A mobile artificial cloud system comprising a mobile formation of horizontally extending panels which are elevated above the ground for providing shade. The panels can take the form of gas-filled, flattened, large balloons, or sheets of material that may be elevated by balloons or releasably connected to fixed structures. Furthermore, the panels can be formed of, laminated with, or covered by, panels of thin and light photovoltaic cells or any such product which would convert solar energy to electrical energy (electricity) for distribution through an electrical grid.

A mobile artificial cloud system comprising a mobile formation of horizontally extending panels which are elevated above the ground for providing shade. The panels can take the form of gas-filled, flattened, large balloons, or sheets of material that may be elevated by balloons or releasably connected to fixed structures. Furthermore, the panels can be formed of, laminated with, or covered by, panels of thin and light photovoltaic cells or any such product which would convert solar energy to electrical energy (electricity) for distribution through an electrical grid.

A self transportable aerostat system comprising: a first motorized mooring truck; a mooring tower removable attached to a base assembly of the first mooring truck, generally vertically arranged in relation to the bed of the first mooring truck; a proximal and distal boom deck removably attached to the base assembly; a flying sheave for redirecting a tether carried by the base assembly and attachable to an aerostat; a second motorized mooring truck attachable to the outer edge of the distal boom; and, an aerostat truck having an electrical connection for connecting to the first mooring truck and having an aerostat storage compartment for storing the aerostat is a retracted configuration.

A self transportable aerostat system comprising: a first motorized mooring truck; a mooring tower removable attached to a base assembly of the first mooring truck, generally vertically arranged in relation to the bed of the first mooring truck; a proximal and distal boom deck removably attached to the base assembly; a flying sheave for redirecting a tether carried by the base assembly and attachable to an aerostat; a second motorized mooring truck attachable to the outer edge of the distal boom; and, an aerostat truck having an electrical connection for connecting to the first mooring truck and having an aerostat storage compartment for storing the aerostat is a retracted configuration.

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.

An aerostat tether, anchorage, and tether spool system which extends the On Station uninterrupted intervals of service for which a Lighter Than Air (LTA) aerostat may stay aloft at its designated altitude without requiring retrieval for ground service. Anchoring vessels are provided at both the aerostat and ground control ends of the tethered system which enables remote control of varying choices for bi-directional gas flow patterns within the tether which better facilitate continuous lift gas maintenance and emergency control. The gas routing is selectively controlled per best practice toward the constant filtering and scrubbing of the lift gas within both the aerostat and the tether restraining the aerostat. The system uniquely provides for a very rapid switch-out of tethers by having a full replacement tether spool on the ground at the ready which is pre-wound, pre-filled, and sealed with fresh lift gas where it is available at all times for rapid changeout. Quick tether replacement is accomplished by interchangeable quick disconnect fittings at both ends of a hollow tether with a hollow piston valve stem to provide a simple process of unplugging the tether at both the aerostat to close the valves and ground terminal ends and then plugging in the replacement tether to open the valves and reinstituting deployment facilitated by the unique tether spool and anchoring system. The system also enables the effective prevention and dissipation of damage due to torque forces being applied to the tether by a weathervaning aerostat. This is accomplished through counter rotation being applied to the tether at the most advantageous and effective source of tether/aerostat union, at its point of attachment at the aerostat end since the tether attachment point (TAP) is where damage to the tether is most likely to occur. Also favorable to the longevity of service, the aerostat system provides improvements of electrical strike/static build-up dissipation as well as superior tether terminal end preparation, interconnection speed, and short turnaround repair times. The entire aerostat system is designed for plug and play usage and versatility.

An aerostat tether, anchorage, and tether spool system which extends the On Station uninterrupted intervals of service for which a Lighter Than Air (LTA) aerostat may stay aloft at its designated altitude without requiring retrieval for ground service. Anchoring vessels are provided at both the aerostat and ground control ends of the tethered system which enables remote control of varying choices for bi-directional gas flow patterns within the tether which better facilitate continuous lift gas maintenance and emergency control. The gas routing is selectively controlled per best practice toward the constant filtering and scrubbing of the lift gas within both the aerostat and the tether restraining the aerostat. The system uniquely provides for a very rapid switch-out of tethers by having a full replacement tether spool on the ground at the ready which is pre-wound, pre-filled, and sealed with fresh lift gas where it is available at all times for rapid changeout. Quick tether replacement is accomplished by interchangeable quick disconnect fittings at both ends of a hollow tether with a hollow piston valve stem to provide a simple process of unplugging the tether at both the aerostat to close the valves and ground terminal ends and then plugging in the replacement tether to open the valves and reinstituting deployment facilitated by the unique tether spool and anchoring system. The system also enables the effective prevention and dissipation of damage due to torque forces being applied to the tether by a weathervaning aerostat. This is accomplished through counter rotation being applied to the tether at the most advantageous and effective source of tether/aerostat union, at its point of attachment at the aerostat end since the tether attachment point (TAP) is where damage to the tether is most likely to occur. Also favorable to the longevity of service, the aerostat system provides improvements of electrical strike/static build-up dissipation as well as superior tether terminal end preparation, interconnection speed, and short turnaround repair times. The entire aerostat system is designed for plug and play usage and versatility.