Aerostar International, Inc.

Other

Jonathan Nutzmann

Aaron Fan

Ewout Van Bekkum

Kevin Ray Anderson

Jacques L Gagne

Matthew Aaron Knoll

John Cromie

Michael Eglington

Sameera Sylvia Ponda

Nathan Winder

Carey Graham Hijmans

Daniel Alex Luebke

David Solum

Christopher Bowles

Kyle Brookes

Matthew A Torres

A system for an unmanned aerial vehicle can include an altitude control system, which further includes a compressor assembly, a valve assembly, and an electronics control assembly. The compressor assembly may include a compressor housingthat includes a compressor inlet, an outlet, and a cavityextending therethrough and joining the inlet to the outlet. A diffusermay be coupled to the compressor housing. A motor housingmay be disposed within the central cavity at the inlet of the compressor housing, and a compressor motormay be disposed within the motor housing. An impellerdisposed within the compressor housing may be coupled to a driveshaftfor rotation therewith. The valve assembly may be coupled to an openingof the compressor inlet. The valve headmay be configured to move into and away from the inlet opening so as to change a size of the circumferential area of the inlet opening.

Altitude control system

Aspects of the technology relate to propulsion systems for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A propeller assembly is used to provide lateral directional adjustments, which allows the balloon to spend more time over a desired region, reduce the return time to the desired region, reduce fleet overprovisioning, and increases the safety case by additional controls and avoidance abilities. A control assembly manages operation of the propeller assembly, including setting the pointing direction, speed of rotation and determining when to turn on the propeller and for how long. The propulsion system including the control and propeller assemblies is rotatable around a connection member of the balloon. Such rotation is independently adjustable from any rotation of the balloon's payload. The propeller blades may be made of plastic, which reduces weight and cost while providing sufficient speed at stratospheric altitudes.

Lateral propulsion systems and architectures for high altitude balloons

Aspects of the technology relate to lateral propulsion systems in lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms configured to operate in the stratosphere. One or more motor assemblies are used to actuate the lateral propulsion system and to make directional changes, for instance using one or more propellers. This can include a pointing axis motor assembly for orienting the lateral propulsion system along a particular heading, and a drive motor assembly for causing a propeller assembly or other propulsion mechanism to turn on and off Corrective actions may be necessary to adjust the alignment of the lateral propulsion system. A stepper motor control module may be used to control operation of the pointing axis motor assembly, for instance by causing it to rotate in a clockwise (or counterclockwise) direction. A motor current control approach may be used, in which the motor voltage is adjusted until a measured motor current reaches a selected current level.

Despin and rotational control architectures for lighter-than-air high altitude platforms

Aspects of the technology relate to a braking assembly for a lateral propulsion system of a high altitude platform (HAP) configured to operate in the stratosphere. Power is supplied to a propeller assembly as needed during lateral propulsion so that the HAP can move to a desired location or remain on station. When lateral propulsion is not needed, power is no longer supplied to the propeller assembly and it may slowly cease rotating. However, in certain situations, it may be necessary to cause the propeller assembly to stop rotating as soon as possible. This can include an unplanned descent. Rapid braking can avoid the propeller blades from entangling in the envelope, parachute or other parts of the HAP. A reusable brake is employed to prevent uncontrolled rotation of the propeller on descent, or otherwise to prevent the propeller from spinning freely when not being used to propel the HAP laterally.

Wedge brake control system and method

Wedge brake system for propeller rotor

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Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Jonathan Nutzmann