Radome membrane bladder and systems and methods thereof

A method of removing or preventing ice and/or snow accumulation on a radome using a flexible radome bladder, the method comprising:

• providing the radome, the radome including:
• the flexible radome bladder, the flexible radome bladder being fluidly connected to an air supply to receive forced air from the air supply and having:
• an inner membrane provided in parallel with an outer membrane, the outer membrane having an inner surface that touches an inner surface of the inner membrane, and an outer surface that faces away from the inner membrane,
• at least one air inlet port configured to receive the forced air from the air supply and provide the forced air between the inner membrane and the outer membrane, and
• at least one air outlet port configured to output air from between the inner membrane and the outer membrane;
• determining an ice and/or snow accumulation condition relative to the outer surface of the outer membrane;
• and
• controlling, using a processor, a center portion of the outer membrane to move away from a center portion of the inner membrane, responsive to said determining the ice and/or snow accumulation condition, by forcing the air from the air supply between the inner membrane and the outer membrane,
• wherein said controlling causes the outer membrane to move from a first pre-stressed state to a first increased-stress state.

A flexible radome bladder system comprising:

• an inner tensioned membrane having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
• an outer tensioned membrane provided adjacent to the inner tensioned membrane, the outer tensioned membrane having an inner surface facing the inner tensioned membrane and an outer surface facing away from the inner tensioned membrane;
• at least one air inlet port configured to provide air between the outer tensioned membrane and the inner tensioned membrane;
• and
• at least one air outlet port configured to output the air provided between the outer tensioned membrane and the inner tensioned membrane,
• wherein the inner tensioned membrane and the outer tensioned membrane are affixed to each other to create an air-tight seal around the inner tensioned membrane and the outer tensioned membrane, and
• wherein the inner tensioned membrane and the outer tensioned membrane are configured such that respective inner portions are movable between a pre-tensioned state where no air is being provided between the inner tensioned membrane and the outer tensioned membrane and a predetermined increased-tension state when air is being or has been provided between the inner tensioned membrane and the outer tensioned membrane.