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US 2012/0223181 A1Published application
Lighter-Than-Air Systems, Methods, and Kits for Obtaining Aerial Images
OwnerJohn Ciampainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Lighter-than-air systems, methods, and kits for obtaining aerial images are described. For example, various methods for determining planned ascent, drift, and/or descent of a lighter-than-air system are described. In addition, various structural arrangements of lighter-than-air systems for accomplishing planned ascent, drift, and/or descent and obtaining aerial images are described.
Claims20
A lighter-than-air system comprising:
- an airship comprising a cruise balloon having a wall defining a cruise chamber, a reserve balloon disposed within said cruise chamber, and a spill balloon attached to the wall of said cruise balloon;
- and
- a thruster attached to said airship, said thruster comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a plurality of membranes, said first portion defining a first opening in a first plane that is in communication with said cruise chamber, said second portion defining a plurality of second openings, at least one of said plurality of second openings is defined in a second plane that is different from said first plane, wherein a membrane from said plurality of membranes is disposed over each of said plurality of second openings.
A lighter-than-air system comprising:
- an airship comprising a cruise balloon having a wall defining a cruise chamber, a reserve balloon disposed within said cruise chamber, and a spill balloon releasably attached to the wall of said cruise balloon;
- a thruster attached to said airship, said thruster comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a plurality of membranes, said first portion defining a first opening in a first plane that is in communication with said cruise chamber, said second portion defining a plurality of second openings, at least one of said plurality of second openings is defined in a second plane that is different from said first plane;
- wherein a membrane from said plurality of membranes is disposed over each of said plurality of second openings;
- and
- wherein each of said plurality of membranes is adapted to move from a first configuration in which the membrane seals the opening over which the membrane is disposed, to a second configuration in which the membrane allows for fluid to pass through the opening.
2 more elements
A method for acquiring one or more aerial images using a lighter-than-air system and ground control software stored on a computer readable medium, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining the location of one or more images to be acquired;
- inputting data into said ground control software to calculate one or more data points;
- introducing a predetermined volume of fluid into a reserve balloon of a first lighter-than-air system comprising:
- an airship comprising a cruise balloon having a wall defining a cruise chamber, a reserve balloon disposed within said cruise chamber, and a spill balloon releasably attached to the wall of said cruise balloon;
- a thruster attached to said airship comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a plurality of membranes, said first portion defining a first opening in a first plane that is in communication with said cruise chamber, said second portion defining a plurality of second openings, at least one of said plurality of second openings is defined in a second plane that is different from said first plane;
- and
- an instrument case attached to said thruster, the instrument case comprising a housing;
- introducing a predetermined volume of fluid into said cruise chamber;
- introducing a predetermined volume of fluid into said spill balloon;
- launching said first lighter-than-air system;
- and
- receiving data sent by said first lighter-than-air system;
- wherein a membrane from said plurality of membranes is disposed over each of said plurality of second openings.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.