Techniques for intelligent balloon/airship launch and recovery window location

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems for minimizing the probability of a collision between an aircraft and a floating platform are described. The device may include a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is configured to obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft; determine a probability related to a plurality of flight-paths of a floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data; and determine, based on the flight-path vector and the probability related to the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and/or a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a probability of a collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in flight.

1 . A device comprising:
 a processor in communication with a memory, the processor configured to:   obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft;   determine a plurality of flight-paths of a floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data; and   determine, based on the flight-path vector and the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and/or a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a probability of collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in flight.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the flight-path vector based on one or more of an inertial navigation system, a transponder, a flight schedule, optical detectors, a radar, a lidar, a VHP Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) signal, origin and destination of the aircraft or from the data obtained from an aviation authority. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to store a database for positions of aircrafts and flight plans of aircrafts in a vicinity of a launch location, and along an estimated flight path of the floating platform. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein determining the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform comprises simulating the plurality of flight-paths for the floating platform based on one or more of local atmospheric data, a projected launch time, a projected launch location, the operating parameters of the floating platform, ascent characteristics of the floating platform, propulsion characteristics of the floating platform, flight characteristics of the floating platform and descent characteristics of the floating platform 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein local atmospheric data is obtained from another floating platform launched previously or from a public database. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the probability of collision between the aircraft and the floating platform. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically determine, while the floating platform is in flight, the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft after the floating platform is launched. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically determine, while the floating platform is in flight, the operating parameters of the floating platform that minimize the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft or that maintain at least a pre-determined separation from the aircraft or to initiate a change in a flight-path of the floating platform. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein initiating the change in the flight-path of the floating platform includes one or more of adjusting an ascent rate of the floating platform, adjusting an altitude of the floating platform, adjusting a lateral velocity of the floating platform, adjusting propulsion of the floating platform, adjusting a descent rate of the floating platform, initiating a descent of the floating platform, and initiating a break-up of the floating platform. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameters for the floating platform include a launch time or a recovery time, a launch location or a recovery location, an ascent rate, a float location, a float altitude, a propulsion capability, and a descent rate. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a communication device. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the communication device is configured to communicate with a base station. 
     
     
         18 . A method being implemented in a computer that includes a processor, the method comprising:
 obtaining a flight-path vector of an aircraft;   determining, by the processor, a plurality of flight-paths of a floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data; and   determining, by the processor, based on the flight-path vector and the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and/or a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a probability of n collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in flight.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein determining the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform comprises simulating the plurality of flight-paths for the floating platform based on one or more of local atmospheric data, a projected launch time, a projected launch location, the operating parameters of the floating platform, ascent characteristics of the floating platform, propulsion characteristics of the floating platform, flight characteristics of the floating platform and descent characteristics of the floating platform. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein local atmospheric data is obtained from another floating platform launched previously or from a public database. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising determining, by the processor, the probability of collision between the aircraft and the floating platform. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising dynamically determining, by the processor, while the floating platform is in flight, the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft after the floating platform is launched. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising dynamically determining, by the processor, while the floating platform is in flight, the operating parameters of the floating platform that minimize the probability of collision between the floating platform and the aircraft or that maintain at least a pre-determined separation from the aircraft or to initiate a change in a flight-path of the floating platform. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein initiating the change in the flight-path of the floating platform includes one or more of adjusting an ascent rate of the floating platform, adjusting an altitude of the floating platform, adjusting a lateral velocity of the floating platform, adjusting propulsion of the floating platform, adjusting a descent rate of the floating platform, initiating the descent of the floating platform, and initiating a break-up of the floating platform. 
     
     
         28 . A floating platform comprising:
 a payload comprising:   a processor in communication with a memory, the processor configured to:   obtain a flight-path vector of an aircraft;   determine a plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform over a period of time based on operating parameters for the floating platform and weather data; and   determine, based on the flight-path vector and the plurality of flight-paths of the floating platform, a time and/or a location for launch or recovery of the floating platform that minimizes a probability of a collision between the aircraft and the floating platform while the floating platform is in flight.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled)