Patent ID: 9340272
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: B64B

Claim Text:
1. A method for adjusting a variable-buoyancy vehicle comprising: determining a target mass for a variable-buoyancy vehicle having an initial internal pressure and an initial altitude, based on a target altitude for the variable-buoyancy vehicle, wherein the target altitude is lower than the initial altitude; adding a first mass of air to the variable-buoyancy vehicle, wherein the mass added is less than a difference between the target mass and an initial mass, and wherein the mass added causes an internal pressure of the variable-buoyancy vehicle to increase; and in response to in the internal pressure of the variable-buoyancy vehicle decreasing below the initial internal pressure based on a current altitude of the variable-buoyancy vehicle being lower than the initial altitude, adding a second mass of air to the variable-buoyancy vehicle, wherein the pressure of the variable-buoyancy vehicle decreased based on the first adding mass, wherein the second mass added makes a current mass of the variable-buoyancy vehicle approximately equal to the target mass.