ALTA LONG STORY! 1. ALTA rises above the limitations of machine age aerial platforms.

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1 ALTA LONG STORY! 1!!!! SUMMARY Alta Sy!ems (tm) ALTA rises above the limitations of machine age aerial platforms. ALTA is a balloon with a brain which harnesses natural external forces with natural internal forces Without a pilot or propeller on board ALTA can ascend to a specified altitude, cruise a planned course transmit georeferenced image and/ or geo-data, descend at a controlled rate dodge landing obstacles. Timed, vectored deflation allows ALTA to accomplish all of these tasks with no fuel, minimal energy, and minimal environmental effects. All of the devices and techniques employed by ALTA are proprietary and as such are protected by pending patents, a trademark and other laws.

2 ALTA LONG STORY! 2 ASCENT ALTA works at low altitudes which could not be managed by other aircraft: (100 to 300 feet), drifting freely in the Path mode, or attached to a smart tether in the Patch mode. For large areas, the Path mode is more efficient, as long as there is wind. Path mode can work even in high winds with special launch preparations. ALTA s drift speed in a 50 mph wind would leave more than enough time between images (3.6 seconds). On such a day a six hour mission would cover a 700 foot wide path, 300 miles long. Such conditions are not average. The expected average wind speed will be less than 10mph, in which would one ALTA would cover a 60 mile path- still an unprecedented cost efficiency. While the Patch mode is primarily designed for small patches (around and acre), it is also cost effective for large areas where conditions or circumstances rule out the Path mode. The Smart Reel (explained below) can deploy, retrieve and redeploy in minutes. Several patches can be stitched together to make a path. In such a scenario, the six hour mission could yield 24 patches or 4.5 million square feet, still at the lowest cost available. Alta s ascent is accomplished by the attachment of a separate Ascent chamber- balloon A, which contains an amount of helium sufficient to provide a boost- lift to balloons C and D, whose combined lift is required for neutral buoyancy at altitude.!!!!!!!!!

3 ALTA LONG STORY! 3 Where rapid ascent to a neutrally buoyant hover altitude is required, A needs to be subtracted quickly; this may be accomplished by a simple release device, triggered from the ground.!!!! Altitude may be specified in the mission plan or the operator may select an altitude onthe-fly based on IPad images sent during ascent. Altitude is available with considerable precision in every ALTA launch because of the tether and Smart Reel (below). If circumstances allow a more gradual ascent, instead of detachment, timed deflation dissipates A s boost-lift by the gradual spilling of lift gas through an adjustable spill aperture.!! The diameter of the adjustable spill aperture H determines the spill rate, S, which is set to match T, the time required for ALTA to rise to the selected altitude (taking into account current external forces). T is the result of the vertical lift force generated by A, C and D balloons, and the horizontal deflection caused by the surface wind and the tether. If a Path mission is to be launched in strong winds, the accurate calibration of these forces will require a test launch prior to the actual launch. In the test launch, the tether remains attached and is used to record the vertical and horizontal forces, including the lift from A balloon, used to calculate the T for the particular launch, within acceptable limits. The known spill rate S of every possible H takes into account diminishing pressure of A balloon. An H (aperture diameter) to match the T for every launch is indicated on the IPad; the Operator adjusts the aperture accordingly just prior to launch.

4 ALTA LONG STORY! 4 With A detached, the nested D and C balloons provide a stable platform.!!! Every Path mission launch is timed and placed so that the wind works with ALTA. Expected prevailing conditions and current anomalies are all taken into account in selecting the optimal launch site for ALTA s planned drift across a path of image capture points. Field corrected wind direction data across the coverage area, for the mission time is all that is required to select a suitable upwind launch site, path and landing site. The inevitable unexpected breeze can be compensated for by overlapping additional ALTA s or additional missions. There will be very few days when there is no way for ALTA to get up for a look and come back down. Even if ALTA doesn t come back or is destroyed, no one is hurt and we still have the pictures and the information at an affordable cost. From the launch, ALTA transmits multiple angle - low resolution- images. The low resolution images require less band width and can be viewed in real time on the field IPad along with ALTA s location, plotted on maps or mapped imagery. Stored high resolution images are also available after or during the mission. Shot data pertaining to the GPS location and IMU look angles of the cameras is also transmitted, so that objects in the image can be located and even measured. The ALTA platform can be adapted to different quality imaging devices and lenses and/ or multi spectral or other remote sensing devices. Where there are specific mission requirements beyond the resolution afforded by the standard ALTA imager, changing the imaging/sensing device can be accomplished with minimal difficulty.

5 ALTA LONG STORY! 5 In most cases,however, path change, or lower altitude will provide the required resolution. SMART REEL (under development) A component of ALTA s smarts resides in the Smart Reel. The Smart Reel does more than reel in the tether; it wirelessly transmits current altitude and buoyancy to the IPad controller. It deduces altitude from the angle and length of the tether and buoyancy measurements from the tension on the tether. Smart Reel detects the angle by means of specially adapted tensometers, which it uses to convert tension into buoyancy; the trigonometric sine of the tether angle is multiplied by the measured length of the tether to calculate altitude.

6 ALTA LONG STORY! 6 DESCENT Descent is initiated by remote commands to onboard circuits in the Descent Deflection Assembly- DDA. DDA is the platform for the all three lift chambers, for both inflation and deflation. It forms the roof of the lantern or instrument case where all imaging, locational, communication and guidance hardware is housed. (ALTA may be equipped for water landings.} Each of the four vent/ thrusters is separated by 90 degrees.. Each is covered by a replaceable membrane which seals in the lift gas of the larger Cruise balloon C. Deflation The landing command ignites micro-thermal circuitry which instantly opens the selected membrane/s, which expel/s the gas, causing deflation and thrust. When ALTA is directly over the site and no deflection is required, opening all four vents brings ALTA straight down. Opposing thrusts curtail horizontal movement and ALTA moves straight down at maximum descent rate, which is the free fall for the payload mitigated by the reserve lift gas which remains in D balloon. The descent rate will never be greater than that required for a soft landing.

7 ALTA LONG STORY! 7 D Balloon-Soft Landing The D balloon which is inside the C balloon remains inflated with an amount of lift gas which is less than that required to sustain neutral buoyancy but enough to counteract free fall and slow the descent rate for a soft landing. Deflection The expulsion of C ballon s lift gas causes antipodal propulsion, which may be used to deflect the descent towards a calculated trajectory. The exhaust from the larger deflating C balloon is channeled through the selected thruster/vents located above the instrument case and below the fill valves. The orientation of the thruster/vent causes a horizontal thrust in the opposite direction, which combines with the external forces to guide the ALTA to the selected landing site. Landing Sites In planning any Path mission, careful attention must be given the to the selection of the landing site, (allowing a margin of error in the planned drift path). Careful examination of online maps and images can steer the plan clear of landing obstructions. The landing site will be a convenient location at the end of the planned drift path. Every plan should begin at the end, with the selection of a convenient site, free of landing obstructions. Following the known length of the path back in the upwind direction, a suitable launch site can then be selected. With a good mission plan, under most conditions, the end of ALTA s mission will not find it in the vicinity of unavoidable landing obstacles. Nevertheless ALTA s dodge ability covers many contingencies.

8 ALTA LONG STORY! 8 In the 360 degrees around the landing ALTA, a dodge on any of 8 different angles for 10 to 78 meters presents a high probability of a safe landing. If the landing may not be attended because of danger or other circumstances, ALTA s automated landing system may be triggered by remote command from anywhere. If the original landing site, appears to be inappropriate, the system will propose a range of new sites. The area of reachable sites will be calculated based on the plotting of known external and onboard horizontal forces. The system deduces the orientation of the vent/thrusters based on ALTA s onboard compass and takes into account the drift path, the current altitude and the descent rate, Glimpse (lo-resolution) images provide the remote operator and/or the on-scene operator with a bird s eye view of the landing. In the automated landing, the operator confirms with a simple screen click on one of the system s proposed landing sites, all within the shaded area of reachable points- (e.g. park, parking lot); the system then initiates the timed deflation trajectory by opening the appropriate vent/thrusters. Avoiding last minute obstacles can be accomplished by opening one or two vents at just the right time to deflect the descent. (In the unlikely event that all four vents fail to open ALTA can be brought down with an air rifle.) Typical Landing In most cases, the landing will be attended by the ALTA operator who simply triggers the opening of all the vent/thrusters, with the IPad controller, as ALTA approaches the landing site. Because both the operator s IPad and ALTA are equipped with GPS, each knows exactly where the other is at all times. At the end of the mission, the operator will wait downwind and within view of the ALTA. If the wind changes and ALTA is headed in another direction, the operator can follow, even if he has to get back in his vehicle. When it is time for ALTA to come down, the operator s naked eye, and/or binoculars confirms what he sees on screen where ALTA is plotted on maps and images and quickly finds a suitable place to make his stand and retrieve ALTA ( a park, a parking lot, beach etc..).

9 ALTA LONG STORY! 9 C balloon color guide In addition to the on board compass, the C balloon can be draped with four quadrant colors each aligned with the orientation of the antipodal vent/thruster. Yellow vent/thruster Green vent thruster Red vent/thruster Black vent/thruster (Later versions, will confirm thruster orientation to the IPad with passive sensor technology) The Operator touches the colored button/s on the IPad which matches the visible balloon color/s,(e.g.green and Yellow): This provides the system with the bearing (the angle) between the Operator and the ALTA. The system knows the range (the distance between the two GPS locations) and since it knows its speed, it can now predict when it will arrive at the Target point on its course, which is the start point of its deflected descent. The deflection trajectory times the thrust so as to bend the trajectory toward the operator s position. Range to Target: 70m Bearing to Target: 267o ETA to Target 88 sec Range, Bearing and ETA appear on the IPad. As the ETA (time to Target )approaches 0, the system blinks the IPad colored button/s which fire/s the appropriate vent/thruster/s. The Operator can trust his eye instead in timing the descent trajectory, by firing the vent/thruster/s when he sees fit.

10 ALTA LONG STORY! 10 Deflection Table How the system determines which buttons to press is explained in part by the text and table below. If the face of an imaginary clock were inserted through the equatorial plane of the C balloon sphere, so that 6 o clock was the point closest to the observer, the hour numbers would represent the possible dodge angles triggered by the color buttons. The colors are abbreviated as follows: R= Red B= Black G= Green Y= Yellow RB= Red/Black RY=Red/Yellow GB=Green/Black GY=Green/Yellow The table header number indicates the 8 clock angles: 6 o clock= directly back toward the observer; 9 o clock= 90 degrees to the left; 12 o clock= directly forward away from the observer; 3 o clock= 90 degrees to the right; 1:30 =45 degrees between 12 and 3; 4:30= 45 degrees between 3 and 6; 7:30= 45 degrees between 6 and 9; and 10:30= 45 degrees between 9 and 12. Dodge Controls :30 4:30 7:30 10:30 Y B R G RB RY GB GY G B R RB RY GY GB R Y G GY GB RB RY Y G B GB RB RY GY B R Y RY GY GB RB RY GY GB G B R Y GY GB RB B R Y G RB RY GY Y G B R GB RB RY R Y G B The color code in the 6 column refers to the color facing the observer; The color code in the other columns refers to the control button/s to be pushed to move in the direction indicated on the column header.

11 ALTA LONG STORY! 11 NOTES: