Airship Including Aerodynamic, Floatation, and Deployable Structures

Abstract

An airship is provided. The airship includes a hull configured to contain a gas, at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device, and at least one aerodynamic component including a plurality of fairing structures including one or more slats, wherein the at least one aerodynamic component is associated with the hull and is configured to direct airflow around the airship.

1 .- 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An airship comprising:
 a hull configured to contain a gas;   at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device; and   wherein an outer surface of the hull comprises:
 a solar energy converting material. 
   
     
     
         4 . The airship of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one compartment disposed substantially inside the hull; and   at least one transport system configured to lower or raise the at least one compartment out of or into the hull.   
     
     
         5 . The airship of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 one or more containers disposed inside the hull and configured to contain a lighter-than-air gas.   
     
     
         6 . The airship of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more container comprises a self-sealing material. 
     
     
         7 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An airship comprising:
 a hull configured to contain a gas;   at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device; and   at least one floatation structure configured to support the airship during a water landing.   
     
     
         12 . The airship of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one floatation structure further comprises:
 an outboard pontoon; and   a main pontoon.   
     
     
         13 . The airship of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one floatation structure further comprises a deployable pontoon housed inside the hull and configured to be extendable outside of the hull. 
     
     
         14 . The airship of  claim 11 , wherein the hull comprises a support structure, and wherein the at least one propulsion assembly comprises:
 a first propulsion assembly operatively affixed to a first section of the support structure and configured to control a roll motion of the airship;   a second propulsion assembly operatively affixed to a second section of the support structure and configured to control a yaw motion of the airship; and   a third propulsion assembly operatively affixed to a third section of the support structure and configured to control a pitch motion of the airship.   
     
     
         15 . The airship of  claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the hull comprises:
 a solar energy converting material.   
     
     
         16 . The airship of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one compartment disposed substantially inside the hull; and   at least one transport system configured to lower or raise the at least one compartment out of or into the hull.   
     
     
         17 . The airship of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 one or more containers disposed inside the hull and configured to contain a lighter-than-air gas.   
     
     
         18 . The airship of  claim 11 , wherein the hull comprises:
 a first envelope; and   a second envelope,   wherein the first and second envelopes define a space therebetween.   
     
     
         19 . The airship of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an empennage assembly operatively connected to a support structure of the hull and configured to provide at least one of stabilization and navigation functionality to the airship.   
     
     
         20 . An airship comprising:
 a hull configured to contain a gas;   at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the hull and including a propulsion device; and   at least one deployable apparatus housed within the hull and deployable from the hull for operation unrelated to the flight control or landing of the airship.