Abstract: An aircraft apparatus may include an outer membrane and an inner flexible bladder. The flexible bladder may include a lighter-than-air lifting gas therein, and an interstitial space between the outer membrane and the inner flexible bladder may include air. Various techniques are disclosed for preventing or reducing physical contact between the outer membrane and the inner flexible bladder, reducing an amount of leakage of the lighter-than-air lifting gas.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating lighter-than-air aircraft. Such aircraft may be used for various purposes, such as providing network connectivity to areas that would otherwise lack such connectivity. For example, in some embodiments, a lighter-than-air aircraft according to this disclosure may include various types of antennas (directional or non-directional) for communicating with ground-based electronics or with other lighter-than-air aircraft.

Abstract: An unmanned lighter-than-air aircraft includes an outer membrane, a flexible bladder within the outer membrane and containing a lighter-than-air gas, a region disposed between the outer membrane and flexible bladder, a volume detection device configured to measure the volume of the flexible bladder, a pressure adjustment device to adjust the pressure within the region, and pressure control circuitry to control the region pressure adjustment device based on measurements from the volume detection device. The aircraft is maintained at a desired altitude, and the volume of the flexible bladder is measured. The pressure within the region is then adjusted by the pressure control circuitry to maintain the volume of the flexible bladder at a desired volume less than its maximum volume, equalizing its pressure with that of the region to reduce lighter-than-air gas leakage from the flexible bladder.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating lighter-than-air aircraft. Such aircraft may be used for various purposes, such as providing network connectivity to areas that would otherwise lack such connectivity. For example, in some embodiments, a lighter-than-air aircraft according to this disclosure may include various types of antennas (directional or non-directional) for communicating with ground-based electronics or with other lighter-than-air aircraft.

Abstract: An electrical outlet wall plate is configured for cable retention and the wall plate includes: a front and back side; one or more openings having a shape configured to receive an outlet socket protrusion; one or more holes having a shape configured to receive a fastener; and one or more hybrid cleats extruding from the front side, each hybrid cleat including two horns extending from the front side in opposite directions at an angle with respect to the front side so as to define a tapered space between the horn and the front side, the tapered space being the widest at the end of the horn and tapering to the narrowest where the horn contacts the front side, the tapered space configured to receive an electrical cable, the electrical cable being jammed in the tapered space between the horn and the front side of the wall plate.

Abstract: An electrical outlet wall plate is configured for cable retention and the wall plate includes: a front and back side; one or more openings having a shape configured to receive an outlet socket protrusion; one or more holes having a shape configured to receive a fastener; and one or more hybrid cleats extruding from the front side, each hybrid cleat including two horns extending from the front side in opposite directions at an angle with respect to the front side so as to define a tapered space between the horn and the front side, the tapered space being the widest at the end of the horn and tapering to the narrowest where the horn contacts the front side, the tapered space configured to receive an electrical cable, the electrical cable being jammed in the tapered space between the horn and the front side of the wall plate.