LATERAL PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ARCHITECTURES FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOONS

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

APP PUB NO 20210016865A1
SERIAL NO

16513782

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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Aspects of the technology relate to propulsion systems for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A propeller assembly is used to provide lateral directional adjustments, which allows the balloon to spend more time over a desired region, reduce the return time to the desired region, reduce fleet overprovisioning, and increases the safety case by additional controls and avoidance abilities. A control assembly manages operation of the propeller assembly, including setting the pointing direction, speed of rotation and determining when to turn on the propeller and for how long. The propulsion system including the control and propeller assemblies is rotatable around a connection member of the balloon. Such rotation is independently adjustable from any rotation of the balloon's payload. The propeller blades may be made of plastic, which reduces weight and cost while providing sufficient speed at stratospheric altitudes.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL LLC7115 THOMAS EDISON DR COLUMBIA MD 21046

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Eglington, Michael San Bruno, US 7 140
Fan, Aaron Redwood City, US 6 4
Gagne, Jacques Los Gatos, US 48 539
Knoll, Matthew Mountain View, US 12 24
Luebke, Daniel Alex San Mateo, US 2 3
Nutzmann, Jonathan Redwood City, US 9 10
Ponda, Sameera Mountain View, US 2 3
van, Bekkum Ewout Sunnyvale, US 9 5

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