Reactionary mass balloon envelope for a balloon and other balloon components
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorRichard Wayne DeVaul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a balloon. The balloon may include an envelope comprising a fixed component. The balloon may include a stabilizing platform positioned beneath the envelope and operatively connected to the fixed component. The stabilizing platform may be configured to rotate around an axis vertically aligned with gravity. The envelope may comprise a heavier mass than the stabilizing platform. The balloon may also include a motor configured to exert a first force on the stabilizing platform in a manner such that the stabilizing platform rotates (i) more than a rotation of the balloon and (ii) around the axis, thereby counteracting the rotation of the balloon by causing the stabilizing platform to exert a second force on the envelope of the balloon.
Claims20
A balloon comprising:
- an envelope comprising a fixed component;
- a stabilizing platform positioned beneath the envelope and operatively connected to the fixed component, wherein the stabilizing platform is configured to rotate around an axis vertically aligned with gravity, and wherein the envelope comprises a heavier mass than the stabilizing platform;
- and
- a motor configured to exert a first force on the stabilizing platform in a manner such that the stabilizing platform rotates (i) more than a rotation of the balloon and (ii) around the axis, thereby counteracting the rotation of the balloon by causing the stabilizing platform to exert a second force on the envelope of the balloon.
A method comprising:
- determining, using a processor, a rotation of a balloon with a predetermined orientation, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope and a stabilizing platform, wherein the envelope comprises a fixed component, wherein the stabilizing platform (i) is operatively connected to the fixed component, (ii) is positioned beneath the envelope, (iii) is configured to rotate around an axis vertically aligned with gravity, and (iv) comprises a motor;
- and
- causing, using the motor, the stabilizing platform to rotate more than the rotation of the balloon and around the axis to counteract the rotation of the balloon thereby returning the balloon to the predetermined orientation.
A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions that when executed by a computer system of a balloon, cause the balloon to perform functions comprising:
- determining a rotation of the balloon, wherein the balloon has a predetermined orientation, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope and a stabilizing platform, wherein the envelope comprises a fixed component, wherein the stabilizing platform (i) is operatively connected to the fixed component, (ii) is positioned beneath the envelope, (iii) is configured to rotate around an axis vertically aligned with gravity, and (iv) comprises a motor;
- and
- causing, using the motor, the stabilizing platform to rotate more than the rotation of the balloon and around the axis to counteract the rotation of the balloon thereby returning the balloon to the predetermined orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.