An airborne RF-head platform system and method. Here, much of the computational burden of transmitting and receiving wireless RF waveforms is shifted from the airborne platform to a ground baseband unit (BBU). The airborne platform, which will often be a high altitude balloon or drone type platform, generally comprises one or more remote radio heads, configured with antennas, A/D and D/A converters, frequency converters, RF amplifiers, and the like. The airborne platform communicates with the ground baseband units either directly via a laser communications link, or indirectly through another airborne relay platform. The airborne RF-head communicates via various wireless protocols to various user equipment such as smartphones by using the BBU and the laser communications link to precisely control the function of the airborne A/D and D/A converters and antennas. This system reduces the power needs, weight, and cost of the airborne platform, and also improves operational flexibility.

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include one or more super-pressure balloons (SPB). One or more of the SPB's may include one or more interior volumes. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive an LTA gas therein to supplement the free lift of the LTA system. There may be an adjustable valve or vent to release the LTA gas. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive ambient air to provide a variable downward force. The SPB may use a compressor to pump in ambient air. The compressor or another valve may release ambient air to decrease the downward force. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the one or more SPB's. The ZPB may supplement lift for the system.

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include one or more super-pressure balloons (SPB). One or more of the SPB's may include one or more interior volumes. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive an LTA gas therein to supplement the free lift of the LTA system. There may be an adjustable valve or vent to release the LTA gas. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive ambient air to provide a variable downward force. The SPB may use a compressor to pump in ambient air. The compressor or another valve may release ambient air to decrease the downward force. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the one or more SPB's. The ZPB may supplement lift for the system.

A blimp includes a circular disk-shaped envelope filled with a lighter-than-air gas. A gondola is affixed to an underside of the envelope and is disposed at a region directly below a center point of the circle defined by the intersection of the envelope and the horizontal plane. The gondola includes: a horizontally-disposed elongated circuit board that functions as a structural member of the gondola; and a vertical member extending upwardly from the circuit board and having a top that is attached to the underside of the envelope. A thrusting mechanism is affixed to the gondola and is configured to generate thrust. An electronics suite is disposed on and electrically coupled to the circuit board and includes a blimp processor configured to generate control signals that control the thrusting mechanism. A battery is affixed to the gondola and provides power to the electronics suit and the thrusting mechanism.

A blimp includes a circular disk-shaped envelope filled with a lighter-than-air gas. A gondola is affixed to an underside of the envelope and is disposed at a region directly below a center point of the circle defined by the intersection of the envelope and the horizontal plane. The gondola includes: a horizontally-disposed elongated circuit board that functions as a structural member of the gondola; and a vertical member extending upwardly from the circuit board and having a top that is attached to the underside of the envelope. A thrusting mechanism is affixed to the gondola and is configured to generate thrust. An electronics suite is disposed on and electrically coupled to the circuit board and includes a blimp processor configured to generate control signals that control the thrusting mechanism. A battery is affixed to the gondola and provides power to the electronics suit and the thrusting mechanism.

The invention provides an inexpensive means of transporting people and objects to altitudes of 10,000 meters or more. Flying System 1 has Balloon 11, Suspension Lines 12 hanging downwards from Balloon 11, and Cabin 13 attached to the lower ends of Suspension Lines 12. The main body of Cabin 13 consists of laminated walls that include a fiber-reinforced plastic layer that keeps Cabin 13 watertight and airtight and also serves to maintain the shape of Cabin 13, an ultra-violet-rays blocking layer that reduces the amount of ultra-violet-rays transmitted into Cabin 13, an insulation layer that reduces the amount of heat conducted from the inside to the outside of Cabin 13, and an adhesive layer that enters and seals a crack or hole in the fiber-reinforced plastic layer when the crack or hole appears. The side walls of the main body of Cabin 13 have two hatches located opposite each other.

The invention provides an inexpensive means of transporting people and objects to altitudes of 10,000 meters or more. Flying System 1 has Balloon 11, Suspension Lines 12 hanging downwards from Balloon 11, and Cabin 13 attached to the lower ends of Suspension Lines 12. The main body of Cabin 13 consists of laminated walls that include a fiber-reinforced plastic layer that keeps Cabin 13 watertight and airtight and also serves to maintain the shape of Cabin 13, an ultra-violet-rays blocking layer that reduces the amount of ultra-violet-rays transmitted into Cabin 13, an insulation layer that reduces the amount of heat conducted from the inside to the outside of Cabin 13, and an adhesive layer that enters and seals a crack or hole in the fiber-reinforced plastic layer when the crack or hole appears. The side walls of the main body of Cabin 13 have two hatches located opposite each other.

Gas Replacement System (GRS) produces lighter than air lift gas from ammonia to enable balloon launch and/or to extend the flight durations of balloons. The GRS produces lighter than air lift gas by dissociating all or part of an ammonia supply into a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen. The GRS can be used to launch balloons from the ground and/or produce gas for airborne balloons to extend their flight duration. In one embodiment, a GRS includes a tank containing ammonia (e.g., liquid ammonia), a reactor, and a controller operable to direct a release of the ammonia from the tank to the reactor. The controller is also operable to direct the reactor to dissociate at least a portion of the ammonia into a lift gas and exhaust the lift gas from the reactor into the balloon for inflation, the lift gas comprising nitrogen and hydrogen.

Gas Replacement System (GRS) produces lighter than air lift gas from ammonia to enable balloon launch and/or to extend the flight durations of balloons. The GRS produces lighter than air lift gas by dissociating all or part of an ammonia supply into a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen. The GRS can be used to launch balloons from the ground and/or produce gas for airborne balloons to extend their flight duration. In one embodiment, a GRS includes a tank containing ammonia (e.g., liquid ammonia), a reactor, and a controller operable to direct a release of the ammonia from the tank to the reactor. The controller is also operable to direct the reactor to dissociate at least a portion of the ammonia into a lift gas and exhaust the lift gas from the reactor into the balloon for inflation, the lift gas comprising nitrogen and hydrogen.

A lighter-than-air toy drone having at least one balloon that is inflated with a lift gas. The drone has a first conduit progresses along a first axis and a second conduit that progresses along a perpendicular second axis. At least one motorized propeller is provided that can selectively moving air through the first conduit and the second conduit to propel the drone. The motorized propeller can also generate a gyroscopic force that acts to rotate said at least one balloon for directional steering.