The Heracles airship determines a new direction in airship construction by combining the buoyancy force and lifting force of a plane wing in its structure, thereby allowing the multiple increase of load-lifting capacity of the airship comparing to the known models while having comparable sizes.

The arrangement of solar panels on its upper semi-sphere provides energy independence, and time-unlimited remaining in flight makes it environmentally friendly.

It provides vertical ascending and landing, turning in a required direction, braking and maneuvering over a landing area on the ground and water.

In case of the emergency failure of the technical systems, safety systems are provided which allows using the airship for transporting large-tonnage loads and people.

The disclosed inventions include and apparatus and method for providing a universal Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system configured with fly-by functionality. Such system may be configured to work in a plurality of modes including a walk-bay, drive-by, fixed network, and fly-by mode without hardware modifications. The system is configured to automatically calibrate so that the water meter transmitter operates at a minimum transmitted signal power level. Additional features include automatic hardware self-healing features where the system continues to function after certain hardware failures occur.

The disclosed inventions include and apparatus and method for providing a universal Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system configured with fly-by functionality. Such system may be configured to work in a plurality of modes including a walk-bay, drive-by, fixed network, and fly-by mode without hardware modifications. The system is configured to automatically calibrate so that the water meter transmitter operates at a minimum transmitted signal power level. Additional features include automatic hardware self-healing features where the system continues to function after certain hardware failures occur.

A device for controlling the ground clearance of an airship, the airship being provided with two lateral anchoring points, comprises: a frame on which a weight is fixed; two (rigid) arms each having a proximal end that is articulated on the frame, and a distal end; means for moving the distal end of each arm between a retention position in which each distal end is in contact with a lateral anchoring end of the airship that is configured to be connected to the distal end, and an unlocked position in which there is no contact between the airship and the docking station; and means for detachably fixing, in the retention position, the respective distal end of each arm on the associated respective lateral anchoring point.

A high altitude aerostat with external autonomous ballonets is disclosed. The invention being comprised of rigid, semi rigid and nonrigid airships of varying sizes, filled with lift gas and being able to traverse the stratosphere and the lower mesosphere. Said airship being controlled remotely or on board and having rotating thrusters powered by solar panels affixed to the envelope sides. In the stratosphere, the rigid aerostat withstands turbulence during travel. In the lower mesosphere, onboard microcontrollers and processors have the ability to deploy and charge said external ballonets with lift gas. An onboard compressor vents said ballonets and stores gas inside onboard bottles. An additional remotely-controlled satellite aerostat can link up with said airship and provide additional compressor capabilities in lower pressure elevations. The aforementioned invention can be utilized as a long-term surveillance and reconnaissance platform or provide a means for human and cargo transportation and storage.

A high altitude aerostat with external autonomous ballonets is disclosed. The invention being comprised of rigid, semi rigid and nonrigid airships of varying sizes, filled with lift gas and being able to traverse the stratosphere and the lower mesosphere. Said airship being controlled remotely or on board and having rotating thrusters powered by solar panels affixed to the envelope sides. In the stratosphere, the rigid aerostat withstands turbulence during travel. In the lower mesosphere, onboard microcontrollers and processors have the ability to deploy and charge said external ballonets with lift gas. An onboard compressor vents said ballonets and stores gas inside onboard bottles. An additional remotely-controlled satellite aerostat can link up with said airship and provide additional compressor capabilities in lower pressure elevations. The aforementioned invention can be utilized as a long-term surveillance and reconnaissance platform or provide a means for human and cargo transportation and storage.

Propulsion of an unmanned vehicle may include determining and ordering a subset of altitude-differentiated wind vectors, the subset facilitating directional air flow from a starting geographic region to a destination geographic region, and configuring the vehicle and adjusting the altitude of the vehicle to the altitude corresponding to each of the subset of wind vectors as ordered based on a flight plan that includes at least one of a duration and distance for each of the ordered subset of the wind vectors.

A system for transporting hydrogen from where it can be economically made to where it is most needed using airships. Green technologies can be used to generate electricity near to the primary energy sources. This electricity can then be used to produce hydrogen directly from water. Hydrogen can be delivered using an airship in which the hydrogen gas can also be used for generating lift, providing propulsion energy and serving ancillary needs. In other embodiments of the invention, the airship of the present invention can be used to dramatically reduce the cost of transportation of freight, the cost of passenger transportation, and to save on the area required for landing at the points of loading/unloading and embarkation/debarkation. And in another embodiment, the airship of the present invention can be used for transporting water and food to areas where needed.

A system for transporting hydrogen from where it can be economically made to where it is most needed using airships. Green technologies can be used to generate electricity near to the primary energy sources. This electricity can then be used to produce hydrogen directly from water. Hydrogen can be delivered using an airship in which the hydrogen gas can also be used for generating lift, providing propulsion energy and serving ancillary needs. In other embodiments of the invention, the airship of the present invention can be used to dramatically reduce the cost of transportation of freight, the cost of passenger transportation, and to save on the area required for landing at the points of loading/unloading and embarkation/debarkation. And in another embodiment, the airship of the present invention can be used for transporting water and food to areas where needed.

A low-density structured material with good mechanical stability that can be used for three-dimensional structures, and methods to make and use same. In embodiments, the low-density structured material includes a first surface of interconnected polyhedrons, a plurality of tetrahedral arrangements whose base is the polyhedrons of the first surface, a second surface that is a web attached to the tetrahedral vertices of the tetrahedral arrangements, and panel materials overlying the web. The low-density structured material can be utilized in a variety of different structures.