Patent ID: 9187165
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: B64B

Abstract:
1. A system for controlling a tethered aerostat, the system comprising: a base station including an actuation platform having an actuator system that is secured to the tethered aerostat via a plurality of tethers; the actuation platform having at least two actuators that each respectively control release speeds of at least some of the plurality of tethers, the actuation platform is configured to freely rotate about a pivot axis; a control unit that provides input to at least one of the at least two actuators to control the release speed of the controlled tethers, the control unit adjusting tether release speeds in order to achieve accurate rotational and translational control of the aerostat, and including the control of at least two translational and/or rotational variables, the control unit comprising separate pitch, roll, and altitude controllers that determine a difference between forward tether and aft tether release rates, a difference between left tether and right tether release rates, and an average tether release rate; and a remote computer/microcontroller and uni- or be-directional communications link between the base station and the remote computer.