Embodiments disclosed herein enable routine autonomous execution of at least some major phases of aerostat operation in response to commands from human or automated external operators, a built-in decision-making capacity, or both. Various embodiments combine one or more actively controlled tethers, aerodynamic aerostat control surfaces, mechanical assistive devices (e.g., jointed arms attached to a ground station), and/or active propulsors attached to the aerostat to govern aerostat behavior during launch, flight, and landing phases of operation. Some embodiments enable automatic autonomous performance of all phases of routine post-commissioning aerostat operation, including launch, flight, and landing, without any routine need for availability of a human crew.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED, LIGHTER-THAN-AIR AIRBORNE PLATFORM
SYSTEME UND VERFAHREN FÜR AUTOMATISIERTE, LUFTGETRAGENE LEICHTER-ALS-LUFT-PLATTFORM
SYSTÈMES ET PROCÉDÉS POUR PLATE-FORME AÉROPORTÉE AUTOMATISÉE PLUS LÉGÈRE QUE L'AIR
2022-08-24
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
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