Abstract

Small volume, zero pressure balloon systems for remote sensing activities in the upper atmosphere. A balloon system includes an air ingestion clip proximate the nadir fitting to inhibit air ingestion during ascent, the clip releasing to allow air expulsion at a predetermined altitude. Another balloon system includes a parachute system having inflation guards that inhibit the parachute from inflating when inverted during ascent and float, the guards releasing to allow parachute inflation during descent.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/40 - Balloons
• B64B 1/62 - Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas

Abstract

Small volume, zero pressure balloon systems for remote sensing activities in the upper atmosphere. A balloon system includes an air ingestion clip proximate the nadir fitting to inhibit air ingestion during ascent, the clip releasing to allow air expulsion at a predetermined altitude. Another balloon system includes a parachute system having inflation guards that inhibit the parachute from inflating when inverted during ascent and float, the guards releasing to allow parachute inflation during descent.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/40 - Balloons
• B64B 1/62 - Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas

Abstract

An example method for launching a high-altitude balloon includes securing a launch collar around a balloon envelope to form a choke point separating an upper portion of the balloon envelope from a lower portion of the balloon envelope. The balloon envelope is structurally secured to a launch platform via a tether that is coupled to the launch collar. The launch collar is configured such that release of the launch collar from the choke point releases the balloon envelope from the launch platform.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/00 - Lighter-than-air aircraft
• B64B 1/50 - Captive balloons

Abstract

A method for creating a composite image includes receiving a group of images indexed according to a time-consecutive capture sequence. Each image is evaluated for inclusion in the composite image, and the evaluation of each image entails determining whether a spatial footprint of the image is entirely internal to a polygon formed based on a union of spatial footprints corresponding to images positioned on a same side of the image within the time-consecutive capture sequence. If the spatial footprint of the image is not entirely internal to the polygon, an identifier for the image is added to a composite image array. Otherwise, the identifier for the image is excluded from the composite image array. After all images have been evaluated, the composite image is created by stitching together images with respective identifiers included in the composite image array.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06V 10/10 - Image acquisition
• G06T 3/4038 - Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• G06T 7/10 - SegmentationEdge detection
• G06V 10/26 - Segmentation of patterns in the image fieldCutting or merging of image elements to establish the pattern region, e.g. clustering-based techniquesDetection of occlusion
• G06V 10/62 - Extraction of image or video features relating to a temporal dimension, e.g. time-based feature extractionPattern tracking
• G06V 20/10 - Terrestrial scenes

Abstract

An example arial image capture system captures a sequence of images from a camera attached to a flight vehicle while the flight vehicle moves in a lateral direction relative to underlying terrain and while concurrently rotating the camera along a circular path about an axis of rotation. The rotation of the camera controllably alters the camera's field-of-view to trace a curved swath of the underlying terrain with each rotation period of the camera around an area external to the camera's field-of-view.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 5/232 - Devices for controlling television cameras, e.g. remote control
• B64B 1/40 - Balloons
• B64D 47/08 - Arrangements of cameras
• H04N 5/225 - Television cameras

Abstract

An example method for launching a high-altitude balloon includes securing a launch collar around a balloon envelope to form a choke point separating an upper portion of the balloon envelope from a lower portion of the balloon envelope. The balloon envelope is structurally secured to a launch platform via a tether that is coupled to the launch collar. The launch collar is configured such that release of the launch collar from the choke point releases the balloon envelope from the launch platform.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64B 1/00 - Lighter-than-air aircraft
• B64B 1/50 - Captive balloons