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

• US 9,908,608 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• 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): Dager, Jonathan M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/351,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20170057608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 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 1/64 Gas valve operating mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/70 Ballasting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/24 Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• 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: 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: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising operating a system, the 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 18,288 meters (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; and

transmitting data from the airborne platform.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second flight-termination devices is configured to independently cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon when further operation of the unmanned balloon presents danger to air traffic.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second flight-termination devices is configured to cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon based on a rise rate or a fall rate of the unmanned balloon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second flight-termination devices is configured to independently cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon based on a malfunction related to the unmanned balloon.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the malfunction includes failure of a processor of the unmanned balloon.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the malfunction includes failure of a power source of the unmanned balloon.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the malfunction includes failure of the GPS of the unmanned balloon.

8. The method of claim 1, the system further comprising a tether that when broken separates the gas enclosure and the payload.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of the airborne platforms.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon.

11. The method of claim 1, the system further comprising an antenna.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform.

13. The method of claim 1, the system further comprising a pump and a valve, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon, and wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change a position of the airborne platform.

14. A method comprising operating a system, the system comprising:

an airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon comprising a gas enclosure;

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 18,288 meters (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; and

transmitting data from the airborne platform.

15. The method of claim 14, the system further comprising a second flight-termination device configured to cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon;

and at least two power sources each configured to provide power to one of the first and second flight-termination devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second flight-termination device is configured to cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon when the first flight-termination mechanism has failed.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second flight-termination devices is configured to cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon based on a rise rate or a fall rate of the unmanned balloon.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second flight-termination devices is configured to cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon based on a malfunction of the unmanned balloon.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the malfunction includes failure of a processor of the unmanned balloon.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the malfunction includes failure of a power source of the unmanned balloon.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the malfunction includes failure of the GPS of the unmanned balloon.

22. The method of claim 14, the system further comprising an antenna.

23. The method of claim 14, the system further comprising at least two geographical coordinates tracking system.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the system comprises a plurality of the airborne platforms.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon.

26. The method of claim 14, the system further comprising a pump and a valve.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform.

28. The method of claim 14, the system further comprising a pump and a valve, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon, and wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change a position of the airborne platform.

29. A method comprising operating a system, the 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 18,288 meters (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;

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; and

transmitting data from the airborne platform.

30. The method of claim 29, the system further comprising an antenna and at least two geographical coordinates tracking system.