Granted Patent B2

US 12,747,015 · App. 18/952,909 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Inventors: Taber Kyle MacCallum (Tucson, AZ); Sebastian Padilla (Tucson, AZ); Rodger Farley (Columbia, MD); Iain Beveridge (Tucson, AZ); G. Ryan Lee (Tucson, AZ); Tim Basta (Tucson, AZ); Jared Leidich (Denver, CO); John Straus (Tucson, AZ); John Z. Maccagnano (Tucson, AZ)

Assignee: World View Enterprises Inc.

B64B1/44B64B1/48B64B1/58B64B1/62B64B1/70

Abstract

Claims (38)

1 . A method of controlling a lighter than air (LTA) system, comprising:

maintaining an LTA system within a persistence envelope, that is over an area of interest and that includes a first range of latitude and longitude coordinates and a second range of latitude and longitude coordinates, by repeatedly:

ascending the LTA system along a first helical path within the first range of latitude and longitude coordinates; and

descending the LTA system along a second helical path within the second range of latitude and longitude coordinates;

wherein ascending the LTA system along the first helical path within the first range of latitude and longitude coordinates comprises:

using a LTA gas in a first balloon of the LTA system to provide an upward lifting force to the LTA system;

ascending a payload using the first balloon through a first plurality of altitudes along the first helical path within the first range of latitude and longitude coordinates; and

controlling a diameter of the first helical path within the first range of latitude and longitude coordinates by controllably releasing ambient air from a second balloon of the LTA system; and

wherein descending the LTA system along the second helical path within the second range of latitude and longitude coordinates comprises:

using ambient air in the second balloon to provide a downward lifting force to the LTA system;

descending the payload through a second plurality of altitudes along the second helical path within the second range of latitude and longitude coordinates; and

controlling a diameter of the second helical path within the second range of latitude and longitude coordinates by controllably receiving ambient air into the second balloon of the LTA system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first balloon is a zero pressure balloon and the second balloon is a super pressure balloon.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising deploying a parafoil and descending the parafoil toward the ground with the payload.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the LTA system comprises a valve configured to controllably release the ambient air from the second balloon.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the LTA gas is helium or hydrogen.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the diameter of the first helical path within the first range of latitude and longitude coordinates further comprises controllably releasing ambient air from a third balloon of the LTA system.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second balloon is positioned between the first balloon and the payload.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the payload is coupled to the LTA system by an elongated structural connector, the elongated structural connector being at least partially rigid and configured to couple with or support one or more components.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second balloon is coupled to the first balloon by a rotatable actuator.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the rotatable actuator is configured to rotate about more than one axis.

11 . A method of controlling a lighter than air (LTA) system, comprising:

using a LTA gas in a first balloon to provide an upward lifting force to the LTA system to ascend a payload to a first altitude along a first helical path within a first range of latitude and longitude coordinates;

controlling a diameter of the first helical path by controlling a rate of release of ambient air from a second balloon;

after ascending the payload to the first altitude, receiving ambient air into the second balloon to descend the payload to a second altitude less than the first altitude along a second helical path within a second range of latitude and longitude coordinates;

controlling a diameter of the second helical path by controlling a rate of intake of the ambient air into the second balloon;

after descending the payload to the second altitude, releasing ambient air from the second balloon and using the LTA gas in the first balloon to provide an upward lifting force to the LTA system to ascend the payload to a third altitude along a third helical path within a third range of latitude and longitude coordinates;

controlling a diameter of the third helical path by controlling a rate of release of ambient air from the second balloon;

after ascending the payload to the third altitude, receiving ambient air into the second balloon to descend the payload to a fourth altitude less than the third altitude along a fourth helical path within a fourth range of latitude and longitude coordinates; and

controlling a diameter of the fourth helical path by controlling a rate of intake of the ambient air into the second balloon, wherein the first range of latitude and longitude coordinates, the second range of latitude and longitude coordinates, the third range of latitude and longitude coordinates, and the fourth range of latitude and longitude coordinates are all within a persistence envelope over an area of interest.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first balloon is a zero pressure balloon and the second balloon is a super pressure balloon.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising deploying a parafoil and descending the parafoil toward the ground with the payload.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the LTA system comprises a compressor configured to deliver ambient air into the second balloon.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the LTA gas is helium or hydrogen.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling the diameter of the second helical path further comprises receiving ambient air into a third balloon.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second balloon is positioned between the first balloon and the payload.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second balloon is coupled to the first balloon by a rotatable actuator.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the rotatable actuator is configured to rotate about more than one axis.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (8)

References Cited (400)