Abstract: A self transportable aerostat system comprising: a first motorized mooring truck; a mooring tower removable attached to a base assembly of the first mooring truck, generally vertically arranged in relation to the bed of the first mooring truck; a proximal and distal boom deck removably attached to the base assembly; a flying sheave for redirecting a tether carried by the base assembly and attachable to an aerostat; a second motorized mooring truck attachable to the outer edge of the distal boom; and, an aerostat truck having an electrical connection for connecting to the first mooring truck and having an aerostat storage compartment for storing the aerostat is a retracted configuration.

Abstract: A self transportable aerostat system comprising: a first motorized mooring truck; a mooring tower removable attached to a base assembly of the first mooring truck, generally vertically arranged in relation to the bed of the first mooring truck; a proximal and distal boom deck removably attached to the base assembly; a flying sheave for redirecting a tether carried by the base assembly and attachable to an aerostat; a second motorized mooring truck attachable to the outer edge of the distal boom; and, an aerostat truck having an electrical connection for connecting to the first mooring truck and having an aerostat storage compartment for storing the aerostat is a retracted configuration.

Abstract: A sensor mount apparatus includes a loop for carrying a sensor payload. An upper portion of the loop includes at least one upper attachment point for receiving at least one upper tether line. A lower portion of the loop includes at least one lower attachment point to connect the sensor mount apparatus to a lower tether line. The sensor mount apparatus further includes an upper plate mounted to the loop, a lower plate for carrying a sensor payload, and a slide mechanism mounted between the two plates. The slide mechanism operates to slidably move the lower plate relative to the upper plate so that the lower plate and sensor payload attached to the lower plate move to a position where the sensing device of the sensor payload is not obstructed by the loop. Where the sensor payload is an optical sensor, such as a camera, the camera may be positioned to see an unobstructed, three hundred sixty degree field of view.

Abstract: An aerostat, including an aerostat hull and a single ballonet, attached to said aerostat hull, along an attachment line, the attachment line dividing a helium compartment formed by said aerostat hull into a forward helium compartment and an aft helium compartment, wherein a ratio of a volume of the forward helium compartment to volume of the aft helium compartment is equal to a ratio of a volume of the single ballonet forward of the attachment line to a volume of the single ballonet aft of the attachment line.

Abstract: An end connector for use with oil containment booms, wherein the connector design utilizes a stress distribution technique which avoids the need for proximal end flanges, internal cavity traction surfaces, and further avoids bolts, rivets, or other fasteners through the boom fin end. The end connector design has a smaller size than conventional end connector designs with comparable tensile strength capabilities. Further, the end connector may be fabricated faster than conventional end connectors, reduces connector cost, and reduces final boom assembly time.

Abstract: A lightweight hard nose assembly for mooring a lighter than air vehicle to a mooring mast wherein the hard nose assembly includes a cone assembly which further includes a base ring attached to the lighter than air vehicle, a top plate, including a docking probe, and a plurality of struts connecting the base ring to the cone assembly. The hard nose assembly further include a plurality of guy lines, originating from the top plate and attached to the lighter than air vehicle at a plurality of patches. This lightweight nose cone assembly for lighter than air vehicles results in substantial savings in weight and cost and is more efficient than existing hard nose structures with battens.