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公开(公告)号:US10925114B1
公开(公告)日:2021-02-16
申请号:US16679961
申请日:2019-11-11
申请人: Loon LLC
发明人: James Smith
摘要: The technology provides a convenient and efficient way for business entities and other organizations to gather and transmit data from remotely located facilities without having to rely on satellite communication or specialized communication equipment. A geographically isolated facility may be used for manufacturing, warehousing, power generation, environmental monitoring, as well as other services. Information about the facility, its equipment and operation are transmitted to a back end system using high altitude platforms (HAPs). This provides opportunistic communication between remote facilities and the back-end system on an as-needed basis, for example based on bandwidth usage, peak/off-peak usage, etc. The HAPs may act as a store and forward service, or process received data before transmitting it to a ground station or the back end system. This approach allows an organization to periodically monitor its facilities, to determine equipment failure, resupply needs, and to assess the status of each facility.
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公开(公告)号:US20210179247A1
公开(公告)日:2021-06-17
申请号:US17114714
申请日:2020-12-08
申请人: LOON LLC
发明人: Mike Kennan , James Smith , Keegan Gartner , Mathew Tabor
摘要: The technology provides a launch rig structure capable of filling a very large balloon envelope while the balloon is arranged vertically. The filled balloon is capable of staying aloft in the stratosphere with its payload for months or longer. The launch rig structure is configured to rotate up to 360° in response to current wind conditions. It includes an integrated lifting boom and gas handling system to fill the envelope. A payload release assembly is configured to couple with a rigid connection member of the balloon, enabling the envelope to be filled while in a vertical orientation. The payload release assembly is part of a launch cart that is positioned within the interior space of the launch rig. A gripper assembly engages with the rigid connection member. Once the envelope is filled, the gripper assembly disengages from the connection member so that the balloon floats away from the launch rig.
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公开(公告)号:US20210179246A1
公开(公告)日:2021-06-17
申请号:US16712350
申请日:2019-12-12
申请人: LOON LLC
发明人: Leo Chen , James Smith , Keegan Gartner
摘要: Aspects of the technology include an automated system for launching lighter-than-air high altitude platforms (HAPs), in particular balloon-type HAPs. A launch system and process are employed that use cameras to observe balloon sway and other factors. A control system detects the angle and position of the balloon gas bubble in relation to the payload in real time in view of wind and other environmental factors. This, in turn, enables the control system to automatically actuate the release mechanism and launch the balloon system at a selected point in time. This mitigates issues that can occur with manual operator-controlled launches, and increases the likelihood of a successful HAP deployment in the stratosphere. Models created via machine learning enable the system to determine criteria indicating a likelihood of a successful launch. These models may be sued by the control system in order to select an appropriate point for launching the platform.
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公开(公告)号:US20210144803A1
公开(公告)日:2021-05-13
申请号:US17144182
申请日:2021-01-08
申请人: Loon LLC
发明人: James Smith
摘要: The technology provides a convenient and efficient way for business entities and other organizations to gather and transmit data from remotely located facilities without having to rely on satellite communication or specialized communication equipment. A geographically isolated facility may be used for manufacturing, warehousing, power generation, environmental monitoring, as well as other services. Information about the facility, its equipment and operation are transmitted to a back end system using high altitude platforms (HAPs). This provides opportunistic communication between remote facilities and the back-end system on an as-needed basis, for example based on bandwidth usage, peak/off-peak usage, etc. The HAPs may act as a store and forward service, or process received data before transmitting it to a ground station or the back end system. This approach allows an organization to periodically monitor its facilities, to determine equipment failure, resupply needs, and to assess the status of each facility.
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