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

• US 9,964,629 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• 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): BRUSHABER, FREDERICK M
• Application Number:
  US15/343,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20170108578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• 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 communications system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, said first and second platforms each comprising a communication signal transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with a communication device on the ground, an altitude control mechanism comprising a pump and a valve, and at least two flight termination devices,

wherein said first and second platforms are to be operational in an altitude range of about 60,000 feet to about 140,000 feet, and in operation, the altitude control mechanism controls an altitude of the respective platform within the altitude range, and the first and second platforms substantially drift along with wind currents.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first platform or the second platform is configured to operate without longitudinal position control.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first platform or the second platform is configured to operate without latitudinal position control.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said altitude control mechanism comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said altitude range and a controllable vent by which a portion of said quantity of contained gas can be released to reduce the buoyancy of said platform.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said altitude control mechanism comprises a quantity of high density matter carried onboard said platform and a release device by which a portion of said high density matter can be released to increase buoyancy of said platform.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of platforms comprise a lighter-than-air device selected from the group consisting of a balloon, a blimp, an aerostat, a zeppelin, an airship, a dirigible, a weather balloon, a hot air balloon, a sounding balloon, and a meteorological balloon, and combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to the first platform becoming out of communication range of the communication device, a communication link between the first platform and the communication device is handed-off to the second platform.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, the plurality of communication device configured to communicate with the plurality of lighter-than-air platforms.

10. The communications system of claim 1, wherein at least two flight termination devices are powered by at least two separate power sources.

3. A lighter-than-air platform comprising:

a balloon;

a communication signal transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate at least with a communication device on the ground; and

an altitude control mechanism comprising a pump and a valve, and at least two flight termination devices,

wherein the platform is to be operational in an altitude range of about 60,000 feet to about 140,000 feet, and the altitude control mechanism in configured to control an altitude of the platform within the altitude range, and

wherein, in operation, the platform substantially drifts along with wind currents.

15. The lighter-than-air platform of claim 3, wherein at least two flight termination devices are powered by at least two separate power sources.

16. The platform of claim 3, wherein the platform is configured to operate without longitudinal position control.

17. The platform of claim 3, wherein the platform is configured to operate without latitudinal position control.

18. The platform of claim 3, wherein said altitude control mechanism comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said altitude range and a controllable vent by which a portion of said quantity of contained gas can be released to reduce the buoyancy of said platform.

19. The platform of claim 3, wherein said altitude control mechanism comprises a quantity of high density matter carried onboard said platform and a release device by which a portion of said high density matter can be released to increase buoyancy of said platform.

11. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, said first and second platforms each comprising a balloon and a communications signal transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with a communication device on the ground, an altitude control mechanism comprising a pump and a valve, and at least two flight termination devices,

wherein said first and second platforms are to be operational in an altitude range of about 60,000 feet to about 140,000 feet, and in operation, the first and second platforms substantially drift along with wind currents, and

wherein, responsive to the first platform becoming out of communication range of the communication device, a communication link between the first platform and the communication device is handed-off to the second platform.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first platform or the second platform is configured to operate without longitudinal position control.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first platform or the second platform is configured to operate without latitudinal position control.

14. The communications system of claim 11, wherein at least two flight termination devices are powered by at least two separate power sources.