Virtual pooling of local resources in a balloon network
    61.
    发明授权
    Virtual pooling of local resources in a balloon network 有权
    在气球网络中虚拟汇集本地资源

    公开(公告)号:US08996024B1

    公开(公告)日:2015-03-31

    申请号:US13555299

    申请日:2012-07-23

    IPC分类号: H04W72/00 H04W72/04 H04W16/24

    CPC分类号: H04W16/24 H04W84/06

    摘要: Disclosed embodiments relate to virtual pooling of a local resource in a balloon network. In an example, a balloon network has geographic zones, including at least a first and a second geographic zone. Further, each balloon has a sustainable utilization rate for a local resource. Each balloon utilizes the local resource according to a respective first utilization rate when located in the first geographic zone and utilizes the local resource according to a second utilization rate when located in the second geographic zone. For one or more of the balloons, the sustainable utilization rate is less than the respective first utilization rate and greater than the respective second utilization rate. However, the balloons are operable to move between the geographic zones such that the first utilization rate is substantially continuous in first geographic zone.

    摘要翻译: 公开的实施例涉及气球网络中的本地资源的虚拟池。 在一个示例中,气球网络具有包括至少第一和第二地理区域的地理区域。 此外,每个气球对于本地资源具有可持续的利用率。 当位于第一地理区域时,每个气球根据相应的第一利用率利用本地资源,并且当位于第二地理区域时,根据第二利用率利用本地资源。 对于一个或多个气球,可持续利用率小于相应的第一利用率并且大于相应的第二利用率。 然而,气球可操作以在地理区域之间移动,使得第一利用率在第一地理区域中基本上是连续的。

    Balloon Power Sources with a Buoyancy Trade-Off
    62.
    发明申请
    Balloon Power Sources with a Buoyancy Trade-Off 有权
    浮力动力源与浮力平衡

    公开(公告)号:US20140048646A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-02-20

    申请号:US13590020

    申请日:2012-08-20

    IPC分类号: B64B1/44

    摘要: Example embodiments may facilitate altitude control by a balloon in a balloon network. An example method involves: (a) causing a balloon to operate in a first mode, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope, a high-pressure storage chamber, and a solar power system, (b) while the balloon is operating in the first mode: (i) operating the solar power system to generate power for the balloon and (ii) using at least some of the power generated by the solar power system to move gas from the envelope to the high-pressure storage chamber such that the buoyancy of the balloon decreases; (c) causing the balloon to operate in a second mode; and while the balloon is operating in the second mode, moving gas from the high-pressure storage chamber to the envelope such that the buoyancy of the balloon increases.

    摘要翻译: 示例性实施例可以促进气球网络中的气球的高度控制。 示例性方法包括:(a)使气球以第一模式操作,其中气囊包括外壳,高压储存室和太阳能发电系统,(b)当气囊以第一模式操作时 (i)操作太阳能发电系统以产生用于气球的电力,以及(ii)使用由太阳能发电系统产生的至少一些电力将气体从外壳移动到高压储存室,使得浮力 气球减少; (c)使气球以第二模式操作; 并且当气囊在第二模式下操作时,将气体从高压储存室移动到外壳,使得气球的浮力增加。

    Incentivized Recovery of Balloon Materials
    63.
    发明申请
    Incentivized Recovery of Balloon Materials 有权
    气球材料的激励回收

    公开(公告)号:US20140015694A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-01-16

    申请号:US13550160

    申请日:2012-07-16

    IPC分类号: G08B21/00

    CPC分类号: B64B1/40

    摘要: Methods and systems involving an incentivized recovery of balloon materials are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) determine a landing location of a balloon, where the balloon has been configured to operate as a node in a balloon network; (b) detect a removal event corresponding to the balloon ceasing to operate as a node in the balloon network and descending to the landing location; and (c) in response to detecting the removal event, initiate a transmission of a recovery-assistance signal that is comprised of (i) location data corresponding to the landing location of the balloon and (ii) an indication of an incentive to recover the balloon.

    摘要翻译: 本文公开了涉及激发回收球囊材料的方法和系统。 示例系统可以被配置为:(a)确定气球的着陆位置,其中气球已被配置为作为气球网络中的节点操作; (b)检测与所述气球相对应的移除事件停止作为所述气球网络中的节点并下降到所述着陆位置; 和(c)响应于检测到去除事件,发起恢复辅助信号的传输,该恢复辅助信号包括(i)对应于气球的着陆位置的位置数据,以及(ii)恢复 气球。

    Balloon Altitude Control Using Density Adjustment and/or Volume Adjustment
    64.
    发明申请
    Balloon Altitude Control Using Density Adjustment and/or Volume Adjustment 有权
    使用密度调整和/或音量调节的气球高度控制

    公开(公告)号:US20140014769A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-01-16

    申请号:US13546806

    申请日:2012-07-11

    IPC分类号: B64B1/62

    CPC分类号: B64B1/62 B64B1/40 B64B1/56

    摘要: A balloon having an envelope and a payload positioned beneath the envelope. The envelope comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion allows more solar energy to be transferred to gas within the envelope than the second portion. The balloon may operate in a first mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by rotating the envelope to change an amount of the first portion that faces the sun and an amount of the second portion that faces the sun, and wherein the control system is further configured to cause the balloon to operate in a second mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by moving a lifting gas or air into or out of the envelope.

    摘要翻译: 一个气球,其中有一个信封和有效载荷,位于信封的下面。 信封包括第一部分和第二部分,其中第一部分允许更多的太阳能转移到封套内的气体比第二部分。 球囊可以在其中引起气球的高度运动的第一模式中起作用,至少部分地通过旋转信封来改变面对太阳的第一部分的量和面向太阳的第二部分的量 ,并且其中所述控制系统还被配置成使得所述气囊在所述气囊的高度运动被引起的第二模式中至少部分地通过将提升气体或空气移入或移出所述外壳而进行操作。

    Relative Positioning of Balloons with Altitude Control and Wind Data
    65.
    发明申请
    Relative Positioning of Balloons with Altitude Control and Wind Data 有权
    具有高度控制和风力数据的气球的相对定位

    公开(公告)号:US20130175391A1

    公开(公告)日:2013-07-11

    申请号:US13346637

    申请日:2012-01-09

    IPC分类号: B64B1/40 G05D1/00

    摘要: The positions of balloons in a communication network of balloons, such as a mesh network of high-altitude balloons, may be adjusted relative to one another in order to try to maintain a desired network topology. In one approach, the position of each balloon may be adjusted relative to one or more neighbor balloons. For example, the locations of a target balloon and one or more neighbor balloons may be determined. A desired movement of the target balloon may then be determined based on the locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the location of the target balloon. The target balloon may be controlled based on the desired movement. In some embodiments, the altitude of the target balloon may be controlled in order to expose the target balloon to ambient winds that are capable of producing the desired movement of the target balloon.

    摘要翻译: 可以相对于彼此来调整气球通信网络中的气球的位置,例如高空气球的网状网络,以便尝试维持期望的网络拓扑。 在一种方法中,可以相对于一个或多个相邻气球来调节每个球囊的位置。 例如,可以确定目标气球和一个或多个相邻气球的位置。 然后可以基于一个或多个相邻气球相对于目标气球的位置的位置来确定目标气球的期望运动。 可以基于期望的运动来控制目标气球。 在一些实施例中,可以控制目标气球的高度,以便将目标气球暴露于能够产生目标气球的期望运动的环境风中。