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 variable lift device includes a pressurized airtight enclosure accommodating air, a first airtight ballonet disposed inside the airtight enclosure accommodating a pressurized gas with a density lower than the density of air, the first airtight ballonet comprising a perforation means for perforating the first airtight ballonet.

Systems and methods for maintaining and stabilizing the position and orientation of a payload attached to a high-altitude balloon are provided. A payload may be attached to a powered gimbal. The powered gimbal may be configured to orient and position the payload in a plurality of directions corresponding to a first, second, and third rotational axis of the balloon-mounted payload system. After the payload is positioned by the powered gimbal, the position and orientation of the payload may be maintained and stabilized by one or more rotational stabilization devices. The stabilization by the one or more rotational stabilization devices can occur along any one, or combination of, the first, second, and third rotational axes.

An inertia aerostat having a vacuum compartment and an inertial floating device provided in the vacuum compartment, the inertial floating device comprises a drive shaft, drive devices, recycle and power generation devices and axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies, fixing devices are respectively provided at both ends of the drive shaft, the fixing devices are connected with the vacuum compartment, the drive devices are sleeved over the drive shaft, the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies are connected with the drive devices via wheel ribs, the recycle and power generation devices are sleeved over the drive devices; by providing the vacuum compartment and the inertial floating device, inertial centrifugal forces generated by high speed rotation of the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies in a gravitational field can be used as conversion media between kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy so free floating of the aerostat in the gravitational field can be realized.

An inertia aerostat having a vacuum compartment and an inertial floating device provided in the vacuum compartment, the inertial floating device comprises a drive shaft, drive devices, recycle and power generation devices and axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies, fixing devices are respectively provided at both ends of the drive shaft, the fixing devices are connected with the vacuum compartment, the drive devices are sleeved over the drive shaft, the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies are connected with the drive devices via wheel ribs, the recycle and power generation devices are sleeved over the drive devices; by providing the vacuum compartment and the inertial floating device, inertial centrifugal forces generated by high speed rotation of the axially symmetric EMD rotation bodies in a gravitational field can be used as conversion media between kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy so free floating of the aerostat in the gravitational field can be realized.

An unmanned hybrid airship for delivering packages, featuring: a forward payload 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.

Aspects of the technology relate to lighter-than-air (LTA) high altitude platforms configured to operate in the stratosphere. Such platforms can generate operate for weeks, months or longer. Shaped envelope LTA platforms may support a payload that provides telecommunications and/or other services to remote regions around the world. The payload may be arranged with other components on a modular bus-type chassis. One or more components may be moveable along the chassis to change the pitch of the vehicle for more effective flight operation. The modular chassis may include a truss configuration assembled from one or more subunits. The subunits may be preassembled with different equipment packages. Trusses formed using sets of struts may have two or more struts terminating at one interconnection node. Node connection elements, such as compound dovetail interconnects, facilitate a reliable, repeatable and quick mounting method for structural interconnections, which can lead to faster assembly and disassembly times.

A variable lift device includes a pressurized airtight enclosure accommodating air, a first airtight ballonet disposed inside the airtight enclosure accommodating a pressurized gas with a density lower than the density of air, the first airtight ballonet comprising a perforation means for perforating the first airtight ballonet.

A stratospheric airship includes a nonrigid balloon equipped with a solar generator arranged on the upper part of the nonrigid balloon intended to be illuminated in flight by the sun, the airship comprising: at least one device for managing the position of the centre of gravity of the airship; at least one device for stabilizing the attitude of the airship; and a module for the coupled control of the devices, configured to control the airship, when the speed of travel of the airship with respect to the surrounding air is below a first threshold (S1) and/or the temperature of the solar generator is above a second threshold (S2), in such a way that it rotates by substantially half a turn about its longitudinal axis (AL), so as to protect the solar generator from illumination by the sun.

A hybrid VTOL vehicle having an envelope configured to provide hydrostatic buoyancy, a fuselage attached to the envelope and having at least one pair of wings extending from opposing sides thereof to produce dynamic lift through movement, and a thrust generation device on each wing and configured to rotate with each wing about an axis that is lateral to a longitudinal axis of the envelope to provide vertical takeoff or landing capabilities. Ideally, the envelope provides negative hydrostatic lift to enhance low-speed and on-the-ground stability. A vehicle comprising a first lift device capable of providing hydrostatic lift; a second lift device capable of providing dynamic lift through movement; and a system structured to generate thrust coupled to the second lift device, the second lift device and the thrust generation system capable of rotating together about an axis that is lateral to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle at angles at least in the range of 90 degrees to and including 180 degrees.