Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms

• US 8,825,232 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Inventors: Knoblach, Gerald M., Frische, Eric A., Barkley, Bruce Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US13/757,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2- 5, 244/31, 244/96, 244/97, 244/128
• US Class Current: 701/4
• 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 1/62 Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/64 Gas valve operating mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/70 Ballasting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/08 Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18502 Airborne stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18576 Satellite systems for providing narrowband data service to fixed or mobile stations, e.g. using a minisatellite, a microsatellite for selecting H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

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.

Claims

1. A method to steer a steerable system, the method comprising:

flying, using a flight control processor, the steerable system in a 360 degree revolution relative to a local wind at the steerable system thereby nullifying a flight vector of the steerable system; and

determining, using the flight control processor, a local wind vector of the local wind with respect to a position on the earth without using data obtained from a compass or an air speed indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steerable system is an autonomous, GPS guided steerable system that does not require the compass or the air speed indicator onboard the steerable system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination, using the flight control processor, of the local wind vector is based on a ground track vector of the steerable system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the ground track vector is obtained from a GPS unit located on the steerable system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steerable system is a component of a free-floating lighter than air platform floating at an altitude of about 60,000-140,000 feet.

6. A recovery system comprising:

a steerable apparatus; and

a processor configured to fly the steerable apparatus in a 360 degree revolution relative to a local wind at the steerable apparatus thereby nullifying a flight vector of the steerable apparatus, and determine a local wind vector of the local wind with respect to a position on the earth without using data obtained from a compass or an air speed indicator.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the steerable apparatus includes an autonomous, GPS-guided steerable system that does not require the compass or the air speed indicator onboard the steerable system.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the steerable apparatus includes an autonomous steerable parachute or an autonomous steerable glider.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to determine the local wind vector based on a ground track vector of the steerable apparatus.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a GPS unit configured to provide information including the ground track vector to the processor.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is a component of a free-floating lighter-than-air platform floating at an altitude of about 60,000-140,000 feet.

12. The system of claim 6, further comprising a steering actuator, wherein the processor is configured to control the steering actuator to fly the steerable apparatus in the 360 degree revolution.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a power source to provide power to the processor, the steering actuator, or both.