Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- determining a location of a target balloon;
determining locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein the target balloon comprises a communication system that is operable for data communication with at least one of the one or more neighbor balloons;
determining a desired movement of the target balloon based on the determined locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein the desired movement of the target balloon comprises a desired horizontal movement of the target balloon; and
controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon, wherein controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon comprises controlling an altitude of the target balloon based on the desired horizontal movement of the target balloon.
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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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining a location of a target balloon; determining locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein the target balloon comprises a communication system that is operable for data communication with at least one of the one or more neighbor balloons; determining a desired movement of the target balloon based on the determined locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein the desired movement of the target balloon comprises a desired horizontal movement of the target balloon; and controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon, wherein controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon comprises controlling an altitude of the target balloon based on the desired horizontal movement of the target balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions, the functions comprising:
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determining a location of a target balloon; determining locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein a desired movement of the target balloon comprises a desired horizontal movement of the target balloon; and controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon, wherein controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon comprises controlling an altitude of the target balloon based on the desired horizontal movement of the target balloon. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A balloon, comprising:
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a communication system operable for data communication with one or more other balloons in a mesh network of balloons; and a controller coupled to the communication system, wherein the controller is configured to; (a) determine the balloon'"'"'s location; (b) determine locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the balloon'"'"'s determined location, wherein the one or more neighbor balloons are in the mesh network of balloons; and (c) determine a desired movement of the balloon based on the determined locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the balloon'"'"'s determined location, wherein the desired movement of the balloon comprises a desired horizontal movement of the balloon; and (d) control the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon by controlling an altitude of the target balloon based on the desired horizontal movement of the target balloon. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification