Airship retrieval system

摘要

An airship retrieval system 100 comprises a plurality of aerodynamic pods 102, 104 releasably mounted in suitable locations about the external surface of the airship 101. Within each pod 102, 104 is a handling line 112 or a tether line 140 that is attached at one end to the airship and at the other end to the pod. When a suitable control signal is sent to the pod 102, 104, the pod is released and the line 112, 140 and pod fall toward the ground to enable retrieval of the airship 101.