An airship comprises a plurality of electric power generators; a plurality of electrical buses; and a plurality of propulsion points each equipped with a propellant bundle formed from a plurality of thrusters of the electric-motor-driven propeller type. For each of the propulsion points, a thruster is electrically connected to one of the generators by way of one of the electrical buses, and another thruster of the propulsion point is electrically connected to another of the generators by way of another of the electrical buses.

An airship comprises a plurality of electric power generators; a plurality of electrical buses; and a plurality of propulsion points each equipped with a propellant bundle formed from a plurality of thrusters of the electric-motor-driven propeller type. For each of the propulsion points, a thruster is electrically connected to one of the generators by way of one of the electrical buses, and another thruster of the propulsion point is electrically connected to another of the generators by way of another of the electrical buses.

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 unmanned hybrid airship for delivering packages, featuring: a forward cargo bay counterbalanced by a moveable counterweight; and a gripping mechanism for engaging unconventional mooring structures such as balcony rails and window sills. Other embodiments are described.

An unmanned hybrid airship for delivering packages, featuring: a forward cargo bay counterbalanced by a moveable counterweight; and a gripping mechanism for engaging unconventional mooring structures such as balcony rails and window sills. Other embodiments are described.

A hybrid stratospheric airship for the combined and optimized use of aerostatic and aerodynamic force, including: an inflatable central body; a first and second inflatable wing extending from the central body protruding laterally from two opposite sides of the central body, each wing having a portion proximal to the central body, an end portion distal from said central body, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; an outer shell having a main shell portion associated with the main body, and a first and a second side shell portion associated with each wing, respectively; at least one main spar extending transversely to the central body, which supports the first and second wing and crosses the central body, the at least one main spar a rectilinear spar interposed between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the first and second wings, and connected to the distal end portions of the wings.

A hybrid stratospheric airship for the combined and optimized use of aerostatic and aerodynamic force, including: an inflatable central body; a first and second inflatable wing extending from the central body protruding laterally from two opposite sides of the central body, each wing having a portion proximal to the central body, an end portion distal from said central body, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; an outer shell having a main shell portion associated with the main body, and a first and a second side shell portion associated with each wing, respectively; at least one main spar extending transversely to the central body, which supports the first and second wing and crosses the central body, the at least one main spar a rectilinear spar interposed between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the first and second wings, and connected to the distal end portions of the wings.

Improved device and method for indoor monitoring The invention provides, amongst other aspects, an aircraft (1) for indoor monitoring, comprising a lifting means; a propulsion means (4, 4, 51, 61); a positioning means (2a, 2b); and a monitoring means (3); wherein the lifting means comprises a levitation means (7), preferably is a levitation means; wherein the aircraft further comprises a docking means (9) for charging; wherein either said aircraft extends between two ends along a main direction; wherein the aircraft comprises said docking means (9) at one end; or said aircraft extends between a lower portion and an upper portion along a levitation direction; wherein the aircraft comprises said docking means (9) at said lower portion. Thereby, said charging relates at least to the maintenance of an upward force for said levitation means (7). In embodiments, the indoor monitoring relates to autonomous monitoring. The invention further provides a system, a docking means for an aircraft, a docking station for charging of an aircraft, and a method for indoor monitoring.

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.