An aeronautical car comprises a ground-travel system including at least one traction device, an air-travel system including at least one flight mechanism configured to be selectively moved between a first position when the aeronautical car is in a driving mode and a second position when the aeronautical car is in a flying mode, and a weather manipulation device. The weather manipulation device may be configured to manipulate at least one aspect of a weather condition while the aeronautical car is in the air.
Airships for weather manipulation are disclosed. An airship may include a hull and a frame supporting the hull. The airship may also include a container configured to capture and transport a cloud. The airship may also include a sunlight reflecting system configured to block the sunlight over a destination area on ground. The airship may also include a nozzle configured to distribute a material to the cloud. The airship may also include a sensing system including at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter reflecting a condition of the cloud. The airship may further include at least one weather interference device configured to generate a wave or light and direct the wave or light toward the cloud. In some examples, two or more airships may be used to tow a parachute-style container deployable for capturing and transporting the cloud.
A cargo airship (10) is disclosed. The cargo airship may include a hull (12) configured to contain a gas and at least one propulsion assembly (16) coupled to the airship and including a propulsion device. The cargo airship may further include a payload bay (64) comprising an external cargo area (66) located outside of the hull. The cargo airship may also include a cargo handling system including at least one hoisting mechanism (82) configured to lift cargo into the external cargo area while the airship is hovering.
A transportation system (10) is disclosed. The transportation system has a vehicle (22) that is self -powered and configured to generate an air cushion (250) on a trackless lane (222) having a substantially flat surface. The vehicle is configured to move over the substantially flat surface on the air cushion. The transportation system also has a guidance system (224) configured to guide the vehicle between peripheries of the trackless lane.
An airship (25) is provided. The airship includes a hull (12) configured to contain a gas, at least one propulsion assembly (31) coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device (45), and at least one aerodynamic component (2000) including a plurality of fairing structures (2012) including one or more slats (2020), wherein the at least one aerodynamic component is associated with the hull and is configured to direct airflow around the airship.
A system for water extraction from air is provided. The system includes a housing having a plurality of openings allowing an air flow to enter into an inner space defined by the housing. The system also includes a sponge disposed within the inner space defined by the housing. The sponge includes a water absorbing/adsorbing material for absorbing/adsorbing water vapor from the air flow. The system further includes a presser disposed above the sponge and configured to compress the sponge to discharge water from the sponge.
A system for water extraction from air is provided. The system includes a housing having a plurality of openings allowing an air flow to enter into an inner space defined by the housing. The system also includes a sponge disposed within the inner space defined by the housing. The sponge includes a water absorbing/adsorbing material for absorbing/adsorbing water vapor from the air flow. The system further includes a presser disposed above the sponge and configured to compress the sponge to discharge water from the sponge.
B01D 53/02 - Separation of gases or vapoursRecovering vapours of volatile solvents from gasesChemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases or aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
A solar-powered airship with a hull configured to contain a gas and at least one propulsion assembly with a propulsion device and electric motors configured to drive the propulsion device. The airship may also include a power supply system including solar panels operatively coupled to the electric motors and configured to supply power to the electric motors. The power supply system may also include batteries operatively coupled to the solar panels and configured to receive and store electrical energy supplied by the solar panels, the batteries being further operatively coupled to the electric motors and configured to supply power to the electric motors. The batteries may each be located within an outer envelope of the airship defined by the hull of the airship in a position selected to provide ballast. The solar-powered airship may also include a cargo system configured to contain passengers or freight.
A system for controlling yaw associated with an airship may include one or more vertical control surfaces associated with the airship, a first power source and a second power source, each configured to provide a thrust associated with the airship, and a yaw control configured to receive an input indicative of a desired yaw angle. The system may further include a controller communicatively connected to the yaw control, the one or more vertical control surfaces, and the first and second power sources. The controller may be configured to receive an output signal from the yaw control corresponding to the desired yaw angle and to generate a control signal configured to modify a state associated with at least one of the one or more vertical control surfaces, the first power source, and the second power source, such that the airship substantially attains the desired yaw angle.
A system for controlling yaw (7) associated with an airship may include one or more vertical control surfaces (25) associated with the airship, a first power source (541) and a second power source (542), each configured to provide a thrust associated with the airship, and a yaw control configured to receive an input indicative of a desired yaw angle. The system may further include a controller communicatively connected to the yaw control, the one or more vertical control surfaces, and the first and second power sources. The controller may be configured to receive an output signal from the yaw control corresponding to the desired yaw angle and to generate a control signal configured to modify a state associated with at least one of the one or more vertical control surfaces, the first power source, and the second power source, such that the airship substantially attains the desired yaw angle.
An airship (10) may include a hull (22) substantially shaped as an oblate spheroid, one or more frame members (120, 122, 124) defining a support structure (20), wherein the support structure forms at least a partial support for the hull, at least one horizontal stabilizing member (315) operably coupled to a lower surface of the airship, and at least one horizontal stabilizing member (315) having a first end and a second end. The at least one horizontal stabilizing member (315) may define an anhedral configuration. The airship may also include a vertical stabilizing member (310) having a first end pivotally coupled to the airship and a second end oriented to remain below an upper surface of the airship. The vertical stabilizing member (310) may be configured to pivot within a vertical plane, and the first end of the vertical stabilizing member and the first end of the at least one horizontal stabilizing member may • be operably coupled to one another.