Lighter-than-air aircraft bladder leakage reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current unmanned lighter-than-air platforms face challenges in providing reliable and extensive connectivity to remote areas, especially in replacing subsea cables, and require efficient navigation and communication systems for various applications including telecommunications, scientific research, and surveillance.

Innovation Solution

The development of lighter-than-air aircraft equipped with directional and non-directional antennas, propellers for station-keeping, and a mesh network communication system, allowing them to maintain position and communicate effectively over long distances, and be easily transported and deployed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible bladder is used to contain lifting gas in lighter-than-air aircraft, then the aircraft can be easily transported and deployed, but gas leakage occurs reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport and deployment easeVSAvoidgas containment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bladder is divided into multiple cells separated by internal partitions. Each cell contains a portion of the lifting gas, and if one cell develops a leak, the other cells continue to contain gas and maintain buoyancy. This segmentation approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through compartmentalization while preserving the flexibility and ease of transport inherent in bladder-based designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If unmanned lighter-than-air platforms are used for remote connectivity, then they can provide extensive coverage, but maintaining stable position and reliable communication is challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidposition stability and communication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors to monitor position, altitude, and gas volume, with control systems that adjust propeller operation and gas release/intake in real-time to maintain stable positioning. This feedback mechanism enables the platform to provide extensive coverage while maintaining reliable communication and position through continuous monitoring and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If multiple bladders are used in parallel to increase gas capacity, then lifting capacity increases, but the complexity of the gas distribution system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifting gas capacityVSAvoidgas distribution system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple bladder cells are nested within the aircraft structure, with each cell independently contained but collectively contributing to total lifting capacity. The gas distribution system uses a centralized manifold that branches to each cell, simplifying the overall architecture compared to separate external systems for each bladder. This nesting approach increases gas capacity while managing system complexity through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables stable, reliable, and long-lasting connectivity to remote areas, supports various applications like telecommunications and surveillance, and provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional infrastructure, with the ability to maintain position and communicate effectively over long distances.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible bladder within the outer membrane... The apparatus is operable to float at a selected altitude based on a quantity of lighter-than-air gas in the flexible bladder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of propellers coupled to the apparatus and operable to maintain the apparatus in a selected geodetic position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic thrust: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS10367447B2Lighter-than-air aircraft and method to reduce leakage within a flexible bladder

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 SKYCOM CORP

AI summary

An unmanned lighter-than-air aircraft includes an outer membrane, a flexible bladder within the outer membrane and containing a lighter-than-air gas, a region disposed between the outer membrane and flexible bladder, a volume detection device configured to measure the volume of the flexible bladder, a pressure adjustment device to adjust the pressure within the region, and pressure control circuitry to control the region pressure adjustment device based on measurements from the volume detection device. The aircraft is maintained at a desired altitude, and the volume of the flexible bladder is measured. The pressure within the region is then adjusted by the pressure control circuitry to maintain the volume of the flexible bladder at a desired volume less than its maximum volume, equalizing its pressure with that of the region to reduce lighter-than-air gas leakage from the flexible bladder.