Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A system comprising an airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon comprising a gas enclosure;
- a pump and a valve;
a GPS configured to determine current geographical coordinates of the unmanned balloon;
a payload comprising a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with communication devices that are separate from the unmanned balloon and include a communication device on the ground and a payload of another operational unmanned balloon, wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with wind currents;
first and second flight-termination devices each configured to cause termination of a flight of the unmanned balloon; and
at least two power sources each configured to provide power to at least one of the first and second flight-termination devices;
wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to be operational above an altitude of about 60,000 feet, and wherein a transmitter operationally related to the unmanned balloon is configured to provide a last recorded position of the unmanned balloon such that the last recorded position is sent to a station to aid in recovery of the unmanned balloon.
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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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system comprising an airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon comprising a gas enclosure;
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a pump and a valve; a GPS configured to determine current geographical coordinates of the unmanned balloon; a payload comprising a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with communication devices that are separate from the unmanned balloon and include a communication device on the ground and a payload of another operational unmanned balloon, wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with wind currents; first and second flight-termination devices each configured to cause termination of a flight of the unmanned balloon; and at least two power sources each configured to provide power to at least one of the first and second flight-termination devices; wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to be operational above an altitude of about 60,000 feet, and wherein a transmitter operationally related to the unmanned balloon is configured to provide a last recorded position of the unmanned balloon such that the last recorded position is sent to a station to aid in recovery of the unmanned balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising an airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon comprising a gas enclosure;
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a GPS configured to determine current geographical coordinates of the unmanned balloon; a payload comprising a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with communication devices that are separate from the unmanned balloon and include a communication device on the ground and a payload of another operational unmanned balloon, wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with wind currents; and a first flight-termination device configured to cause termination of a flight of the unmanned balloon based at least on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents danger to air traffic, a tether that when broken separates the gas enclosure and the payload, wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to be operational above an altitude of about 60,000 feet and wherein a transmitter operationally related to the unmanned balloon is configured to provide a last recorded position of the unmanned balloon such that the last recorded position is sent to aid in recovery of the unmanned balloon. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system comprising 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;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 the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated 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 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. - View Dependent Claims (30)
- a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;
Specification