Method and system for supporting an airborne vehicle in space
OwnerEliyahu Gamzoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for supporting an airborne vehicle in space over a predetermined location and for an extensive period, comprises coupling the airborne vehicle by cables to a plurality of unmanned aircraft each having its own propulsion system; controlling the unmanned aircraft to fly in circular orbits at equally-spaced angles around the airborne vehicle while coupled to the airborne vehicle, to tension the cables and thereby to support the airborne vehicle in space over the predetermined location; and supplying the unmanned aircraft with energy from an external source to maintain the unmanned aircraft in flight over an extended or indefinite period of time.
Claims17
A method of supporting an airborne vehicle in space over a predetermined location and for an extensive period, comprising:
- coupling the airborne vehicle by cables to a plurality of unmanned aircraft each having its own propulsion system;
- controlling the unmanned aircraft to fly in circular orbits at equally-spaced angles around the airborne vehicle while coupled to the airborne vehicle, to tension the cables and thereby to support the airborne vehicle in spaced over said predetermined location;
- supplying the airborne vehicle, while supported in space over said predetermined location, with energy from an external source;
- and
- transferring energy from said airborne vehicle to said unmanned aircraft to maintain the unmanned aircraft in flight over an extended or indefinite period of time.
A system for supporting an airborne vehicle in space over a predetermined location and for an extensive period, comprising:
- a plurality of unmanned aircraft, each coupled by a cable to the airborne vehicle;
- control means for controlling the unmanned aircraft to fly a circular orbit at equally-spaced angles around the airborne vehicle while coupled thereto, to tension the cables and thereby to support the airborne vehicle in space over said predetermined location;
- energy-supplying means supplying said airborne vehicle, while supported in space over said predetermined location, with energy from an external source;
- and
- means for transferring energy from said airborne vehicle to said unmanned aircraft to maintain the unmanned aircraft in flight over an extended or indefinite period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.