Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for a self-stabilizing ballonet. A bladder or ballonet is provided within an envelope of a balloon. The bladder includes a spheroid body comprising an equator, a top pole, a bottom pole, and an axis crossing through the top pole and the bottom pole. The distance between two poles may be less than the equatorial distance. The bladder is sized and shaped for insertion into an envelope of a balloon and is inflatable to provide altitude control for the balloon.

An electric power generation system employs a thermoelectric generator placed between an aircraft inner skin and an aircraft outer skin. The thermoelectric generator is configured to utilize a thermal differential between the inner and outer skin to generate an electric current. An electrical interface is provided for access to the electric current generated by said thermoelectric generator.

An electric power generation system employs a thermoelectric generator placed between an aircraft inner skin and an aircraft outer skin. The thermoelectric generator is configured to utilize a thermal differential between the inner and outer skin to generate an electric current. An electrical interface is provided for access to the electric current generated by said thermoelectric generator.

A measurement system comprising a plurality of High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS), comprising fixed wing HAPS, having a span loaded fixed wing, an aspect ratio greater than 15 and wing loading less than 6 kg/m2, and/or lighter than air HAPS, each HAPS carrying a plurality of lightweight dropsondes, each dropsonde including sensors and a transmitter, where the plurality of high-altitude pseudo satellites located in a geographical array over at least part an area of the earth. The dropsondes are deployed from the HAPS at predetermined times, such that the deployed dropsondes gathering sensed data after deployment, and the sensed data transmitted to the HAPS.

A device for detecting offending objects such as insects on substrates such as on leaves, plants, in fluid or over a large area. The device has a microscope lens which magnifies a portion of the substrate and sends an image of the substrate portion to an image recognition system. If the image recognition system detects the presence of an offending objectfurther steps are taken to remove, neutralize or mark the area where the offending object is located for subsequent action. The device may be mounted on a movable platform such as drone for active surveillance and action over a large area.

A device for detecting offending objects such as insects on substrates such as on leaves, plants, in fluid or over a large area. The device has a microscope lens which magnifies a portion of the substrate and sends an image of the substrate portion to an image recognition system. If the image recognition system detects the presence of an offending objectfurther steps are taken to remove, neutralize or mark the area where the offending object is located for subsequent action. The device may be mounted on a movable platform such as drone for active surveillance and action over a large area.

An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system is disclosed including a ground station and one or more aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles are autonomous systems capable of communicating intelligence data to the ground station and be used as part of a missile delivery package. A plurality of aerial vehicles can be configured to cast a wide net of reconnaissance over a large area on the ground including smaller overlapping reconnaissance areas provided by each of the plurality of the aerial vehicles.

The technology relates to techniques for drogue deployment for a lighter than air (LTA) vehicle descent. A drogue deployment system for an LTA vehicle descent can include a drogue comprising a drogue parachute coupled to a carrier. A spring can be configured to launch the drogue from a launch tube directed outward from an apex of the LTA vehicle in an acute angle from a horizontal plane. A core can be placed around the launch tube and placed around the spring, the core compressing the spring and holding the spring in a compressed state prior to deployment, and a riser can couple the carrier to the envelope of the LTA vehicle. In some cases, the drogue deployment system can comprise two or more drogues, wherein intervals between the two or more drogues can be selected such that horizontal components of drogue deployment forces approximately cancel out.

A system and method for transporting and distributing hydrogen, reducing the risk of hydrogen leakage, maintaining a record of provenance, and measuring and recording its purity level as it flows from source to destination to assure it complies with a predetermined range of values. The system includes a hydrogen delivery line made from metallic or non-metallic pipe that may be placed inside a safety pipe such that a channel is formed between an exterior of the hydrogen delivery line and an interior of the safety pipe. A sweeper gas or liquid may be injected into the channel to purge any hydrogen that might escape from the hydrogen delivery line, and one or more sensors may be used to detect and avoid the presence of an unacceptable level of hydrogen, or to stop the flow of hydrogen and remediate the problem well before a safety or environmental risk can occur.

Balloon launching systems and methods relating thereto are described. A method of launching a balloon includes securing a balloon to an everting platform and disposing the platform within a launch chamber having an inflatable tubular membrane. The everting platform couples to the inflatable tubular membrane such that the balloon is positioned inside a launch cavity while a pressurization cavity is defined adjacent thereto. Lifting gas is dispensed into and sealed within the balloon. The pressurization cavity is pressurized to an everting pressure causing the inflatable tubular membrane to evert and extend above a balloon launching end of the launch chamber. The everting membrane accelerates the inflated balloon toward the launching end and surrounds and shields the balloon from cross-winds and ground obstacles. The balloon is released after membrane extension.