According to one aspect, a reactor for generating lifting gas may include a first port, a second port, a coupling releasably securable in fluid communication with an aerostat, and a tank including a base and a crown defining at least a portion of a chamber therebetween, the first port and the coupling each supported on the crown, the second port supported on the tank away from the crown, the chamber in fluid communication with each one of the first port, the second port, and the coupling, the chamber expandable between the crown and the base from an uninflated state to an inflated state and, with the tank in the inflated state, a maximum height of the chamber less than a maximum dimension of the base.

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.

A balloon system including a balloon, a payload, and a safety module. A safety module, preferably including a tether and a parachute, and optionally including a cover and/or a drogue. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including operating the balloon system in flight and descending under a parachute.

The disclosed invention describes a method for determining a current state of a gas cell in an airship, particularly the lift. A computing device receives depth measurements of the interior of the gas cell using a lidar sensor positioned outside the cell and uses these depth measurements to create a mesh, segment a space within the mesh into geometric shapes, calculate the volume of the shapes, and use the calculated volume to estimate the total volume of the space within the mesh, representing the volume of gas within the gas cell. The computing device then uses the estimated volume to calculate the lift of the gas cell and sends the calculated lift to a control module of the airship.

A towed atmospheric balloon system includes an atmospheric balloon including a quantity of lift gas and a neutral buoyancy towing system coupled with the atmospheric balloon. The neutral buoyancy towing system includes one or more towing thrusters configured to move the towed atmospheric balloon system in a neutrally buoyant condition between altitudes, and a power source operatively coupled with the towing thruster. Wherein a composite mass of the towed atmospheric balloon system includes component masses of the atmospheric balloon and the neutral buoyancy towing system, and the composite mass is static and neutral buoyancy is maintained with movement between altitudes. At differing altitudes the composite mass of the towed atmospheric balloon system is static and the and the system remains neutrally buoyant.

A system for generating hydrogen includes a vessel having a first chamber that is separated from a second chamber by a barrier. A trigger assembly integrated with the barrier allows a liquid to be combined with a reactant and a catalyst in the second chamber to form a chemical reaction to generate hydrogen gas. A pressure relief valve located on the vessel opens to allow the hydrogen gas to exit when a predetermined pressure is reached.

A system for an unmanned aerial vehicle can include an altitude control system 320, which further includes a compressor assembly 400, a valve assembly 500, and an electronics control assembly 600. The compressor assembly may include a compressor housing 410 that includes a compressor inlet 402, an outlet 202, and a cavity 414 extending therethrough and joining the inlet to the outlet. A diffuser 408 may be coupled to the compressor housing. A motor housing 407 may be disposed within the central cavity at the inlet of the compressor housing, and a compressor motor 406 may be disposed within the motor housing. An impeller 412 disposed within the compressor housing may be coupled to a driveshaft 444 for rotation therewith. The valve assembly may be coupled to an opening 416 of the compressor inlet. The valve head 502 may be configured to move into and away from the inlet opening so as to change a size of the circumferential area of the inlet opening.

A system for an unmanned aerial vehicle can include an altitude control system 320, which further includes a compressor assembly 400, a valve assembly 500, and an electronics control assembly 600. The compressor assembly may include a compressor housing 410 that includes a compressor inlet 402, an outlet 202, and a cavity 414 extending therethrough and joining the inlet to the outlet. A diffuser 408 may be coupled to the compressor housing. A motor housing 407 may be disposed within the central cavity at the inlet of the compressor housing, and a compressor motor 406 may be disposed within the motor housing. An impeller 412 disposed within the compressor housing may be coupled to a driveshaft 444 for rotation therewith. The valve assembly may be coupled to an opening 416 of the compressor inlet. The valve head 502 may be configured to move into and away from the inlet opening so as to change a size of the circumferential area of the inlet opening.

A balloon system includes a balloon having a balloon membrane extending between an upper apex and a lower apex opening. The lower apex opening extends through the balloon membrane at a balloon lip. A ballonet is within the balloon. The ballonet is coupled with the balloon membrane at the lower apex opening. The ballonet includes a lower ballonet panel having a lower perimeter edge and a ballonet orifice extending through the lower ballonet panel at a ballonet lip and an upper ballonet panel having an upper perimeter edge. The upper and lower ballonet panels are coupled along the respective upper and lower perimeter edges. A lower apex fitting couples the ballonet with the balloon at the balloon lip of the lower apex opening.