Lighter-than-air vehicle with relative drift navigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11079773-B2
Application number	US-201916661193-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	Oct 23, 2019
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle navigation system and vehicle. The navigation system includes a first wind probing device disposed at a first probe position, wherein the first wind probing device is in communication, via a first probe communications link, with a body communication system. The navigation system also includes a second wind probing device disposed at a second probe position, wherein the second wind probing device is in communication, via a second probe communications link, with the body communication system. The navigation system also includes a wind variation detection system configured to determine wind information, including at least a wind direction, for the first wind probing device and the second wind probing device.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle navigation system, comprising:
a first wind probing device disposed at a first probe position, wherein the first wind probing device is in communication, via a first probe communications link, with a body communication system;
a second wind probing device disposed at a second probe position, wherein the second wind probing device is in communication, via a second probe communications link, with the body communication system; and
a wind variation detection system configured to determine wind information, including at least a wind direction, for the first wind probing device and the second wind probing device,
wherein the navigation system is configured to indicate a change in position of at least a portion of an LTA vehicle based on wind information received from the wind variation detection system.

2. The navigation system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of an exterior of a main body of the LTA vehicle is composed at least in part of a reflective material, wherein said portion of the exterior of the main body has a substantially parabolic shape of a reflector for a dish antenna, and wherein another portion of the exterior of the main body is composed at least in part of a non-reflective material so radio waves pass through the non-reflective material of the exterior of the main body.

3. The navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the first wind probing device communicates to a main body of the LTA vehicle, via the first probe communications link and a first probe navigation system, GPS coordinates of the first wind probing device, and wherein the second wind probing device communicates to the main body, via the second probe communications link and a second probe navigation system, GPS coordinates of the second wind probing device.

4. The navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the first probe communications link and the second probe communications link form part of the wind variation detection system.

5. The navigation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more additional wind probing devices, each of the one or more additional wind probing devices being disposed at a respective additional probe position, wherein the one or more additional wind probing devices are in communication with said body communication system.

6. The navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the wind variation detection system includes a light detection and ranging system.

7. The navigation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an altitude adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of at least a portion of the LTA vehicle based on the wind information received from the wind variation detection system.

8. The navigation system of claim 7 , wherein the altitude adjustment mechanism is disposed in a main body of the LTA vehicle.

9. A lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle, comprising:
a main body;
a first wind probing device disposed at a first probe position, wherein the first wind probing device is in communication, via a first probe communications link, with a body communication system that is disposed in the main body;
a second wind probing device disposed at a second probe position, wherein the second wind probing device is in communication, via a second probe communications link, with the body communication system that is disposed in the main body;
a wind variation detection system configured to determine wind information, including at least a wind direction, for the first wind probing device and the second wind probing device; and
an altitude adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of at least a portion of the LTA vehicle for changing a position of the LTA vehicle based on wind information that is received from the wind variation detection system.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the altitude adjustment mechanism is disposed in the main body of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein a portion of an exterior of the main body is made of a reflective material, wherein said portion of the exterior of the main body has a substantially parabolic shape of a reflector for a dish antenna, and wherein another portion of the exterior of the main body is non-reflective so radio waves pass through the another portion of the exterior of the main body.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first wind probing device communicates to the main body, via a first probe communications link and a first probe navigation system, GPS coordinates of the first wind probing device, and wherein the second wind probing device communicates to the main body, via a second probe communications link and a second probe navigation system, GPS coordinates of the second wind probing device.

13. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first probe communications link and the second probe communications link form part of the wind variation detection system.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising:
one or more additional wind probing devices, each of the one or more additional wind probing devices being disposed at a respective additional probe position, wherein the one or more additional wind probing devices are in communication with said body communication system.

15. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the wind variation detection system includes a light detection and ranging system.

16. A lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle with dish antenna, comprising:
a main body;
a first wind probing device disposed at a first probe position, wherein the first wind probing device is in communication, via a first probe communications link, with a body communication system that is disposed in the main body;
a second wind probing device disposed at a second probe position, wherein the second wind probing device is in communication, via a second probe communications link, with the body communication system that is disposed in the main body;
a wind variation detection system configured to determine wind information, including at least a wind direction, for the first wind probing device and the second wind probing device; and
an altitude adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of at least a portion of the LTA vehicle for changing a position of the LTA vehicle based on wind information that is received from the wind variation detection system,
wherein a portion of an exterior of the main body is made of a reflective material, wherein said portion of the exterior of the body has a substantially parabolic shape of a reflector for a dish antenna, and wherein another portion of the exterior of the main body is non-reflective so radio waves pass through the another portion of the exterior of the main body.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the altitude adjustment mechanism is disposed in the main body of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising:
one or more additional wind probing vehicles, each of the one or more additional wind probing vehicles being disposed at a respective additional probe position, wherein the one or more additional wind probing vehicles are in communication with said body communication system.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the wind variation detection system includes a light detection and ranging system.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first wind probing device communicates to the main body, via a first probe communications link and a first probe navigation system, GPS coordinates of the first wind probing device, and wherein the second wind probin

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Muhleman Daniel H

Classifications

• G05D1/042 Primary

  specially adapted for aircraft · CPC title

• G05D1/105 Primary

  specially adapted for unpowered flight, e.g. glider, parachuting, forced landing (parachutes per se B64D17/00) · CPC title

• G01P13/045

  with speed indication · CPC title

• G01P5/18

  by measuring the time taken to traverse a fixed distance · CPC title

• B64B1/00

  Lighter-than-air aircraft · CPC title