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

• US 9,632,503 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• 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): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US15/366,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20170083019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 145 Days
• Field of Search: 701 4, 701 2, 244 751, 4554561
• 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 1/46 associated with apparatus to cause bursting
• 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: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/30 Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/35 for science, e.g. meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• 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

Abstract

Innovative new systems and method of operating the systems, wherein the system comprises an airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon; a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon; a transceiver; first and second flight termination devices; at least two separate power sources for the first and second flight termination devices; a sensor; a processor; a pump; a valve; and a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload, are disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A system comprising a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;

a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;

a transceiver;

first and second flight termination devices;

at least two separate power sources for the first and second flight termination devices;

a sensor;

a processor;

a pump;

a valve; and

a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;

wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;

wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor;

wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents;

wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with a communication device that is separate from the unmanned balloon;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;

wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;

wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;

wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;

wherein the payload is configured to communicate with an additional airborne payload attached to a separate unmanned balloon;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic; and

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon.

2. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising an antenna and at least two geographical coordinates tracking system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents to prevent the airborne platform from becoming an uncontrolled lighter-than-air airborne platform.

6. A system comprising a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;

a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;

a transceiver;

first and second flight termination devices;

at least two separate power sources;

a sensor;

a processor;

a pump;

a valve; and

a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;

wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;

wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;

wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;

wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic; and

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon.

7. The system of claim 6, the system further comprising an antenna and at least two geographical coordinates tracking system wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor;

wherein the at least two separate power sources are for powering the first and second flight termination devices;

wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents;

wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon;

wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with a communication device that is separate from the unmanned balloon.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the airborne platform is configured to reduce or eliminate a chance of the airborne platform becoming a free floating, uncontrolled transmitter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the airborne platform is configured to reduce or eliminate a chance of the airborne platform becoming a free floating, uncontrolled transmitter by monitoring sensed information of the airborne platform and by comparing the sensed information to known geographic or altitude based boundaries.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensed information comprises coordinates and velocities.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the tether comprises a line.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the payload is configured to communicate with an additional airborne payload attached to a separate unmanned balloon.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents to prevent the airborne platform from becoming an uncontrolled lighter-than-air airborne platform.

15. A method comprising operating a system, the system comprising:

a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;

a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;

a transceiver;

first and second flight termination devices;

at least two separate power sources for the first and second flight termination devices;

a sensor;

a processor;

a pump;

a valve; and

a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;

wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;

wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor;

wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents;

wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with a communication device that is separate from the unmanned balloon;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;

wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;

wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;

wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;

wherein the payload is configured to communicate with an additional airborne payload attached to a separate unmanned balloon;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon; and

transmitting data from the airborne platform.

16. The method of claim 15, the system further comprising an antenna and at least two geographical coordinates tracking system.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents to prevent the airborne platform from becoming an uncontrolled lighter-than-air airborne platform.

20. A method comprising operating a system, the system comprising:

a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;

a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;

a transceiver;

first and second flight termination devices;

at least two separate power sources;

a sensor;

a processor;

a pump;

a valve; and

a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;

wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;

wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;

wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;

wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic;

wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon; and

transmitting data from the airborne platform.

21. The method of claim 20, the system further comprising an antenna and at least two geographical coordinates tracking system wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor;

wherein the at least two separate power sources are for powering the first and second flight termination devices;

wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents;

wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon;

wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with a communication device that is separate from the unmanned balloon.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the airborne platform is configured to reduce or eliminate a chance of the airborne platform becoming a free floating, uncontrolled transmitter.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the airborne platform is configured to reduce or eliminate a chance of the airborne platform becoming a free floating, uncontrolled transmitter by monitoring sensed information of the airborne platform and by comparing the sensed information to known geographic or altitude based boundaries.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sensed information comprises coordinates and velocities.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the tether comprises a line.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the payload is configured to communicate with an additional airborne payload attached to a separate unmanned balloon.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents taking into account the wind currents to prevent the airborne platform from becoming an uncontrolled lighter-than-air airborne platform.