US 11,851,154 B2
Lateral propulsion systems and architectures for high altitude balloons
Jacques Gagne, Los Gatos, CA (US); Matthew Knoll, Mountain View, CA (US); Daniel Luebke, San Mateo, CA (US); Jonathan Nutzmann, Redwood City, CA (US); Michael Eglington, San Bruno, CA (US); Sameera Ponda, Mountain View, CA (US); Aaron Fan, Redwood City, CA (US); and Ewout van Bekkum, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Aerostar International, LLC, Sioux Falls, SD (US)
Filed by Aerostar International, LLC, Columbia, MD (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/560,012.
Application 17/560,012 is a continuation of application No. 16/513,782, filed on Jul. 17, 2019, granted, now 11,220,320.
Prior Publication US 2022/0219799 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. B64B 1/30 (2006.01); B64B 1/44 (2006.01); B64D 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64B 1/30 (2013.01) [B64B 1/44 (2013.01); B64D 35/00 (2013.01); B64D 2211/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A balloon apparatus for lighter-than-air operation in the stratosphere comprising:
a balloon envelope;
a support plate with a proximal end and a distal end;
a payload including:
a control system having at least one of a control system processor and a memory;
wherein the control system controls independent rotation of the payload;
a connecting member suspended from the balloon envelope;
wherein the connecting member couples the balloon envelope with the proximal end of the support plate; and
wherein the connecting member couples the support plate with the payload; and
a propulsion system including:
a propeller assembly coupled with the distal end of the support plate;
a control assembly including at least one control assembly processor, electronic module and a coupling member coupled to the support plate and configured to rotate the propulsion assembly coupled to the support plate about the connecting member;
wherein the control system is configured to control the independent rotation of the payload about the connecting member independently from the rotation of the support plate about the connecting member.