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US 9,632,503 B2Granted
Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
AssigneeSpace Data Corporation
InventorsGerald M. Knoblach, Eric A. Frische, Bruce Alan Barkley
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Abstract
Innovative new systems and method of operating the systems, wherein the system comprises an airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon; a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon; a transceiver; first and second flight termination devices; at least two separate power sources for the first and second flight termination devices; a sensor; a processor; a pump; a valve; and a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload, are disclosed herein.
Claims28
A system comprising a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;
- a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;
- a transceiver;
- first and second flight termination devices;
- at least two separate power sources for the first and second flight termination devices;
- a sensor;
- a processor;
- a pump;
- a valve;
- and a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;
- wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;
- wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor;
- wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents;
- wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with a communication device that is separate from the unmanned balloon;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;
- wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;
- wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;
- wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;
- wherein the payload is configured to communicate with an additional airborne payload attached to a separate unmanned balloon;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic;
- and
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon.
18 more elements
A system comprising a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;
- a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;
- a transceiver;
- first and second flight termination devices;
- at least two separate power sources;
- a sensor;
- a processor;
- a pump;
- a valve;
- and a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;
- wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;
- wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;
- wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;
- wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic;
- and
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon.
14 more elements
A method comprising operating a system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;
- a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;
- a transceiver;
- first and second flight termination devices;
- at least two separate power sources for the first and second flight termination devices;
- a sensor;
- a processor;
- a pump;
- a valve;
- and a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;
- wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;
- wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor;
- wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with the wind currents;
- wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with a communication device that is separate from the unmanned balloon;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;
- wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;
- wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;
- wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;
- wherein the payload is configured to communicate with an additional airborne payload attached to a separate unmanned balloon;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon;
- and
- transmitting data from the airborne platform.
20 more elements
A method comprising operating a system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of airborne platforms, each airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon;
- a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon;
- a transceiver;
- first and second flight termination devices;
- at least two separate power sources;
- a sensor;
- a processor;
- a pump;
- a valve;
- and a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload;
- wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborne platform;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon;
- wherein at least one of the geographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS;
- wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about 60,000 feet;
- wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight duration capability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flight durations of approximately 2 hours;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operation of the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic;
- wherein each of the first and second flight termination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on a determination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon;
- and
- transmitting data from the airborne platform.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.