Method and apparatus for lighter-than-air airship with improved structure and delivery system
US11396356B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 17, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/80
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.