Systems and methods for long endurance airship operations
AssigneeStratospheric Airships, LLC
InventorStephen Heppe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one example, a long endurance airship system includes a first combined airship with a payload airship and a first logistics airship. The first combined airship is configured for stationkeeping at a predetermined station during meteorological conditions with wind speeds below a predetermined threshold. The airship system also includes a second combined airship which is a reconfiguration of the first combined airship and includes the payload airship and a second logistics airship. The second combined airship is configured for stationkeeping at the predetermined station in all meteorological conditions, including meteorological conditions with wind speeds above the predetermined threshold.
Claims20
A long endurance airship system comprising:
- a first combined airship comprising a payload airship and a first logistics airship, the first combined airship being configured for stationkeeping at a predetermined station during meteorological conditions with wind speeds below a predetermined threshold;
- and
- a second combined airship comprising a reconfiguration of the first combined airship, the second combined airship comprising the payload airship and a second logistics airship, the second combined airship being configured for stationkeeping at the predetermined station in meteorological conditions with wind speeds above the predetermined threshold.
A combined airship comprising two airships reversibly mated together, said airships configured to support rendezvous, mating, and derating, while in flight, wherein the two airships have design capabilities differing by at least a factor of two with regard to at least one of:
- power generation capability, propulsion capability, endurance capability, and lift capability.
A method for providing long endurance aeronautical operations, the method comprising:
- monitoring resources and capabilities of a combined airship, the combined airship maintaining stationkeeping at a station;
- forecasting future meteorological conditions at the station;
- determining if the resources and capabilities of the combined airship are sufficient for stationkeeping at the station during the forecasted meteorological conditions;
- if the resources and capabilities of the combined airship are not sufficient, launching a relief logistics airship;
- and
- reconfiguring the combined airship to include the relief logistics airship, the reconfigured combined airship having resources and capabilities sufficient for stationkeeping during the forecasted meteorological conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.