Abstract:
Provided is a buoyant aerial vehicle which can secure high safety by reducing the risk of crashing, and which can facilitate control of movement by suppressing the influence of wind and exhibit high mobility capability. The buoyant aerial vehicle is configured by including: a buoyant vehicle body in which gas having a specific gravity smaller than air is hermetically filled; a vertical propulsion propeller which provides vertical propulsive force to the buoyant vehicle body; and a horizontal propulsion propeller which provides horizontal propulsive force to the buoyant vehicle body, and is configured such that the buoyant vehicle body has horizontal wind passages formed in at least two directions, and has outer peripheral edges each formed into an acute angle in side view.
Abstract:
An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system and associated operating method is disclosed including a ground station and one or more autonomous aerial vehicles. Each automomous vehicle is adapted to a) self-monitor a plurality of environment data; b) calculate, based at least in part upon the environment data, a soft wall radius from which it can return to the command and control interface station; c) receive a destination position to which it is commanded to fly; d) determine if the destination position is beyond the soft wall radius; and e) communicate an alert to the command and control interface station if the destination position is beyond the soft wall radius.
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:
The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell characterised in that it comprises at least a positive electrode which comprises manganese oxide physically separated from at least a negative electrode which comprises an aluminium alloy, and wherein said positive and negative electrodes are electrically connected through a neutral pH electrolyte. Further, the present invention relates to the use of the electrochemical cell, preferably as a button battery in hearing aids.
Abstract:
In one example, a long endurance airship system includes a payload airship and a first logistics airship mechanically joined to the payload airship to form a first combined airship, the payload airship and the logistics airship having design capabilities differing by at least a factor of two with regard to at least one of: power generation capability, propulsion capability, endurance capability, and lift capability, in which the first combined airship is free flying, lighter-than-air, and configured to maintain aloft for greater than 30 days without physical connection to the ground. Illustrative methods for long endurance airship operations are also provided.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an aircraft having a spherical body (10) which generates buoyancy or which may generate buoyancy when filled with gas, wherein the aircraft further comprises four actuation units (20) arranged on the surface (12) of the body (10) for movement of the aircraft in a translation and/ or rotation through the air, and at least one camera (50) arranged on or in the surface (12) of the body (10). The invention further relates to a method for providing optical information to a person in the environment of a flying aircraft, a method for providing optical information about an object and/ or surveying of an object, a method for transmission of acoustic information and a method for observing or tracking an object.
Abstract:
An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system and associated operating method is disclosed including a ground station and one or more autonomous aerial vehicles. Each automomous vehicle is adapted to a) self-monitor a plurality of environment data; b) calculate, based at least in part upon the environment data, a soft wall radius from which it can return to the command and control interface station; c) receive a destination position to which it is commanded to fly; d) determine if the destination position is beyond the soft wall radius; and e) communicate an alert to the command and control interface station if the destination position is beyond the soft wall radius.
Abstract:
Eine Vorrichtung zur Entfernung von Schadgasen aus der Atmosphäre besteht aus einer in der Erdatmosphäre autonom operierenden Plattform, deren Gehäuse in Leichtbauweise konstruiert und mit Einlässen für die umgebende Atmosphäre sowie mit Auslässen für die aufbereiteten Produkte ausgestattet ist. Im Inneren des Gehäuses sind Einheiten zur Gasextrahierung und -separation sowie zur Speicherung und Aufbereitung von flüssigen und gasförmigen Produkten angeordnet. Die Energie zum Betrieb der einzelnen Einheiten dieses geschlossenen kryogenen Kreislaufsystems wird dabei von Solarzellen erzeugt.
Abstract:
An airship (20) has a generally spherical shape and has an internal envelope (24) for containing a lifting gas such as Helium or Hydrogen. The airship has a propulsion and control system (36, 38) that permits it to be flown to a desired loitering location, and to be maintained in that location for a period of time. In one embodiment the airship may achieve neutral buoyancy when the internal envelope is as little as 7 % full of lifting gas, and may have a service ceiling of about 60,000 ft. The airship has an equipment module (180) that can include either communications equipment, or monitoring equipment, or both. The airship can be remotely controlled from a ground station. The airship has a solar cell array and electric motors (44, 46) of the propulsion and control system are driven by power obtained from the array. The airship also has an auxiliary power unit (52) that can be used to drive the electric motors. The airship can have a pusher propeller that assists in driving the airship and also moves the point of flow separation of the spherical airship further aft. In one embodiment the airship can be refuelled at altitude to permit extended loitering.