A buoyant aerial vehicle includes: a balloon configured to store a gas; a payload coupled to the balloon; and a propulsion unit coupled to the payload by a tether. The propulsion unit includes: a fuselage having a substantially longitudinal shape, a first end, and a second end; a primary airfoil coupled to the fuselage; a secondary airfoil coupled to the fuselage at one of the first end or the second end; and a thrust generating device disposed at one of the first end or the second end and configured to move the propulsion unit relative to the payload along a propulsion flight path. The movement of the propulsion unit imparts movement of the buoyant aerial vehicle along a vehicle flight path.

A buoyant aerial vehicle includes: a balloon configured to store a gas; a payload coupled to the balloon; and a propulsion unit coupled to the payload by a tether. The propulsion unit includes: a fuselage having a substantially longitudinal shape, a first end, and a second end; a primary airfoil coupled to the fuselage; a secondary airfoil coupled to the fuselage at one of the first end or the second end; and a thrust generating device disposed at one of the first end or the second end and configured to move the propulsion unit relative to the payload along a propulsion flight path. The movement of the propulsion unit imparts movement of the buoyant aerial vehicle along a vehicle flight path.

An airship and its long-term floating capacity maintenance method are disclosed. The airship includes an airship capsule and a pod at bottom. A renewable fuel cell and a water tank communicated with each other are arranged in the pod. The water tank is provided with a water inlet connected with a filling aircraft outside the airship. The airship capsule is provided with a solar cell. The interior of the airship capsule is provided with a hydrogen storage bag. The solar cell is electrically connected with the renewable fuel cell. The renewable fuel cell can use electric energy provided by the solar cell to electrolyze water provided by the filling aircraft into hydrogen and supplement the hydrogen to the hydrogen storage bag. The airship can supplement hydrogen to the airship capsule by electrolyzing water to reduce the phenomenon of insufficient gas in the airship capsule.

A hydrogen boiloff capture system. The hydrogen boiloff capture system having a cryogenic tank for storing liquid hydrogen. The hydrogen boiloff capture system also includes an intermediate tank fluidically coupled with the cryogenic tank. The intermediate tank is configured to receive hydrogen gas boiloff from the cryogenic tank. The intermediate tank is further configured to provide the hydrogen gas boiloff to a lighter-than-air craft to regulate buoyancy of the lighter-than-air craft. The intermediate tank is also configured to provide the hydrogen gas boiloff to a hydrogen fuel cell coupled to the lighter-than-air craft.

A hydrogen boiloff capture system. The hydrogen boiloff capture system having a cryogenic tank for storing liquid hydrogen. The hydrogen boiloff capture system also includes an intermediate tank fluidically coupled with the cryogenic tank. The intermediate tank is configured to receive hydrogen gas boiloff from the cryogenic tank. The intermediate tank is further configured to provide the hydrogen gas boiloff to a lighter-than-air craft to regulate buoyancy of the lighter-than-air craft. The intermediate tank is also configured to provide the hydrogen gas boiloff to a hydrogen fuel cell coupled to the lighter-than-air craft.

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 highly maneuverable craft, which may be lighter-than-air, is disclosed, having undulating fins of a light-weight material that may undulate along the horizontal axis of the craft and/or rotate 360 degrees and continuously about the central longitudinal axis of the craft. The fins may be actuated by motors coupled to the fins and coupled to the exterior of the craft via circumferential bands. Motion of the fins creates aerodynamic thrust. The circumferential bands may serve as tracks or channels along which the motors run, allowing the motors to travel 360 degrees or travel continuously around the exterior of the craft and thereby draw the fins about the craft. The circumferential bands may serve as reinforcing components, allowing the motors to exert torque against the body of the craft which may be thin-walled for maximum positive buoyancy. An on-board battery may power the motors via electrical circuits extending around the bands. The position and travel of the motors about the bands may be controlled by a central processing unit. A moveable weight, such as on a track with a motor, may be incorporated into or onto the craft for additional pitch control.

A highly maneuverable craft, which may be lighter-than-air, is disclosed, having undulating fins of a light-weight material that may undulate along the horizontal axis of the craft and/or rotate 360 degrees and continuously about the central longitudinal axis of the craft. The fins may be actuated by motors coupled to the fins and coupled to the exterior of the craft via circumferential bands. Motion of the fins creates aerodynamic thrust. The circumferential bands may serve as tracks or channels along which the motors run, allowing the motors to travel 360 degrees or travel continuously around the exterior of the craft and thereby draw the fins about the craft. The circumferential bands may serve as reinforcing components, allowing the motors to exert torque against the body of the craft which may be thin-walled for maximum positive buoyancy. An on-board battery may power the motors via electrical circuits extending around the bands. The position and travel of the motors about the bands may be controlled by a central processing unit. A moveable weight, such as on a track with a motor, may be incorporated into or onto the craft for additional pitch control.

A solar powered airship includes a cabin, at least one fuselage having an interior volume filled with a volume of a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, and a wing affixed to the fuselage. A plurality of solar panels are affixed to the wing and to the fuselage. A plurality of rotors are affixed to the wing, wherein each rotor is powered via an electric motor having a battery that is operably connected to the plurality of solar panels, thereby allowing for continuous flight. The solar powered airship may further include propellors, which may also be powered via the solar panels, or which may include gasoline powered motors. The solar powered airship can include various configurations and numbers of fuselages, wings, rotors, and propellors.

An airship utilizing an innovative lift mechanism featuring dynamic and static vacuum chambers. The lift created by the vacuums created in the chambers elevates the ship into the atmosphere, thereby eliminating the need for lighter than air gases.