Abstract

Disclosed herein is a lighter-than-air (LTA) device (5000) and method of making the same. In an embodiment, the LTA device (5000) may include a membrane (E, G_in, G_out) having a flexible substrate and an active material (525) disposed thereon, wherein the active material (525) is configured to controllably change the surface area of at least a portion of the substrate when an electrical stimulus is applied to the active material.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/62 - Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas

Abstract

A method and system for separating and releasing component parts (111, 112, 113) of a payload (110) of a floating platform (100) in response to a high collision probability is disclosed. The method includes, determining if an in-flight aircraft is within at least a safety zone associated with a floating platform, wherein the floating platform (100) comprises releasably-coupled component parts (111, 112, 113); and activating, responsive to a determination that the in-flight aircraft is within at least the safety zone, a release mechanism (121, 122, 123, 124), wherein the release mechanism is configured to uncouple the component parts.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/40 - Balloons
• G08G 5/04 - Anti-collision systems

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems for minimizing the probability of a collision between an aircraft and a floating platform are described. The device may include a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is configured to obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft; determine a probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of a floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data; and determine, based on the flight-path vector and the probability related to the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and/or a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a probability of a collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in flight.

IPC Classes  ?

• G08G 5/00 - Traffic control systems for aircraft
• B64B 1/40 - Balloons
• G01C 21/00 - NavigationNavigational instruments not provided for in groups
• G05D 1/10 - Simultaneous control of position or course in three dimensions
• G08G 5/04 - Anti-collision systems
• H04B 7/185 - Space-based or airborne stations

Goods & Services

Airborne instruments, namely, balloon-borne instrument packages for receiving from and transmitting data to ground-based transmitters and receivers; and ground-based telecommunications equipment for receiving and transmitting data, namely, pagers and messaging devices, telecommunications data repeaters, data transmitters and data receivers Voice, messaging and data telecommunications services, namely, electronic receipt and transmission of ground-based telecommunications including voice, messages and data

Goods & Services

Airborne instruments, namely, balloon-borne instrument packages for receiving from and transmitting data to ground-based transmitters and receivers; and ground-based telecommunications equipment for receiving and transmitting data, namely, pagers and messaging devices, telecommunications data repeaters, data transmitters and data receivers Voice, messaging and data telecommunications services, namely, electronic receipt and transmission of ground-based telecommunications including voice, massages and data