An airship utilizing an innovative lift mechanism featuring dynamic and static vacuum chambers. The lift created by the vacuums created in the chambers elevates the ship into the atmosphere, thereby eliminating the need for lighter than air gases.

A lighter than air platform an unfinned envelope having two or more propulsion elements coupled with the unfinned envelope proximate to the center of gravity. At least one navigation sensor is configured to monitor an actual flight path of the unfinned envelope, and at least one perturbation sensor is configured to monitor one or more perturbations of the unfinned envelope. A navigation controller is configured to guide the unfinned envelope with coordinated propulsion of the two or more propulsion elements. The navigation controller includes a navigation comparator that compares the actual flight path with a specified flight path of the unfinned envelope and determine a navigation instruction. A perturbation comparator compares the navigation instruction with the monitored one or more perturbations to determine a perturbation compensation. A propulsion coordinator controls propulsion values of each of the propulsion elements based on the navigation instruction and the perturbation compensation.

A lighter than air platform an unfinned envelope having two or more propulsion elements coupled with the unfinned envelope proximate to the center of gravity. At least one navigation sensor is configured to monitor an actual flight path of the unfinned envelope, and at least one perturbation sensor is configured to monitor one or more perturbations of the unfinned envelope. A navigation controller is configured to guide the unfinned envelope with coordinated propulsion of the two or more propulsion elements. The navigation controller includes a navigation comparator that compares the actual flight path with a specified flight path of the unfinned envelope and determine a navigation instruction. A perturbation comparator compares the navigation instruction with the monitored one or more perturbations to determine a perturbation compensation. A propulsion coordinator controls propulsion values of each of the propulsion elements based on the navigation instruction and the perturbation compensation.

An airship and method of providing thrust to an airship are shown. Examples include a number of turbine thrusters coupled to a number of electric motor/generators that supplement thrust from the turbine thrusters. Systems and methods are described that include surveying an agricultural area, and spraying an amount of an agricultural supply on only selected portion of the agricultural area.

An airship and method of providing thrust to an airship are shown. Examples include a number of turbine thrusters coupled to a number of electric motor/generators that supplement thrust from the turbine thrusters. Systems and methods are described that include surveying an agricultural area, and spraying an amount of an agricultural supply on only selected portion of the agricultural area.

The present invention concerns hybrid airship comprising at least one buoyancy enclosure containing a gas lighter than air, a gondola attached below the buoyancy enclosure, the gondola extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one propeller configured to propel the hybrid airship, the at least one propeller being attached to the buoyancy enclosure, at least one generator, configured to provide power to the propeller, the generator being connected to the gondola. The hybrid airship comprises an arm protruding from the gondola and connecting the generator to the gondola.

The present invention concerns hybrid airship comprising at least one buoyancy enclosure containing a gas lighter than air, a gondola attached below the buoyancy enclosure, the gondola extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one propeller configured to propel the hybrid airship, the at least one propeller being attached to the buoyancy enclosure, at least one generator, configured to provide power to the propeller, the generator being connected to the gondola. The hybrid airship comprises an arm protruding from the gondola and connecting the generator to the gondola.

An inertia aerostat having a vacuum compartment and an inertial floating device provided in the vacuum compartment, the inertial floating device comprises a drive shaft, drive devices, recycle and power generation devices and axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies, fixing devices are respectively provided at both ends of the drive shaft, the fixing devices are connected with the vacuum compartment, the drive devices are sleeved over the drive shaft, the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies are connected with the drive devices via wheel ribs, the recycle and power generation devices are sleeved over the drive devices; by providing the vacuum compartment and the inertial floating device, inertial centrifugal forces generated by high speed rotation of the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies in a gravitational field can be used as conversion media between kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy so free floating of the aerostat in the gravitational field can be realized.

An inertia aerostat having a vacuum compartment and an inertial floating device provided in the vacuum compartment, the inertial floating device comprises a drive shaft, drive devices, recycle and power generation devices and axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies, fixing devices are respectively provided at both ends of the drive shaft, the fixing devices are connected with the vacuum compartment, the drive devices are sleeved over the drive shaft, the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies are connected with the drive devices via wheel ribs, the recycle and power generation devices are sleeved over the drive devices; by providing the vacuum compartment and the inertial floating device, inertial centrifugal forces generated by high speed rotation of the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies in a gravitational field can be used as conversion media between kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy so free floating of the aerostat in the gravitational field can be realized.

A buoyant aerial vehicle includes: a balloon configured to store a gas; a payload coupled to the balloon; and a propulsion unit coupled to the payload by a tether. The propulsion unit includes: a fuselage having a substantially longitudinal shape, a first end, and a second end; a primary airfoil coupled to the fuselage; a secondary airfoil coupled to the fuselage at one of the first end or the second end; and a thrust generating device disposed at one of the first end or the second end and configured to move the propulsion unit relative to the payload along a propulsion flight path. The movement of the propulsion unit imparts movement of the buoyant aerial vehicle along a vehicle flight path.