Company Moves To Protect New Airship Design

The developer of lighter-than-air unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies, said Thursday that it has filed a provisional patent application in the United States for a new airship design. The technology was developed for Sanswire under contract by Eastcor Engineering, a US Department of Defense prime contractor, specializing in high technology engineering products and services. Sanswire filed the provisional patent to ensure protection of its intellectual property and position itself to unveil and demonstrate the Company's technology.

The provisional patent application is for an unmanned, autonomous airship with automated control for individual modules for improved flight stability and aerodynamic control. The design features the ability to control the rigidity between each module and the ability to pivot. The modules are operated by microcontrollers based on aerodynamic requirements. The airship's altitude, overall response and handling characteristics and flight control utilizes a system of ballonets contained within each individual module, thereby creating a dynamically adjustable airship. The Company's provisional patent application and proprietary stabilization system and airship result from many years of research and testing by the Company of various lighter-than-air (LTA) airship designs, certain of which technologies have been in operation for over a century.

Sanswire Chairman Michael K. Clark stated, "The filing of our initial provisional patent application positions Sanswire to protect the technological advantages of our airships over other UAV designs, and allows the Company to commercialize and expand our product offerings based on this technology."

Sanswire CEO Glenn Estrella added, "We intend to continue to build our portfolio of intellectual property as we advance the development and commercialization of our LTA unmanned airship program and demonstrate our technology and products to potential customers."

FMI: www.sanswire.com