Self-powered releasable aerostat and method and system for releasing and controlling the aerostat

An airship comprising;

• a plurality of body segments Tillable with lighter than air gases;
• a plurality of coupling elements, each of which is positioned to couple adjacent body segments along a length of the airship;
• a propulsion unit for facilitating an autonomous flight of the airship;
• a controlling unit for triggering a release of a tether unit detachably securing the airship to a ground unit while the airship is aloft, for actuating the propulsion unit, and for controlling internal pressure levels of the body segments and stiffness levels of the coupling elements.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executing a method for releasing and controlling an airship, the method comprising:

• receiving instruction signals to release the airship for an autonomous flight, wherein the airship includes a plurality of body segments and a plurality of coupling elements for coupling adjacent body segments along a length of the airship, wherein the airship is detachably coupled to a ground unit through a tether unit, and wherein the airship includes a propulsion unit, an auto pilot unit, and a controlling unit for controlling the propulsion unit, the tether unit, and the auto pilot unit;
• determining environmental conditions affecting the airship;
• evaluating an internal pressure level of each of the plurality of body segments and a stiffness level of each of the couplings elements;
• determining whether the evaluated internal pressure levels and stiffness levels are substantially suitable to the determined environmental conditions;
• based on a determination that the evaluated internal pressure levels and stiffness levels are substantially suitable to the determined environmental conditions, determining whether the propulsion unit is in an operational state;
• based on the determination that the propulsion unit is in an operational state, triggering a disconnection of the tether unit and an activation of the auto pilot unit.

An airship system comprising:

• an airship comprising:
• a plurality of body segments Tillable with lighter than air gases;
• a plurality of coupling elements, each of which is positioned to couple adjacent body segments along a length of the airship;
• a propulsion unit for facilitating an autonomous flight of the airship;
• a controlling unit for actuating the propulsion unit, and for controlling internal pressure levels of the body segments and stiffness levels of the coupling elements;
• a tether unit detachably securing the airship to a ground unit while the airship is aloft;
• a remote control unit for providing wirelessly instruction signals to the airship.