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

• US 10,429,489 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brushaber, Frederick M
• Application Number:
  US15/959,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20180238992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 527 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 free-floating constellation communication system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform;

said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free-floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceivers;

wherein said at least one of said communications devices is capable of handing off communication with said first platform to said second platform as said first platform moves out of a communication range of said at least one of said communications devices, and

wherein said free-floating constellation communications system is configured to provide a line-of-sight coverage of wireless data to a user on a landmass and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are configured to operate in a range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet.

2. The free-floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

an altitude regulator device;

plurality of geographically spaced-apart platform launching sites from which said plurality of platforms can be launched;

a plurality of ground terminals; and

a network of communications links interconnecting at least some of said ground terminals to one another.

3. The free-floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said regulator is configured to regulate the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined 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.

4. The free-floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

an attitude sensor onboard at least one said plurality of platforms; and

a steerable antenna coupled to at least one of said communications signal transceivers and attached to at least one of said plurality of platforms, said steerable antenna having stabilization controls for stabilizing said steerable antenna in a direction from said platform is configured to provide consistent ground coverage over said geographic area.

5. The free-floating constellation communications system of claim 4, further comprising aim control operatively associated with said steerable antenna and said altitude sensor for selectively changing the position of the coverage area of said antenna to facilitate filling gaps of coverage over said geographic area.

6. The free-floating constellation communications system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said platforms comprise:

an unmanned free balloon; and

a payload box having a total weight less than six pounds and exterior surfaces with predetermined areas and that has a weight to size ratio of no more than three ounces per square inch on any surface of the package, determined by dividing the total weight in ounces of the payload box by the area in square inches of its smallest exterior surface.

7. A free-floating constellation communications system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, each of said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free-floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceivers;

wherein said at least one of said communications devices is capable of receiving communications from said communications signal transceiver of said first platform and said communications signal transceiver of said second platform, but hearing communications from only one communications signal transceiver and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are configured to operate in a range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet.

8. A free-floating constellation communications system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, each of said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free-floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceivers;

wherein said first and second platforms dynamically assign new frames in which to transmit communication signal from said communications signal transceiver as the platforms drift such that a communications device receives communications signals from only one communications signal transceiver in a particular frame and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are configured to operate in a range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet.

9. A method of communicating using a free-floating constellation communication system comprising

providing a communication device for communicating with lighter-than-air platforms;

communicating with a first lighter-than-air platform when the communication device is in a communication range of the first-lighter-than-air platform,

communicating with a second lighter-than-air platform when the communication device moves out of the communication range of the first lighter-than-air platform, wherein the first and second lighter-than-air platforms each comprise an altitude regulator device and a communications signal transceiver and wherein the first and second lighter-than-air platforms are configured to free float without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are configured to operate in a range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said altitude regulator device is configured to regulate the altitude of said platform to within a predetermined altitude range of between about 60,000 feet and about 140,000 feet.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said altitude regulator is configured to regulate the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined 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.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said altitude regulator comprises a quantity of high density material 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.

13. A method of communicating using a free-floating constellation communications system comprising:

providing a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, each of said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free-floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

communicating with a communication device having communications capability with said communications signal transceiver, wherein said first and second platforms dynamically assign new frames in which to transmit communication signals from said communications signal transceivers as the platforms drift such that a communication device receives communications signals from only one communications signal transceiver in a particular frame and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are configured to operate in a range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet a.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said altitude regulator is configured to regulate the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined 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.

15. A method for providing communication service comprising:

providing a first lighter-than-air platform;

providing a second lighter-than-air platform wherein the first and second lighter-than-air platforms each comprise an altitude regulator device and a communications signal transceiver and wherein the first and second sight-than-air platforms are configured to free float without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control;

providing a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceiver, wherein said at least one of said communications devices is capable of handing off communication with said the platform to said second platform as said first platform moves out of a communication range of said at least one of said communications devices and Wherein said free-floating constellation communications system is configured to provide a line-of-sight wireless data coverage to a user on a landmass and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are configured to operate range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said altitude regulator is configured to regulate the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined 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.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said altitude regulator comprises a quantity of high density material 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.