US 9,663,214 B2 · Balloon-borne platform stabilization

Abstract

An aerial balloon system comprising a payload platform suspended from an inflated balloon by means of a balloon cable, and an anchoring cable attaching the platform to an anchor point beneath it. The balloon cable and anchoring cable are attached to the payload platform by means of a connecting element pivotally attached to the platform. The platform may include a servo controlled pitch stabilizing system using the input from a pitch sensor mounted on the platform to control an angular actuator to change the angle which the platform makes with the pivoted connection element. Additionally, the platform may include a servo controlled orientation stabilizing system using the input from an orientation sensor mounted thereon to control the departure of the orientation of the platform from a predetermined orientation. This may be readily accomplished using a variable pitch rotor, the pitch being controlled by the orientation sensor signal.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An aerial balloon system comprising:

a payload platform comprising an elongated rigid connecting element attached to said payload platform by means of a pivot;
a lighter-than-air inflated balloon attached to said elongated rigid connecting element from above by means of a balloon cable;
an anchoring cable attaching said elongated rigid connecting element to an anchor point beneath said payload platform, such that said elongated rigid connecting element is connected in line between said balloon cable and said anchoring cable, and
a pitch stabilizing system, said pitch stabilizing system comprising:
an angular actuator operating on said pivot to control the angle said payload platform makes with said elongated rigid connecting element;
a pitch sensor mounted on said payload platform outputting a pitch signal defining the departure of the pitch of said payload platform from a predetermined pitch;
and
a servo system receiving said pitch signal and configured to output a signal to drive said angular actuator to maintain said payload platform in said predetermined pitch.

5 more elements

A method of stabilizing a payload platform from an aerial balloon, comprising:

supporting said payload platform from said balloon by means of a balloon cable;
and
attaching said payload platform to an anchor point beneath said payload platform by means of an anchoring cable, said balloon cable and said anchoring cable being attached to said payload platform by means of an elongated rigid connecting element attached by means of a pivot to said payload platform in a region between the attachment points of said balloon cable and said anchoring cable, and
stabilizing the pitch of said payload platform by a system comprising:
an angular actuator operating on said pivot to control the angle said payload platform makes with said elongated rigid connecting element;
a pitch sensor mounted on said payload platform outputting a pitch signal defining the departure of the pitch of said payload platform from a predetermined pitch;
and
a servo system receiving said pitch signal and configured to output a signal to drive said angular actuator to maintain said payload platform in said predetermined pitch.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Balloon-borne platform stabilization

Life of this patent

Balloon-borne platform stabilization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13