Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope having a plurality of tendons and formed from a first plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include one or more ballonets arranged within the envelope. An outer membrane may be arranged around at least part of the envelope and formed from a second plurality of gores. The outer membrane may include at least one panel attached at one side to the outer membrane between a pair of the second plurality of gores and attached at an opposite side to the envelope. The outer membrane may be arranged to improve aerodynamics of the envelope when the aerial vehicle is in flight.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope having a plurality of tendons and formed from a first plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include one or more ballonets arranged within the envelope. An outer membrane may be arranged around at least part of the envelope and formed from a second plurality of gores. The outer membrane may include at least one panel attached at one side to the outer membrane between a pair of the second plurality of gores and attached at an opposite side to the envelope. The outer membrane may be arranged to improve aerodynamics of the envelope when the aerial vehicle is in flight.

An aircraft has a supporting structure and a shell that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell.

An aircraft has a supporting structure and a shell that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell.

A method for launch of an airship includes connecting a cargo airship to a second airship that is not positively buoyant at the launch site, launching the cargo airship, transferring lifting gas from the cargo airship to the second airship where said lifting gas is carried by the cargo airship while aloft; and releasing the second airship from the cargo airship. A releasable payload return vehicle, wherein the payload return vehicle generates aerodynamic forces while it is mated to the cargo airship.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope having a plurality of tendons and formed from a first plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include one or more ballonets arranged within the envelope. An outer membrane may be arranged around at least part of the envelope and formed from a second plurality of gores. The outer membrane may include at least one panel attached at one side to the outer membrane between a pair of the second plurality of gores and attached at an opposite side to the envelope. The outer membrane may be arranged to improve aerodynamics of the envelope when the aerial vehicle is in flight.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope having a plurality of tendons and formed from a first plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include one or more ballonets arranged within the envelope. An outer membrane may be arranged around at least part of the envelope and formed from a second plurality of gores. The outer membrane may include at least one panel attached at one side to the outer membrane between a pair of the second plurality of gores and attached at an opposite side to the envelope. The outer membrane may be arranged to improve aerodynamics of the envelope when the aerial vehicle is in flight.

A system, method and apparatus are proposed to assist in assembling the frame, attaching the skin, and performing other tasks in manufacturing an airship and constructing other structures that are otherwise challenging, inefficient, or unsuitable for humans to perform, and/or that traditionally require significant investments in capital intensive manufacturing facilities. Several embodiments are proposed in which these and other recurring manufacturing tasks can be performed safely and efficiently with the assistance of autonomous, semi-autonomous, and/or human-directed robots, acting independently and in robot swarms.

An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system is disclosed including a ground station and one or more aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles are autonomous systems capable of communicating intelligence data to the ground station and be used as part of a missile delivery package. A plurality of aerial vehicles can be configured to cast a wide net of reconnaissance over a large area on the ground including smaller overlapping reconnaissance areas provided by each of the plurality of the aerial vehicles.

An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system is disclosed including a ground station and one or more aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles are autonomous systems capable of communicating intelligence data to the ground station and be used as part of a missile delivery package. A plurality of aerial vehicles can be configured to cast a wide net of reconnaissance over a large area on the ground including smaller overlapping reconnaissance areas provided by each of the plurality of the aerial vehicles.