Abstract:
Techniques are disclosed relating lighter-than-air aircraft. Such aircraft may be used for various purposes, such as providing network connectivity to areas that would otherwise lack such connectivity. For example, in some embodiments, a lighter-than-air aircraft according to this disclosure may include various types of antennas (directional or non-directional) for communicating with ground-based electronics or with other lighter-than-air aircraft.
Abstract:
Sistema de controle de temperatura do gás de sustentação de dirigível (hélio, hidrogénio) que ajusta a sustentação da aeronave, automaticamente ou sob comando do piloto. Além de compensar os efeitos negativos devido à perda de peso do combustível consumido, permite ajustar os ângulos de arfagem e rolamento da aeronave, melhorando sua aeronavegabilidade, aumentando sobremaneira sua autonomia de vôo, assegura menor consumo de combustível e reduz a emissão de CO 2 na atmosfera.
Abstract:
The invention pertains to heat-lifted aerostatic craft, in particular hot-air balloons, and improves the cost-effectiveness and safety of flights. The heat generator comprises a fan (9), a turbine (8) whose vanes are mounted on the fan rim, a combustion chamber (6) with nozzles (1) connected to a fuel gas cylinder, a compressor (7), a pivoting exhaust nozzle (13) and a mixer (14). The turbine (8), compressor (7) and fan are mechanically interconnected. The mixer (14) is situated underneath the lower neck of the balloon skin; from it, a mixture of air supplied by the fan (9) and combustion products is forced up into the balloon skin.
Abstract:
A balloon/airship embodying a double envelope consisting of the inner envelope (2) enclosed by the outer envelope (1) both the envelopes forming an integrally functioning double envelope, containing an enclosed gas/air space or passages (6) into which gas/air is pumped under a small pressure wich in turn acts on the outer envelope (1) which expands and displaces the surrounding air and simultaneously is prevented from entering the created vacuum in the space (7) inside the inner envelope (2) which expands together as one body with the outer envelope (1).
Abstract:
A method for improving the economic viability of rigid lighter-than-air craft by providing renewable self-contained ballasting. For this purpose, the outer air-tight rigid hull (1) contains an internal air mass (4) which may be varied by operating a valve (5), and surrounds a constant mass of lifting gas (3) held in a flexible envelope (2). Changes in the mass of the controlled atmosphere (4) constitute the ballast discharging and weighting operations which are required for take-off and landing without loss of lifting gas.
Abstract:
A balloon having a bladder positioned within a balloon envelope, a plate having a port, a housing secured to the plate, an impeller positioned within the housing, the port providing a passageway from an inside of the housing to an inside of the bladder, wherein a passive valve having a periphery is positioned over the port, a control system configured, upon receiving a signal to increase the amount of air within the bladder, to cause the passive valve to move from a first, closed position where a seal is provided by the engagement of the periphery'- of the passive valve and a periphery of the port to a second, open position where the periphery of the passive valve is disengaged from the periphery of the port to open the passageway between the housing and the bladder and to allow air to be forced into the bladder.
Abstract:
A balloon includes a cut-down device, a payload, and an envelope. A control system could be configured to determine a position of the balloon with respect to a predetermined zone. The cut-down device could be operable to cause at least the payload to land in response to determining that the position of the balloon is within the predetermined zone. The predetermined zone includes an exclusion zone and a shadow zone. The shadow zone could include locations from which the balloon would be likely to drift into the exclusion zone based on, e.g., historic weather patterns or expected environmental conditions. Boundaries of the shadow zone could be determined based on, for example, a probability of the balloon entering the exclusion zone.
Abstract:
An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system is disclosed including a ground station and one or more aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles are autonomous systems capable of communicating intelligence data to the ground station and be used as part of a missile delivery package. A plurality of aerial vehicles can be configured to cast a wide net of reconnaissance over a large area on the ground including smaller overlapping reconnaissance areas provided by each of the plurality of the aerial vehicles.