High altitude platform deployment system
View Patent ↗A communication system for supporting communications with a target market area. The system includes one or more solar-powered aircraft maintained in, or successively passing through, flight stations or flight patterns around the market area. Each of the aircraft targets limited beamwidth communication antennas on a substantial portion of the target market area. The control system is configured to fly selective flight patterns depending on the aircraft characteristics and the flight conditions. The flight patterns may emphasize high-power-generation patterns such as flying away from the sun for aircraft with wing-mounted solar cells.
1. A method of establishing a communication system for a target market area, comprising:
stationing each of a plurality of aircraft in separate flight stations of a plurality of flight stations around the target market area, wherein each aircraft has one or more communication system antennas configured with a limited beamwidth;
while each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft is in its flight station, targeting the one or more communication system antennas of that aircraft such that they support communication signals with a substantial portion of the target market area; and
while the communication system antennas of each aircraft support communication signals with a substantial portion of the target market area, controlling flight controls of that aircraft such that the aircraft could be indefinitely maintained within its flight station.
2. A communication system for a target market area, comprising a plurality of aircraft, each of which is for use in separate flight stations of a plurality of flight stations around the target market area, each aircraft including:
one or more communication system antennas configured with a limited beamwidth, and further configured to support communication signals with a substantial portion of the target market area while the aircraft is in its flight station; and
a control system configured to control flight controls of that aircraft such that the aircraft could be indefinitely maintained within its station while the communication system antennas of each aircraft support communication signals with a substantial portion of the target market area.
3. A communication system for a target market area, comprising a first aircraft and a second aircraft for use in a flight station around the target market area, each aircraft including:
one or more communication system antennas configured with a limited beamwidth, and further configured to support communication signals with a substantial portion of the target market area while the aircraft is in the flight station; and
a control system configured to maintain the aircraft within the station during a portion of each day of flight, and to fly a high-power-generation pattern outside of the station during a portion of the daylight hours of each day of flight, wherein the control system is further configured to control flight controls of the aircraft such that the aircraft could be indefinitely maintained within the station while the aircraft is being maintained within the station;
wherein the control system is further configured to coordinate with the control system of the other aircraft such that at least one aircraft is maintained within the station at all times during each day of flight.
4. A communication system for a target market area, comprising:
a solar powered aircraft configured to continuously fly a high-power-generation pattern, the aircraft including one or more communication system antennas with a limited beamwidth, the antennas being configured to support communication signals with a plurality of ground antennas in a substantial portion of the target market area; and
a ground antenna in the target market area configured to track the aircraft, and further configured to support communication signals with the antennas of the aircraft.
5. A communication system for a target market area having a designated flight station, comprising a plurality of aircraft, each of which is for use in separate flight patterns of a plurality of flight patterns located around the target market area and passing through the flight station, each aircraft including:
one or more communication system antennas configured with a limited beamwidth, and further configured to support communication signals with a substantial portion of the target market area while the aircraft is passing through the flight station; and
a control system configured to control flight controls of that aircraft such that the aircraft flies a high-power-generation flight pattern, wherein the control system is configured to coordinate with the control systems of the other aircraft to assure that each aircraft's departure form the flight station is slightly preceded by another aircraft's arrival in the flight station.
6. A communication system for a target market area, comprising:
an aircraft configured with one or more communication system antennas and a control system;
wherein the one or more communication system antennas are configured with a limited beamwidth, and are further configured to support communication signals with a substantial portion of the target market area; and
wherein the control system is configured to control flight controls of that aircraft such that the aircraft flies a high-power-generation flight pattern positioned to maximize the antennas communication with the target market area.