An aerial observation system comprising a tethered aerial platform 1 and a plurality of ground-based monitoring devices. The aerial platform carries a payload comprising a plurality of fixed focal length cameras 4 and a communication means 5, 6 for transmitting image data captured by the cameras independently to each of the ground-based monitoring devices. Each ground-based device is independently operable to select and display an area of interest from the image data. Preferably each ground-based device performs a digital pan-tilt-zoom operation on the camera image, allowing the airborne cameras to be lighter and cheaper than ones with a physically controllable field of view. Moreover, multiple users are able to independently access different fields of view simultaneously. Preferably, the cameras 4 provide a combined 360 degree view. A telemetry unit may transmit position and heading data relating to the cameras. The aerial platform may be a tethered balloon or a kite 3 stabilised balloon 2 such as a kytoon. In further independent claims, the aerial platform is a kytoon with a payload having centre of gravity underneath or behind the aerostatic lift of the kytoon. The kite part may have a keel onto which the payload is connected. The kytoon may have pockets to house mounting plates for the cameras.


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    Title :

    Tethered aerial platform and aerial observation system


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2016-01-06


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    H04N PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION , Bildübertragung, z.B. Fernsehen / B64B LIGHTER-THAN-AIR AIRCRAFT , Luftfahrzeuge leichter als Luft / B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge



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