AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF AERIAL PLATFORMS

A global communications network comprises a plurality of aerial platforms or vehicles deployed at an altitude in or near the stratosphere and permitted to drift in a controlled manner such that each platform adjusts its position relative to other aerial platforms. Each aerial platform has a propulsion system and control surfaces and preferably includes a lighter-than-air component to maintain lift in an economical manner. Each aerial platform also includes a payload, means for communicating with other aerial platforms and a control system including location-finding equipment and a processor adapted for directing the platform's propulsion system and control surfaces to effectuate changes in the aerial platform's position relative to other aerial platforms based on position information, and optionally on other factors such as terrestrial demand for services provided by the payload of the aerial platforms. The communications network according to the present invention accordingly provides a self-adjusting network for creating and maintaining a global communications link optionally capable of interoperating with one or more orbiting communications satellites or with ground, air or sea-based equipment.