and the tether allow the heavier-than-air vehicle to fly in a different flight path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle, wherein the tether is configured such that the lighter-than-air vehicle can support the heavier-than-air vehicle while the heavier-than-air vehicle flies in motion relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle, and wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle remains supported by the lighter-than-air vehicle and functions as a unit with the lighter-than-air vehicle while using the mission payload.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system including a heavier-than-air vehicle (HTA), a lighter-than-air vehicle (LTA), and a tether is disclosed. The tether is coupled between the HTA and the LTA such that the LTA supports the HTA. The system may be further configured to suit the needs of the particular application. For example, the system may be configured to be controllable from a remote location or capable of autonomous operations. The system may also be configured such that the HTA comprises a mission payload and communications equipment. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the LTA is configured to provide lift for the system and the HTA is configured to provide station-keeping propulsion, the advantage being reduced fuel consumption and increased mission endurance.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A system comprising:
-
a heavier-than-air vehicle having a propulsion system and mission payload; a lighter-than-air vehicle; and a tether coupled between the heavier-than-air vehicle and the lighter-than-air vehicle, wherein the tether is attached to the heavier-than-air vehicle at a first coupling and is attached to the lighter-than-air vehicle at a second coupling, wherein wings of the heavier-than-air vehicle when attached to the lighter-than-air vehicle are substantially horizontal, wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle is suspended below the lighter-than-air vehicle with respect to a direction of gravity, wherein the first coupling, the second coupling, and the tether allow the heavier-than-air vehicle to fly in a different flight path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle, wherein the tether is configured such that the lighter-than-air vehicle can support the heavier-than-air vehicle while the heavier-than-air vehicle flies in motion relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle, and wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle remains supported by the lighter-than-air vehicle and functions as a unit with the lighter-than-air vehicle while using the mission payload. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
16. An aircraft system comprising:
-
a heavier-than-air vehicle having a propulsion system and mission payload; a lighter-than-air vehicle; and a tether coupled between the heavier-than-air vehicle and the lighter-than-air vehicle, wherein the tether is attached to the heavier-than-air vehicle at a first coupling and is attached to the lighter-than-air vehicle at a second coupling, wherein wings of the heavier-than-air vehicle when attached to the lighter-than-air vehicle are substantially horizontal, wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle is suspended below the lighter-than-air vehicle with respect to a direction of gravity, wherein the lighter-than-air vehicle and the tether are configured to support the heavier-than-air vehicle while the heavier-than-air flies in a first flight path that is different than a second flight path of the lighter-than-air vehicle, and wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle remains supported by the lighter-than-air vehicle and functions as a unit with the lighter-than-air vehicle while using the mission payload. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A method comprising:
-
tethering a lighter-than-air vehicle to a heavier-than-air vehicle having a propulsion system, wherein the tether is attached to the heavier-than-air vehicle at a first coupling and is attached to the lighter-than-air coupling at a second coupling, wherein wings of the heavier-than-air vehicle, when attached to the lighter-than-air vehicle, are substantially horizontal, wherein the first coupling, the second coupling, and the tether allow the heavier-than-air vehicle to fly in a flight path relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle, and wherein the tether is configured such that the lighter-than-air vehicle can support the heavier-than-air vehicle while the heavier-than-air vehicle flies in motion relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle; supporting, with the tether, the heavier-than-air vehicle from the lighter-than-air vehicle while the lighter-than-air vehicle and the heavier-than-air vehicle are in flight, wherein the heavier-than-air vehicle has a mission payload; flying the heavier-than-air vehicle relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle such that at least one of a first angle and a second angle varies as a result of the heavier-than-air vehicle flying relative to the lighter-than-air vehicle, wherein the first angle is between a horizontal line and the tether, wherein the horizontal line is drawn from the second coupling and is perpendicular to a line representing a direction of gravity, wherein the second angle is between a vertical line and the tether, and wherein the vertical line is drawn from the second coupling along the direction of gravity; and using the mission payload while the heavier-than-air vehicle remains supported by the lighter-than-air vehicle and functions as a unit with the lighter-than-air vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
Specification