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

• US 7,356,390 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Inventors: Frische, Eric A., Barkley, Bruce A., Knoblach, Gerald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/673,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20050014499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/3, 701/4, 701/5, 244/31, 244/96, 244/97, 244/128
• US Class Current: 701/4
• 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 control system to control a rise rate or a descent rate of a free-floating lighter than air platform comprising a vent actuator, an altitude sensor, a processor located on the free-floating platform, a termination controller adapted to terminate a flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, and a device that controls the vent actuator, wherein the processor comprises stored, programmed or calculated criteria for command and control of the flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, wherein the free-floating lighter than air platform is without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the altitude sensor determines both an altitude of the free-floating platform and the rise rate or the descent rate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the device determines the rise rate or the descent rate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is located on the free-floating platform.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ballast container, a ballast and a ballast discharge actuator that controls a discharge of the ballast from the ballast container.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the ballast comprises a byproduct of a reactant used for generating a gas that is vented into the free-floating lighter than air platform using the vent actuator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is coupled to the altitude sensor.

8. A method of controlling a rise rate or a descent rate of a free-floating lighter than air platform by a control system comprising a vent actuator, an altitude sensor, a processor located on the free-floating platform, a termination controller adapted to terminate a flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, and a device that controls the vent actuator, wherein the processor comprises stored, programmed or calculated criteria for command and control of the flight of the free-floating lighter than air platform, the method comprising determining the rise rate or the descent rate and controlling the rise rate or the descent rate, wherein the free-floating lighter than air platform is without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling the rise rate or the descent rate comprises venting the vent actuator by the device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the altitude sensor or the device determines the rise rate or the descent rate.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the device is located on the free-floating platform.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the rise rate control system further comprises a ballast container, a ballast and a ballast discharge actuator that controls a discharge of the ballast from the ballast container and wherein the controlling the rise rate or the descent rate comprises discharging the ballast from the ballast container.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ballast comprises a byproduct of a reactant used for generating a gas that is vented into the free-floating lighter than air platform using the vent actuator.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the processor is coupled to the altitude sensor.