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

• US 9,519,045 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US14/473,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 701/4, 701/300, 701/400, 455/431, 455/456.1, 455/13.1, 244/31, 244/128, 244/3.18, 244/75.1, 244/97, 342/458, 342/462, 342/465
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/62 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 determine a location of a device transmitting wireless signals to a plurality of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms, the method comprising:

taking, at a processor configured to determine the location, signal path delay measurements from the plurality of LTA platforms, wherein the signal path delay measurements are determined at the plurality of LTA platforms based on wireless signals received at the plurality of LTA platforms from the device;

determining, at the processor, the location of the device transmitting wireless signals based on the signal path delay measurements; and

communicating, by the processor, the location of the device transmitting wireless signals to an LTA platform.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of the LTA platforms float at an altitude of about 60,000-140,000 feet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of the LTA platforms have a speed relative to the surface of the earth of less than 100 miles per hour.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal path delay measurements are performed by measuring a difference between a time of arrival of a wireless signal of the device transmitting wireless signals and a standard time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the device transmitting wireless signals is based on the signal path delay measurements from at least three independent LTA platforms.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals is located (a) on an LTA platform that has landed on the earth, or (b) on a ground-based vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a radiosonde.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a landed payload.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a payload that has landed on the earth.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining that the device transmitting wireless signals has landed on the earth comprises checking for no shifting of the location of the device transmitting wireless signals.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the device transmitting wireless signals based on the signal path delay measurements comprises:

determining distances from the device to the plurality of LTA platforms;

tracing out approximate circles on the earth based on the distances; and

determining a point of intersection of the circles, wherein the point of intersection is substantially the location of the device transmitting wireless signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the taking signal path delay measurements is taking only two signal path delay measurements.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the taking signal path delay measurements is performed using sectored or directional antennas.

14. A method to determine a location of a device transmitting wireless signals to one or more (LTA) platforms, the method comprising:

taking, at a processor configured to determine the location, signal path delay measurements from an LTA platform, wherein each of the signal path delay measurements is determined at the LTA platform based on a wireless signal received at the LTA platform from the device at a different interval of time;

determining, at the processor, the location of the device transmitting wireless signals based on the signal path delay measurements; and

communicating, by the processor, the location of the device transmitting wireless signals to the LTA platform.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal path delay measurements at different intervals of time from only one LTA platform.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a radiosonde.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a landed payload.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a payload that has landed on the earth.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining that the device transmitting wireless signals has landed on the earth comprises checking for no shifting of the location of the device transmitting wireless signals.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal path delay measurements are performed by measuring a difference between a time of arrival of a wireless signal of the device transmitting wireless signals and a standard time.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals is located (a) on an LTA platform that has landed on the earth, or (b) on a ground-based vehicle.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining the location of the device transmitting wireless signals based on the signal path delay measurements comprises:

determining a first distance from the device to the LTA platform at a first time instance;

tracing out a first approximate circle on the earth based on the first distance;

determining a second distance from the device to the LTA platform at a second time instance;

tracing out a second approximate circle on the earth based on the second distance; and

determining a point of intersection of the first and second approximate circles, wherein the point of intersection is substantially the location of the device transmitting wireless signals.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the taking signal path delay measurements is performed using sectored or directional antennas.

24. An apparatus to determine a location of a device transmitting wireless signals to a plurality of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms, the apparatus comprising:

a communication transceiver to receive signal path delay measurements from the plurality of LTA platforms, wherein the signal path delay measurements are determined based on wireless signals received at the plurality of LTA platforms from the device; and

a processor to determine the location of the device transmitting wireless signals based on the signal path delay measurements,

wherein the communication transceiver is to communicate the location of the device transmitting wireless signals to an LTA platform.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein one or more of the plurality of the LTA platforms float at an altitude of about 60,000-140,000 feet.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the signal path delay measurements are performed by measuring a difference between a time of arrival of a wireless signal of the device transmitting wireless signals and a standard time.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals is located (a) on an LTA platform that has landed on the earth, or (b) on a ground-based vehicle.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a radiosonde.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the device transmitting wireless signals includes a landed payload.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein, to determine the location of the device transmitting wireless signals based on the signal path delay measurements, the processor is configured to:

determine distances from the device to the plurality of LTA platforms;

trace out approximate circles on the earth based on the distances; and

determine a point of intersection of the circles, wherein the point of intersection is substantially the location of the device transmitting wireless signals.