Patent ID: 9352819
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: B64B,B64D,G05D

Claim Text:
1. A system comprising: a hull that is buoyant, having an inner surface and an outer surface, the hull configured to contain a gas of a lower density than an ambient gas, and the hull includes a main body and a fixed airfoil; and a pod detachably coupled to the hull, the pod comprising: a first thrust generator fixed to the pod and located a fixed distance left of a center of the hull and aligned to pitch the hull up; a second thrust generator fixed to the pod and located the fixed distance right of the center of the hull and aligned to pitch the hull up, wherein a thrust of the first thrust generator is substantially parallel with a thrust of the second thrust generator; a power source mounted to the pod and slideable fore and aft, the power source coupled to each of the first thrust generator and the second thrust generator to power each of the first thrust generator and the second thrust generator; a power source actuator coupled between the pod and the power source to translate the location of the power source with respect to the pod; a sensor coupled to the pod to detect a pitch of the hull and provide a pitch signal; and a controller coupled to the power source, the power source actuator, the first and second thrust generators, and the sensor, the controller to maintain a pitch of the hull by translating the power source within the pod in association with the pitch signal.