Internet linked environment data collection system and method

Abstract

An environmental data collection system and method is provided having an internet link for providing an additional level of security for a remotely controlled data collection platform having a security alarm for protecting the platform and the environmental subject of the study. A novel lighter-than-air platform having a novel snorkel for detachably securing, mooring and providing buoyancy control is provided for the collection of data in the form of real time audio and video linked to the internet and subscribers. The novel snorkel is flexible and retractable into the novel airship to provide remote buoyancy control of the airship together with silently operating electrical motors for allowing the novel airship to be remotely controlled and moved at will to track and monitor wildlife and make environmental measurements necessary for the protection of the environment, wildlife and the operation of the novel airship. Detachable securing means provide an anti-tethering feature of the novel airship and allow the collection of data from both, an aerial perspective and a ground perspective, while providing for the collection of data from either the surface of the earth or below the surface of the water while transmitting the data to scientists, environmentalists and subscribers through the internet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An environmental monitoring system comprising: 
 (a) a lighter-than-air platform having a data acquisition means and a telecommunications device for transmitting data from said data acquisition means;    (b) a telecommunications station for communicating with said telecommunications device and transmitting data received from said data acquisition means to a remote location; and    (c) a computer at a remote location from said lighter-than-air platform for viewing data received from said telecommunications station.    
     
     
         2 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 1  further comprising a detachable securing means on said lighter-than-air platform for maintaining said lighter-than-air platform at a predetermined maximum altitude and a releasable ballast material to maintain said lighter-than-air platform at a predetermined minimum altitude.  
     
     
         3 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 2  further comprising a ground proximity system for providing distance information between the surface of the earth and said lighter-than-air platform.  
     
     
         4 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 3  wherein said detachable securing means is a break away anchor constructed of a bioerodable plastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 3  wherein said ground proximity system is a camera for providing said distance information.  
     
     
         6 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 3  wherein said ground proximity system is an altimeter.  
     
     
         7 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 6  wherein said altimeter includes means for adjusting said altimeter to accommodate changes in barometric pressure.  
     
     
         8 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 7  wherein said means for adjusting said altimeter is remotely controlled.  
     
     
         9 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 3  wherein said ground proximity system is a radar altimeter.  
     
     
         10 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 2  wherein said detachable securing means is a snorkel and said releasable ballast material is carried in a ballonet on said lighter-than-air platform.  
     
     
         11 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 10  further comprising a second detachable securing means in the form of a breakaway anchor means.  
     
     
         12 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 11  further comprising remotely controlled means for reacquiring said releasable ballast material.  
     
     
         13 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 12  wherein said means for reacquiring said releasable ballast material is a water pump on said lighter-than-air platform.  
     
     
         14 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 10  wherein said releasable ballast material is animal food.  
     
     
         15 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 2  further comprising a second data acquisition means.  
     
     
         16 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 2  further comprising an electric motor propulsion means.  
     
     
         17 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 16  further comprising solar cells on said lighter-than-air platform to provide energy to said electric motor.  
     
     
         18 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 15  wherein said second data acquisition means is a video camera.  
     
     
         19 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 18  wherein said second data acquisition means further includes an infrared sensor.  
     
     
         20 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 15  wherein said second data acquisition means includes an audio data device.  
     
     
         21 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said telecommunications station remotely controls said lighter-than-air platform.  
     
     
         22 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein said telecommunications station is a ground-based station.  
     
     
         23 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 21  wherein said telecommunications station is a high-altitude station.  
     
     
         24 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 23  wherein said high altitude station is a satellite.  
     
     
         25 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said telecommunications station is connected to said computer through the internet.  
     
     
         26 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 1  further comprising a master telecommunications station for communicating with said telecommunications station.  
     
     
         27 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 26  wherein said master telecommunications station is connected to the internet.  
     
     
         28 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said master telecommunications station includes a telecommunications link to said lighter-than-air platform.  
     
     
         29 . The environmental monitoring system of  claim 28  wherein said telecommunications link is through a satellite.  
     
     
         30 . An airship comprising: 
 (a) a lighter-than-air aircraft;    (b) a detachable anchor means for controlling positive buoyancy to maintain said lighter-than-air aircraft at a predetermined maximum altitude;    (c) a ballast ballonet for controlling negative buoyancy to maintain said lighter-than-air aircraft at a predetermined minimum altitude;    (d) a ground proximity system for providing distance information between the ground and said lighter-than-air aircraft; and    (e) a ballast release mechanism for maintaining said lighter-than-air aircraft in a position intermediate said predetermined maximum altitude and said predetermined minimum altitude.    
     
     
         31 . The airship of  claim 30  further comprising a communications device for remotely controlling said lighter-than-air aircraft.  
     
     
         32 . The airship of  claim 31  wherein said ballast ballonet is a water ballonet.  
     
     
         33 . The airship of  claim 32  wherein said detachable anchor means for controlling positive buoyancy is a snorkel.  
     
     
         34 . The airship of  claim 33  further comprising a second detachable means in the form of a breakaway bioerodable plastic anchor.  
     
     
         35 . The airship of  claim 34  wherein said snorkel is retractable and is carried on a spool.  
     
     
         36 . The airship of  claim 33  wherein said ballast release mechanism is controlled by a computer.  
     
     
         37 . The airship of  claim 33  further comprising a data acquisition device and a telecommunications device.  
     
     
         38 . The airship of  claim 37  further comprising a telecommunications station for communicating with said telecommunications device.  
     
     
         39 . The airship of  claim 38  further comprising an internet telecommunications link.  
     
     
         40 . The airship of  claim 39  further comprising a master telecommunications station disposed between said telecommunications station and said internet telecommunications link.  
     
     
         41 . The airship of  claim 40  wherein said master telecommunications station includes a telecommunications link to said lighter-than-air aircraft.  
     
     
         42 . The airship of  claim 33  further comprising a water pump disposed at the end of said snorkel.  
     
     
         43 . The airship of  claim 42  wherein said water pump is disposed at the bottom end of said snorkel.  
     
     
         44 . The airship of  claim 42  wherein said water pump is disposed at the top end of said snorkel.  
     
     
         45 . The airship of  claim 42  further comprising a second water pump disposed at the other end of said snorkel.  
     
     
         46 . The airship of  claim 42  further comprising an underwater camera disposed at the bottom end of said snorkel and operatively connected to a data acquisition device on said lighter-than-air aircraft.  
     
     
         47 . The airship of  claim 46  wherein said underwater camera is detachable from said snorkel.  
     
     
         48 . The airship of  claim 30  further comprising a security system.  
     
     
         49 . The airship of  claim 48  wherein said security system includes a first warning system for preventing damage to said lighter-than-air aircraft and a second warning system for preventing damage to the ecosystem observed and said first and second warning system are connected to the internet.  
     
     
         50 . An airship snorkel device comprising: 
 (a) a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end;    (b) means for extending and retracting said flexible conduit; and    (c) a water pump for pumping a liquid in said flexible conduit.    
     
     
         51 . The airship snorkel of  claim 50  wherein said flexible conduit is constructed of a hydrophobic material.  
     
     
         52 . The airship snorkel of  claim 50  wherein said means for extending and retracting said flexible conduit is a spool.  
     
     
         53 . The airship snorkel of  claim 52  wherein said first end is connected to a water ballonet and said second end is connected to said water pump.  
     
     
         54 . The airship snorkel of  claim 52  wherein said water ballonet is disposed in a lighter-than-air aircraft.  
     
     
         55 . The airship snorkel of  claim 52  wherein said water ballonet is disposed in an instrument pod.  
     
     
         56 . The airship snorkel of  claim 53  further comprising a motor for operating said spool.  
     
     
         57 . The airship snorkel of  claim 52  further comprising a second water pump disposed intermediate said water ballonet and said first end.  
     
     
         58 . The airship snorkel of  claim 57  wherein said flexible conduit is composed of a hydrophobic material.  
     
     
         59 . The airship snorkel of  claim 58  wherein said hydrophobic material is an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         60 . The airship snorkel of  claim 59  wherein said elastomeric material is rubber.  
     
     
         61 . The airship snorkel of  claim 60  wherein said elastomeric material is hypalon.  
     
     
         62 . The airship snorkel of  claim 57  further comprising a second flexible conduit having a first end and a second end disposed inside said flexible conduit.  
     
     
         63 . The airship snorkel of  claim 62  wherein said second water pump is connected to the second end of said flexible conduit.  
     
     
         64 . The airship snorkel of  claim 63  wherein said first end of said flexible conduit and said first end of said second flexible conduit include a filter.  
     
     
         65 . The airship snorkel of  claim 51  further comprising a second flexible conduit disposed inside said flexible conduit.  
     
     
         66 . The airship snorkel of  claim 51  further comprising a data acquisition device attached to said second end of said flexible conduit.  
     
     
         67 . The airship snorkel of  claim 51  wherein said data acquisition device is an underwater camera and hydrophone combination.  
     
     
         68 . The airship snorkel of  claim 51  wherein said flexible conduit and said means for extending and retracting said flexible conduit are housed in a housing.  
     
     
         69 . The airship snorkel of  claim 68  wherein said housing includes a water ballonet connected to said first end of said flexible conduit.  
     
     
         70 . A method of monitoring an environment comprising: 
 (a) establishing a remote-controlled observation platform for providing data;    (b) utilizing a communications link to control said remote-controlled observation platform;    (c) providing a security system to protect said remote-controlled observation platform and the subject of study providing said data;    (d) utilizing a telecommunications link connected to the internet to assist in providing said security system; and    (e) establishing a ground station link between said remote-controlled observation platform and said telecommunications link connected to said internet.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  further comprising the step of creating an internet interest group in protecting said subject of study.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  further comprising the step of providing a map and position data of said subject of study to said internet interest group.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 70  further comprising the step of providing a master ground station between said ground station and said telecommunications link connected to the internet.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 70  wherein said master ground station includes means for processing said data.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 70  wherein said remote-controlled observation platform is a lighter-than-air aircraft.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 70  wherein said lighter-than-air aircraft is remotely controlled by said ground station.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76  wherein said lighter-than-air aircraft includes a remotely-controlled camera.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77  further comprising a master ground station between said ground station and said internet.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein said master ground station includes a bidirectional communications link with members of an internet interest group.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein members of said internet interest group in combination with said master ground station periodically control said remotely controlled camera.