A landing apparatus for an airship or hybrid air vehicle. The landing apparatus comprises a hollow, non-toroidal, flexible enclosure (103), having a substantially vertical axis (104), and a substantially circular cross-section centred on the axis. A base (122) of the enclosure is arranged to contact the ground. The enclosure (103) is inflatable with air or gas for landing, and deflatable for retraction of the enclosure during flight.

An airship is provided. The airship includes a hull configured to contain a gas, at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device, and at least one aerodynamic component including a plurality of fairing structures including one or more slats, wherein the at least one aerodynamic component is associated with the hull and is configured to direct airflow around the airship.

An airship is provided. The airship includes a hull configured to contain a gas, at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device, and at least one aerodynamic component including a plurality of fairing structures including one or more slats, wherein the at least one aerodynamic component is associated with the hull and is configured to direct airflow around the airship.

Autonomous craft capable of extended duration operations as lighter-than-air craft, having the ability to alight on the surface of a body of water and generate hydrogen gas for lift via electrolysis using power derived from a photovoltaic system, as well as methods of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a deployable envelope from a surface of a body of water.

Autonomous craft capable of extended duration operations as lighter-than-air craft, having the ability to alight on the surface of a body of water and generate hydrogen gas for lift via electrolysis using power derived from a photovoltaic system, as well as methods of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a deployable envelope from a surface of a body of water.

Autonomous craft capable of extended duration operations as lighter-than-air craft, having the ability to alight on the surface of a body of water and generate hydrogen gas for lift via electrolysis using power derived from a photovoltaic system, as well as methods of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a deployable envelope from a surface of a body of water.

Autonomous craft capable of extended duration operations as lighter-than-air craft, having the ability to alight on the surface of a body of water and generate hydrogen gas for lift via electrolysis using power derived from a photovoltaic system, as well as methods of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a deployable envelope from a surface of a body of water.

A system configured to disperse particulate matter can include a container, an elevation subsystem, and a dispersal subsystem. The container can hold and dispense a pressurized liquid and can be refilled with new pressurized liquid. The elevation subsystem can elevate and lower the container between a ground level location and a raised location in the atmosphere. The dispersal subsystem can be coupled to the container, receive the pressurized liquid therefrom, convert the pressurized liquid into a gas, and disperse the gas into the atmosphere at the raised location. The gas can be configured to react with the atmosphere to result in the suspension of particulate matter within the atmosphere. The pressurized liquid can be sulfur dioxide, the particulate matter can include sulfates, the raised location can be within the stratosphere or higher, and the system can be transferred between and operable with multiple separate ground based stations.

A system configured to disperse particulate matter can include a container, an elevation subsystem, and a dispersal subsystem. The container can hold and dispense a pressurized liquid and can be refilled with new pressurized liquid. The elevation subsystem can elevate and lower the container between a ground level location and a raised location in the atmosphere. The dispersal subsystem can be coupled to the container, receive the pressurized liquid therefrom, convert the pressurized liquid into a gas, and disperse the gas into the atmosphere at the raised location. The gas can be configured to react with the atmosphere to result in the suspension of particulate matter within the atmosphere. The pressurized liquid can be sulfur dioxide, the particulate matter can include sulfates, the raised location can be within the stratosphere or higher, and the system can be transferred between and operable with multiple separate ground based stations.

An airship is provided. The airship includes a hull configured to contain a gas, at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device, and at least one aerodynamic component including a plurality of fairing structures including one or more slats, wherein the at least one aerodynamic component is associated with the hull and is configured to direct airflow around the airship.