Relative positioning of balloons with altitude control and wind data
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B64B-001/02
B64B-001/06
G05D-001/02
출원번호
US-0346637
(2012-01-09)
등록번호
US-8820678
(2014-09-02)
발명자
/ 주소
DeVaul, Richard Wayne
Teller, Eric
Biffle, Clifford L.
Weaver, Josh
Piponi, Dan
출원인 / 주소
Google Inc.
대리인 / 주소
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
13인용 특허 :
14
초록▼
The positions of balloons in a communication network of balloons, such as a mesh network of high-altitude balloons, may be adjusted relative to one another in order to try to maintain a desired network topology. In one approach, the position of each balloon may be adjusted relative to one or more ne
The positions of balloons in a communication network of balloons, such as a mesh network of high-altitude balloons, may be adjusted relative to one another in order to try to maintain a desired network topology. In one approach, the position of each balloon may be adjusted relative to one or more neighbor balloons. For example, the locations of a target balloon and one or more neighbor balloons may be determined. A desired movement of the target balloon may then be determined based on the locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the location of the target balloon. The target balloon may be controlled based on the desired movement. In some embodiments, the altitude of the target balloon may be controlled in order to expose the target balloon to ambient winds that are capable of producing the desired movement of the target balloon.
대표청구항▼
1. A method comprising: determining a location of a target balloon;determining locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein the target balloon comprises a communication system that is operable for data communication with at least one o
1. A method comprising: determining a location of a target balloon;determining locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein the target balloon comprises a communication system that is operable for data communication with at least one of the one or more neighbor balloons;determining a desired movement of the target balloon based on the determined locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon, wherein the desired movement of the target balloon comprises a desired horizontal movement of the target balloon; andcontrolling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon, wherein controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon comprises controlling an altitude of the target balloon based on the desired horizontal movement of the target balloon. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the altitude of the target balloon based on the desired horizontal movement of the target balloon comprises: determining that the desired horizontal movement of the target balloon can be achieved by exposing the target balloon to ambient winds of a particular velocity;determining that ambient winds of the particular velocity are likely to be available at a particular altitude; andadjusting the altitude of the target balloon to attain the particular altitude. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the target balloon and one or more neighbor balloons are high-altitude balloons. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired movement of the target balloon comprises a desired direction of movement. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired movement of the target balloon comprises a desired velocity. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired movement of the target balloon comprises a desired distance of travel in a desired direction. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication system comprises a free-space optical communication system. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication system comprises a radio frequency (RF) communication system. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the target balloon and one or more neighbor balloons are part of a mesh network of balloons. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying a predetermined number of nearest balloons in the mesh network as the one or more neighbor balloons. 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying any balloons in the mesh network that are within a predefined distance from the target balloon as the one or more neighbor balloons. 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying any balloons in the mesh network that are within a communication range of the target balloon's communication system as the one or more neighbor balloons. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a desired movement of the target balloon based on the determined locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the determined location of the target balloon comprises: defining a potential energy function that assigns a potential energy to the target balloon as a function of the determined locations of the one or more neighbor balloons and the determined location of the target balloon;determining a gradient of the potential energy function; anddetermining the desired movement of the target balloon based on the gradient of the potential energy function. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the desired movement of the target balloon based on the gradient comprises: determining a direction of the gradient; anddetermining a direction of the desired movement of the target balloon based on the direction of the gradient. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the desired movement of the target balloon based on the gradient comprises: determining a magnitude of the gradient; anddetermining a magnitude of the desired movement of the target balloon based on the magnitude of the gradient. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the target balloon comprises an airfoil. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the airfoil comprises a kite, wing, or sail. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon comprises controlling the airfoil. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the airfoil is operable to move the target balloon horizontally using ambient winds. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the airfoil is operable to convert vertical motion of the target balloon into horizontal motion of the target balloon, and wherein controlling the target balloon based on the desired movement of the target balloon comprises controlling a buoyancy of the target balloon. 21. A balloon, comprising: a communication system operable for data communication with one or more other balloons in a mesh network of balloons; anda controller coupled to the communication system, wherein the controller is configured to: (a) determine the balloon's location;(b) determine locations of one or more neighbor balloons relative to the balloon's determined location, wherein the one or more neighbor balloons are in the mesh network of balloons;(c) determine a desired movement of the balloon based on the determined locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the balloon's determined location, wherein the desired movement of the balloon comprises a desired horizontal movement of the balloon; and(d) control an altitude of the balloon based on the desired horizontal movement. 22. The balloon of claim 21, further comprising: an altitude-control system that is operable to adjust the altitude of the balloon,wherein the controller is configured to control the altitude-control system based on the desired horizontal movement of the balloon. 23. The balloon of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine the balloon's location using a satellite-based positioning system. 24. The balloon of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine the locations of the one or more neighbor balloons based on information received through the communication system.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Campbell J. Scott, Aerial communications network including a plurality of aerial platforms.
Ferguson Frederick D. (c/o Van Dusen Commercial Development Corporation ; P.O. Box 1151 ; Station “B”Ottawa ; Ontario CAX), Aircraft having buoyant gas balloon.
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