Unmanned airships, aerostats, and hybrid airship-aerostat systems and methods thereof
AssigneeGalaxy Unmanned Systems LLC
InventorsAntonio Roberto White, Jason Theodore White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid airship-aerostat includes a hull, a motor, a fin, a controller, and a bridle system. The motor is coupled to the hull and is configured to rotate between a thrust configuration and a lift configuration. The motor is configured to generate a lift force, a thrust force, or a combination thereof. The fin is coupled to a tail of the hull and is configured to provide directional control of the hull. The controller is configured to operate the motor and the fin to pilot the hull. The bridle system is configured to removably couple to a first end of a tether.
Claims19
A hybrid airship-aerostat comprising:
- a hull;
- a motor coupled to the hull configured to rotate between a thrust configuration and a lift configuration, the motor configured to generate a lift force, a thrust force, or a combination thereof;
- a fin coupled to a tail of the hull, the fin configured to provide directional control of the hull;
- a controller configured to operate the motor and the fin to pilot the hull;
- and
- a bridle system configured to removably couple to a first end of a tether;
- and
- a mooring platform coupled to a second end of the tether, the mooring platform configured to receive the hull, the mooring platform including a pair of retaining arms configured to pivot between an open position and a grasping position, the pair of retaining arms configured to engage the hull in the grasping position.
A lighter-than-air vehicle transitionable between an aerostat configuration and an airship configuration comprising:
- a hull including:
- a plurality of fins extending from an aft portion of the hull, each fin actuatable to control at least one of a yaw, a pitch, or a roll of the hull;
- and
- a plurality of motors having a first motor and a second motor, the first motor rotatably coupled to a first side of the hull, the second motor rotatably coupled to a second side of the hull;
- a sensor configured to determine at least one of a flight parameter or a meteorological condition;
- a controller configured to operate the plurality of motors and actuate the plurality of fins based on the at least one of the flight parameter or the meteorological condition;
- a tether removably coupled to the hull at a first end of the tether, the tether configured to provide electrical power to at least one of the plurality of motors, the sensor, or the plurality of fins;
- and
- a mooring platform coupled to a second end of the tether, the mooring platform configured to receive the hull, the mooring platform including:
- a bed pivotably coupled to a trailer;
- a tower coupled to the bed;
- a receiving cone configured to slide along the tower and configured to receive a nose of the hull;
- and
- a pair of retaining arms configured to pivot between an open position and a grasping position, the pair of retaining arms configured to engage the hull in the grasping position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.