Unmanned lighter-than-air-safe termination and recovery methods

• US 8,644,789 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Inventors: Knoblach, Gerald M., Frische, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Georgewill, Opiribo
• Application Number:
  US11/783,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20070184810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,496 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.1, 455/68, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• 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 to control a power source of a lighter-than-air platform, the system comprising:

a power source including a battery configured to provide power to the lighter-than-air platform;

a processor configured to control flight, radio transmission, or both, of the lighter-than-air platform; and

a discharge circuit configured to discharge the battery to prevent radio transmission from the lighter-than-air platform, wherein the processor is configured to intermittently send a signal to the discharge circuit to prevent the battery from discharging, and wherein, responsive to the processor ceasing to send said signal, the discharge circuit discharges the battery,

wherein the processor is configured to cease sending said signal to the discharge circuit in response to one or more conditions associated with the lighter-than-air platform being satisfied, said one or more conditions being selected from the group consisting of a geographic position, an altitude range, a platform velocity, a descent rate, an ascent rate, and a loss of command and control communications.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor stops sending the signal when the lighter-than-air platform lands on ground or water.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal sent by the processor to the discharge circuit comprises a square wave signal.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a termination power supply separate from the battery and configured to provide power to the discharge circuit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge circuit comprises a timer that is reset in response to a transition of the signal sent from the processor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge circuit comprises a resistive element configured to discharge the battery in response to the processor ceasing to send said signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the resistive element comprises a resistive wire operably coupled to a neck release mechanism and configured to melt a meltable line arranged therein using heat dissipated by the resistive wire.

8. A system to control a power source of a lighter-than-air platform, the system comprising:

a power source including a battery configured to provide power to the lighter-than-air platform;

a processor configured to control flight, radio transmission, or both, of the lighter-than-air platform; and

a discharge circuit configured to discharge the battery to prevent radio transmission from the lighter-than-air platform, wherein the processor is configured to intermittently send a signal to the discharge circuit to prevent the battery from discharging, and wherein, responsive to the processor ceasing to send said signal, the discharge circuit discharges the battery,

wherein the discharge circuit is powered by a secondary power source separate from the battery, and wherein the processor is configured to cease sending said signal to the discharge circuit in response to one or more variable operational conditions associated with the lighter-than-air platform being satisfied, said one or more variable operational conditions being selected from the group consisting of a geographic position, an altitude range, a platform velocity, a descent rate, an ascent rate, and a status of command and control communications.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor stops sending the signal when the lighter-than-air platform lands on ground or water.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said signal sent by the processor to the discharge circuit comprises a square wave signal.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the discharge circuit comprises a timer that is reset in response to a transition of the signal sent from the processor.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the discharge circuit comprises a resistive element configured to discharge the battery in response to the processor ceasing to send said signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the resistive element comprises a resistive wire operably coupled to a neck release mechanism and configured to melt a meltable line arranged therein using heat dissipated by the resistive wire.

14. A system to control a power source of a lighter-than-air platform, the system comprising:

a discharge circuit configured to discharge a power source of the lighter-than-air platform to prevent radio transmission from the lighter-than-air platform, wherein the discharge circuit is further configured to receive a keep-alive signal from a processor of the lighter-than-air platform to prevent the power source from discharging, and wherein, responsive to the discharge circuit ceasing to receive the keep-alive signal, the discharge circuit discharges the power source,

wherein the discharge circuit ceases to receive the keep-alive signal in response to one or more conditions associated with the lighter-than-air platform being satisfied, said one or more conditions being selected from the group consisting of a geographic position, an altitude range, a platform velocity, a descent rate, an ascent rate, and a loss of command and control communications.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a termination power supply separate from the power source and configured to provide power to the discharge circuit.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the discharge circuit is configured to receive power from the power source of the lighter-than-air platform.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein, to discharge the power source, the discharge circuit is configured to dissipate power through a resistive element.

18. A system to control a power source of a lighter-than-air platform, the system comprising:

a power source including a battery configured to provide power to the lighter-than-air platform;

a processor configured to control flight, radio transmission, or both, of the lighter-than-air platform; and

a discharge circuit configured to discharge the battery to prevent radio transmission from the lighter-than-air platform, wherein the processor is configured to intermittently send a signal to the discharge circuit to prevent the battery from discharging, and wherein, responsive to the processor ceasing to send said signal, the discharge circuit discharges the battery,

wherein the discharge circuit comprises a resistive wire operably coupled to a neck release mechanism and configured to melt a meltable line arranged therein using heat dissipated by the resistive wire.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said signal sent by the processor to the discharge circuit comprises a square wave signal.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the discharge circuit comprises a timer that is reset in response to a transition of the signal sent from the processor.