The disclosed embodiments include a trailer for an autonomous vehicle controlled by a command and control interface. The trailer includes a trailer body configured to retain the autonomous vehicle in an undeployed configuration. The trailer also anchors the autonomous vehicle in a deployed configuration. A tether is provided having a first end coupled to the trailer body and a second end that is configured to couple to the autonomous vehicle. A winch is utilized to adjust a length of the tether to move the autonomous vehicle between the undeployed configuration and deployed configuration. Further, a communication system communicates with the command and control interface and the autonomous vehicle to control movement of the autonomous vehicle between the undeployed configuration and deployed configuration.

The disclosed embodiments include a trailer for an autonomous vehicle controlled by a command and control interface. The trailer includes a trailer body configured to retain the autonomous vehicle in an undeployed configuration. The trailer also anchors the autonomous vehicle in a deployed configuration. A tether is provided having a first end coupled to the trailer body and a second end that is configured to couple to the autonomous vehicle. A winch is utilized to adjust a length of the tether to move the autonomous vehicle between the undeployed configuration and deployed configuration. Further, a communication system communicates with the command and control interface and the autonomous vehicle to control movement of the autonomous vehicle between the undeployed configuration and deployed configuration.

A surveillance drone is disclosed. The surveillance drone includes a gas-filled container and propellers for aerial mobility. The surveillance drone also includes an electronic surveillance sensing device positioned below the gas-filled container. The gas-filled container may be filled with a lighter than air gas such as, for example, helium.

A tie-down system for securing an aerostat to a receiving structure, comprising a tie-down cable designed to be attached to the aerostat by one of the ends thereof, a mast designed to be rotatably mounted on the receiving structure, the mast comprising a winch with a winding drum winch comprising a slot designed to receive a portion of the cable located on the side of the other end of the tie-down cable. The tether is weighed down by a weight at the other end thereof, and the mast further comprises a forked guide device having two branches extending in two opposite directions.

A tie-down system for securing an aerostat to a receiving structure, comprising a tie-down cable designed to be attached to the aerostat by one of the ends thereof, a mast designed to be rotatably mounted on the receiving structure, the mast comprising a winch with a winding drum winch comprising a slot designed to receive a portion of the cable located on the side of the other end of the tie-down cable. The tether is weighed down by a weight at the other end thereof, and the mast further comprises a forked guide device having two branches extending in two opposite directions.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.

A mooring device is disclosed for an airship. The mooring device comprises a lower module including a plurality of resting structures configured to sustain the mooring device to a substrate; and an upper module mounted to the lower module along a vertical axis of the upper module and configured to rotate with respect to the lower module, the upper module including: (1) a winch with a shaft configured to rotate; (2) a support structure supporting the winch; and (3) a cable passing member, the cable passing member having first and second arms mounted to the shaft and configured to pivot independently with respect to the shaft; (4) a drum mounted to the shaft between the first and second arms and configured to rotate in response to the rotation of the shaft, thereby enabling a cable to be wound and unwound as the drum rotates.

A mooring device is disclosed for an airship. The mooring device comprises a lower module including a plurality of resting structures configured to sustain the mooring device to a substrate; and an upper module mounted to the lower module along a vertical axis of the upper module and configured to rotate with respect to the lower module, the upper module including: (1) a winch with a shaft configured to rotate; (2) a support structure supporting the winch; and (3) a cable passing member, the cable passing member having first and second arms mounted to the shaft and configured to pivot independently with respect to the shaft; (4) a drum mounted to the shaft between the first and second arms and configured to rotate in response to the rotation of the shaft, thereby enabling a cable to be wound and unwound as the drum rotates.

A winch system for controlling the elevation of an aerostats restrained by a cable is provided. The system includes a capstan arrangement configured for reducing the tension in a segment of a cable extending between an aerostats side and a drum side thereof; a spool drum configured for wrapping therearound a segment of the cable extending from the drum side of the capstan arrangement; a first drive mechanism configured to selectively activate the capstan arrangement in a released mode, in which the cable is let out towards the aerostats, and a pulling mode in which the cable is pulled in towards the spool drum; and a second drive mechanism configured to rotate the spool drum in the released mode and in the pulling mode such that the segment of the cable extending from the drum side of the capstan arrangement is pulled in a counter direction to the direction of the tension exerted on the cable.

A winch system for controlling the elevation of an aerostats restrained by a cable is provided. The system includes a capstan arrangement configured for reducing the tension in a segment of a cable extending between an aerostats side and a drum side thereof; a spool drum configured for wrapping therearound a segment of the cable extending from the drum side of the capstan arrangement; a first drive mechanism configured to selectively activate the capstan arrangement in a released mode, in which the cable is let out towards the aerostats, and a pulling mode in which the cable is pulled in towards the spool drum; and a second drive mechanism configured to rotate the spool drum in the released mode and in the pulling mode such that the segment of the cable extending from the drum side of the capstan arrangement is pulled in a counter direction to the direction of the tension exerted on the cable.