Abstract: This disclosure relates to the use of a mobile device in connection with a balloon network. A disclosed method includes communicating with an antenna structure coupled to the housing of a mobile device. Additionally, the antenna structure may have an omnidirectional radiation pattern when the housing in a first position. The method may also include detecting a reconfiguration the housing of the mobile device. Further, the method also includes communicating with the antenna structure with the reconfigured housing. The antenna structure may have as directional radiation pattern when the housing in a second position. When in the second position the mobile device may be configured to communicate with a balloon network and when the mobile device is in the first position the mobile device may be configured to communicate with a cellular network.

Abstract: An antenna includes a radiator and a reflector and has a radiation pattern that is based at least in part on a separation distance between the radiator and the reflector. The antenna includes a linkage configured to adjust the separation distance based at least in part on the altitude of the antenna. The resulting radiation pattern can be dynamically adjusted based on altitude of the antenna such that, while the antenna is aloft and the antenna is ground-facing, variations in geographic boundaries and intensity of the radiation received at ground level are at least partially compensated for by the dynamic adjustments to the radiation pattern.

Abstract: A balloon having a balloon envelope that is fillable with a first lifting gas, a top plate arranged at a top of the balloon envelope, an outlet port that provides a passageway from an inside of the balloon envelope to the atmosphere, an inner bladder positioned within the balloon envelope and positioned at the top of the balloon envelope and coupled to the top plate, wherein the inner bladder is fillable with a second lifting gas, wherein the outlet port is configured to vent the first lifting gas to the atmosphere while keeping the second lifting gas in the inner bladder.

Abstract: A payload drag structure having a drag disk comprised of a lightweight, flexible material, a tubular section positioned around a periphery of the drag disk, a flexible member positioned within the tubular section, a cross member having a plurality of aims attached about the periphery of the drag disk, wherein one or more arms of the cross member are adapted for attachment to a payload harness, wherein the payload harness is adapted for attachment to arms of the cross member, and wherein a payload may be secured within the payload harness.

Abstract: A vehicle-based airborne wind turbine system having an aerial wing, a plurality of rotors each having a plurality of rotatable blades positioned on the aerial wing, an electrically conductive tether secured to the aerial wing and secured to a ground station positioned on a vehicle, wherein the aerial wing is adapted to receive electrical power from the vehicle that is delivered to the aerial wing through the electrically conductive tether; wherein the aerial wing is adapted to operate in a flying mode to harness wind energy to provide a first pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle; and wherein the aerial wing is also adapted to operate in a powered flying mode wherein the rotors may be powered so that the turbine blades serve as thrust-generating propellers to provide a second pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may involve hierarchical balloon networks that include both optical and radio frequency links between balloons. An exemplary network system may include: (a) a plurality of super-node balloons, where each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) a plurality of sub-node balloons, where each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency communication system that is operable for data communications. Further, at least one super-node balloon may further include an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one sub-node balloon, where the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is further operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one super-node balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for receiving and transmitting signals at a balloon. Received signals can be received at the balloon, which can include a payload and an envelope. The envelope can include at least a first antenna section and a second antenna section. Both the first and second antenna sections are configured at least to receive the received signals and convey at least the received signals to the payload. The first antenna section can include a first metallization pattern to receive a first type of signal. The second antenna section can include a second metallization pattern to receive a second type of signal, with the first metallization pattern being different from the second metallization pattern.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for turning an envelope of a balloon into a parachute. The balloon may include a payload, an envelope filled with a lift gas, and a parachute system. The parachute system may include a fuse couple to the envelope. The parachute system may also include an activation system coupled to the fuse. The activation system may be configured to ignite the fuse. The fuse may be ignitable to melt through at least a portion of the envelope to separate an upper portion of the envelope from a lower portion of the envelope. The upper portion of the envelope may be coupled to the payload such that when separated from the lower portion, the upper portion performs as a parachute for the payload.

Abstract: A balloon is provided having a balloon envelope, a payload positioned beneath the balloon envelope, and a drag plate positioned beneath the balloon envelope and attached to the payload, and a control system configured to initiate a process to cause the balloon envelope to no longer provide lift to the payload, wherein the drag plate serves to slow the descent of the payload to the earth.

Abstract: An antenna includes a radiator and a reflector and has a radiation pattern that is based at least in part on a separation distance between the radiator and the reflector. The antenna includes a linkage configured to adjust the separation distance based at least in part on the altitude of the antenna. The resulting radiation pattern can be dynamically adjusted based on altitude of the antenna such that, while the antenna is aloft and the antenna is ground-facing, variations in geographic boundaries and intensity of the radiation received at ground level are at least partially compensated for by the dynamic adjustments to the radiation pattern.

Abstract: Example embodiments may facilitate altitude control by a balloon in a balloon network. An example method involves: (a) causing a balloon to operate in a first mode, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope, a high-pressure storage chamber, and a solar power system, (b) while the balloon is operating in the first mode: (i) operating the solar power system to generate power for the balloon and (ii) using at least some of the power generated by the solar power system to move gas from the envelope to the high-pressure storage chamber such that the buoyancy of the balloon decreases; (c) causing the balloon to operate in a second mode; and while the balloon is operating in the second mode, moving gas from the high-pressure storage chamber to the envelope such that the buoyancy of the balloon increases.

Abstract: Example embodiments may facilitate altitude control by a balloon in a balloon network in a manner that also can generate power. An example method involves regulating buoyancy of the balloon by solar heating atmospheric air drawn into the balloon through a first opening of an envelope of the balloon and venting heated air in the balloon out through a second opening of the envelope. Atmospheric air heated within the envelope could supply the balloon's buoyancy. The method may further involve capturing a portion of energy of the heated air as it is venting out of the balloon through the second opening, converting a portion of the captured energy into electrical energy, and storing the electrical energy. The balloon could also be configured with a heat engine for converting heat energy into mechanical and/or electrical energy.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a marketplace for inter-network links between a balloon network and a terrestrial data network. An example method may involve a computer-based purchasing agent: (i) determining a demand for inter-network bandwidth between a balloon network and a terrestrial data network, (ii) determining one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, wherein the inter-network link provides inter-network bandwidth between the balloon network and the terrestrial data network, and wherein each offer is associated with a corresponding client device, (iii) based at least in part on a comparison of: (a) the demand for inter-network bandwidth and (b) the one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, selecting one or more of the offers to provide an inter-network link, and (iv) initiating a process to establish an inter-network link at each client device that corresponds to one of the one or more selected offers.

Abstract: An anthropomorphic device, perhaps in the form factor of a doll or toy, may be configured to control one or more media devices. Upon reception or a detection of a social cue, such as movement and/or a spoken word or phrase, the anthropomorphic device may aim its gaze at the source of the social cue. In response to receiving a voice command, the anthropomorphic device may interpret the voice command and map it to a media device command. Then, the anthropomorphic device may transmit the media device command to a media device, instructing the media device to change state.

Abstract: A balloon having an envelope and a payload positioned beneath the envelope. The envelope comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion allows more solar energy to be transferred to gas within the envelope than the second portion. The balloon may operate in a first mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by rotating the envelope to change an amount of the first portion that faces the sun and an amount of the second portion that faces the sun, and wherein the control system is further configured to cause the balloon to operate in a second mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by moving a lifting gas or air into or out of the envelope.

Abstract: An optical system is provided with a transparent element having a proximal surface on one side and a distal surface on an opposite side. A plurality of light-scattering structures is formed in the distal surface. A positionally-corresponding plurality of surface lenses is provided on the proximal surface. The light-scattering structures and the surface lenses may be arranged in a slightly angled or offset square array relative to a side surface of the transparent element. A rastering, collimated light source, directs a beam of light roughly in the plane of the transparent element towards individual light-scattering structures. The light-scattering structures scatter at least a portion of the light towards the corresponding surface lenses, which may collect and collimate the light towards a viewing location. The optical system may be incorporated into a head-mounted display (HMD).

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to virtual pooling of a local resource in a balloon network. In an example, a balloon network has geographic zones, including at least a first and a second geographic zone. Further, each balloon has a sustainable utilization rate for a local resource. Each balloon utilizes the local resource according to a respective first utilization rate when located in the first geographic zone and utilizes the local resource according to a second utilization rate when located in the second geographic zone. For one or more of the balloons, the sustainable utilization rate is less than the respective first utilization rate and greater than the respective second utilization rate. However, the balloons are operable to move between the geographic zones such that the first utilization rate is substantially continuous in first geographic zone.

Abstract: Methods and systems involving an incentivized recovery of balloon materials are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) determine a landing location of a balloon, where the balloon has been configured to operate as a node in a balloon network; (b) detect a removal event corresponding to the balloon ceasing to operate as a node in the balloon network and descending to the landing location; and (c) in response to detecting the removal event, initiate a transmission of a recovery-assistance signal that is comprised of (i) location data corresponding to the landing location of the balloon and (ii) an indication of an incentive to recover the balloon.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon-based positioning system and method. In one example embodiment, a system includes a group of at least three balloons deployed in the stratosphere and a control system configured for: determining a first set of spatial relationships relating to the group; determining a second set of spatial relationships relating to at least a portion of the group and to a reference point; determining a position of the reference point relative to the earth; using the determined first set, the determined second set, and the determined position of the reference point relative to the earth as a basis for determining a position of a target balloon in the group relative to the earth; and transmitting the determined position of the target balloon relative to the earth.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a marketplace for inter-network links between a balloon network and a terrestrial data network. An example method may involve a computer-based purchasing agent: (i) determining a demand for inter-network bandwidth between a balloon network and a terrestrial data network, (ii) determining one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, wherein the inter-network link provides inter-network bandwidth between the balloon network and the terrestrial data network, and wherein each offer is associated with a corresponding client device, (iii) based at least in part on a comparison of: (a) the demand for inter-network bandwidth and (b) the one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, selecting one or more of the offers to provide an inter-network link, and (iv) initiating a process to establish an inter-network link at each client device that corresponds to one of the one or more selected offers.