Browse Topic: Airships

Items (54)

Tools for the Conceptual Design of a Stratospheric Hybrid Platform

2020-01-002503/10/2020

CIRA is currently designing a HAPS for Earth Observation and Telecommunications named High Altitude Hybrid Airship. The configurations considered, can generate both aerodynamic and aerostatic forces to balance the weight during the different phases of a mission. The design of a hybrid configuration for stratospheric platforms represents a novelty in itself in the aerospace sector while some hybrid platforms have been proposed only for tropospheric applications. In order to carry out the conceptual design, some design tools have been implemented to rapidly obtain a conceptual layout, which can be used to perform CFD, FEM and stability analysis and, at the same time, to compute the relative platform mass breakdown. The proposed conceptual design process is based on two steps. A first coarse exploration algorithm which, starting from some input parameters, determines the best buoyancy ratio and some overall platform parameters (among others: weight, volume and dimensions) using some semi

Baraniello, Vincenzo Rosario, Persechino, Giuseppe, Borsa, Roberto

High Altitude Platform System Airship for Telecommunication and Border Monitoring Design and Physical Model

2020-01-004403/10/2020

This paper presents an accurate analysis of an innovative high altitude platform with an unconventional ellipsoidal shape during the most critical operation. The airship is designed accordingly to the specifications, which have been analyzed in terms of the required CONOPS (Concepts of Operations) which are associated with the proposed High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) technology and special operations and to analyze the operational scenarios. An innovative cruiser feeder system is defined and studied. The CONOPS includes communications relays, support of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition monitor “mobile targets”, and reconnaissance, including long-range ISTAR missions performed by the feeder, combining satellite vision and HAPS vision for a forest fire, disasters, naval accidents, maritime and ground borders. The paper realizes a multidisciplinary analysis that allows creating the design of the HAPS, referring to both cruiser and feeder in different operative

Trancossi, Michele

Airlander 10 hybrid airship may enter production as soon as 2019

SAE-MA-0324801/15/2019

With a recently won production organization approval (POA) from the Civilian Aviation Authority (CAV), Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited (HAV) is one step closer to type certification of the Airlander 10 hybrid airship.

Kucinski, William

Safety Analysis of an Airship Which Loses Lifting Gas from the Hull

2018-01-195410/30/2018

This study investigates the physical phenomena that affect a high-altitude airship in the presence of lifting gas losses from the hull. General atmospheric thermodynamics and basic physical principles are adopted to describe the behavior of an airship with envelope failures that generate buoyant gas dispersion or depressurisation phenomena. Overpressure that could grant to maintain some controllability during a large part of the descent is assessed by mean of the thermodynamic model of the envelope in the presence of gas losses. Optimisation of the inflation parameters is provided and the conditions for avoiding dangerous crashes on the ground and the potential recovery of a damaged vehicle, people and its payload. In particular, the requirements for a slow depressurisation is computed by the equilibrium with the atmosphere and then how can it be possible to sustain controlled navigation are determined. A key factor for security relates directly to the capability of preserving some

Trancossi, Michele, Pascoa, Jose, Cannistraro, Giuseppe

Synthesis of Time Quasi-Optimal Asymptotically Stable Control Laws

2015-01-248109/15/2015

The solution of the both synthesis and implementation problems of high-rapid rates control laws is extremely important for the development of automatic control systems of the aircraft. This is due to the high speed of such vehicles. Along with this, it is imperative that control laws provide that system is asymptotically stable, as the basis for the reliability of their controlled motion. Another important objective of the method of synthesis of control laws for aircraft is compulsory compliance with strict limitations on the values of control inputs at the actuation devices. It is equally important that the control laws provides limitations on the state variables of aircraft, such as velocity, acceleration, etc. Pontryagin's maximum principle is aimed at solving such a time-optimal problem with the limited command variable. However, both the mathematical formalism of this principle, and the mathematical formalism of the methods based on this principle don't provide a solution of the

Neydorf, Rudolf

Airship and Hot Air Balloon Real Time Envelope Shape Prediction through a Cloth Simulation Technique

2015-01-257809/15/2015

The flight simulation of airships and hot air balloons usually considers the envelope geometry as a fixed shape, whose volume is eventually reduced by ballonets. However, the dynamic pressure or helium leaks in airships, and the release of air to allow descent in hot air balloons can significantly change the shape of the envelope leading to potential dangerous situations. In fact, in case of semi-rigid and non-rigid airships a reduction in envelope internal pressure can reduce the envelope bending stiffness leading to the loss of the typical axial-symmetric shape. For hot air balloons thing goes even worse since the lost of internal pressure can lead to the collapsing of the balloon shape to a sort of vertically stretched geometry (similar to a torch) which is not able to sustain the attached basket and its payload. These effect should be considered in simulations, however to compute in real time the envelope shape with Finite Element Methods is a complex and demanding task due to the

Ceruti, Alessandro, Marzocca, Piergiovanni

Spy Blimps Revisited: A Performance Comparison between Two Competing Approaches

2015-01-257909/15/2015

While operational airships globally number in the low dozens, interest in buoyant or semi-buoyant platforms continues to arouse imaginations of commercial and military planners and developers alike. The airship-as-advertisement business model is the only model that has proven sustainable on any scale since the crash of the initially successful LZ-128 Hindenburg effectively ended regular passenger and cargo transport by airship, and the 1962 termination of the US Naval airship program terminated regular large-scale surveillance from airships. Efforts in the US and Japan during the 2000's to have a self-sustaining sight-seeing business model using the modern semi-rigid Zeppelin NT both failed. In theory, the buoyant nature of airships provides compelling endurance and cost-per-ton-mile capability which fills a niche arguably not currently occupied by other modes of transportation. The potential endurance capability motivated the US Military to fund two nearly-simultaneous airship

Buerge, Brandon Todd

Image Processing Based Air Vehicles Classification for UAV Sense and Avoid Systems

2015-01-247109/15/2015

The maturity reached in the development of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) systems is making them more and more attractive for a vast number of civil missions. Clearly, the introduction of UAVs in the civil airspace requiring practical and effective regulation is one of the most critical issues being currently discussed. As several civil air authorities report in their regulations “Sense and Avoid” or “Detect and Avoid” capabilities are critical to the successful integration of UAV into the civil airspace. One possible approach to achieve this capability, specifically for operations beyond the Line-of-Sight, would be to equip air vehicles with a vision-based system using cameras to monitor the surrounding air space and to classify other air vehicles flying in close proximity. This paper presents an image-based application for the supervised classification of air vehicles. First, several vehicle images, taken from different points of view, are transformed using a descriptor of salient

Ceruti, Alessandro, Curatolo, Simone, Bevilacqua, Alessandro, Marzocca, Piergiovanni

New Unconventional Airship Concept by Morphing the Lenticular Shape

2015-01-257709/15/2015

The aim of this paper is to develop a new concept of unconventional airship based on morphing a lenticular shape while preserving the volumetric dimension. Lenticular shape is known to have relatively poor aerodynamic characteristics. It is also well known to have poor static and dynamic stability after the certain critical speed. The new shape presented in this paper is obtained by extending one and reducing the other direction of the original lenticular shape. The volume is kept constant through the morphing process. To improve the airship performance, four steps of morphing, starting from the lenticular shape, were obtained and compared in terms of aerodynamic characteristics, including drag, lift and pitching moment, and stability characteristics for two different operational scenarios. The comparison of the stability was carried out based on necessary deflection angle of the part of tail surface. The comparison results indicated that new shape concept possesses much better

Ceruti, Alessandro, Marzocca, Piergiovanni, Voloshin, Vitaly

Airship Positioning Fuzzy Multi-Ballonet Control Study

2014-01-214609/16/2014

Airship designers research application versions of systems with several ballonets for adjustment of airship roll and/or pitch as a whole. This requires effective automatic status management of each separate ballonet. But multi-ballonet system control issue encounters the absence of industrially measurable variables of each separate ballonet status. Thus status control issue of the system becomes uncertain. The fact requires the issue studying and shaping new scientific and technical solutions. This publication represents research results implying that fairly simple implementation and effective result can be achieved by application of fuzzy control concept. Its application is built on generating the representative quantity of fuzzy production rules. They are based on present set evaluation of known parameters and measured variables. This results in fuzzy but meaningful image of ballonet system status and airship as a whole. Thus achieving fairly good control over multi-ballonet system

Neydorf, Rudolf, Novikov, Sergey, Kudinov, Nikita

Identification of Traction and Power Characteristics of Air-Screw Propulsors in Mathematical Description of Airship

2014-01-213409/16/2014

The paper formulated and solved the problem of investigating the traction and power characteristics of air-screw propulsor for airships. The study is performed by constructing a mathematical model relating the steady-state values of the shaft power and traction on the axis of the screw with the velocity of rotation and the actual velocity of the aircraft. Proved design scheme selection of computer simulation of aero-and thermodynamic processes occurring during rotation of the airscrew. Describes plan developed under the experimental task, providing variation in the basic parameters of the airscrew, motion parameters and flight environment The results of computer modeling of the interaction of the airflow with the airscrew at various combinations of these parameters. Results are shown in tabular and graphical form and as a mathematical model of the studied airscrew. Importantly, by developed and tested the method can construct mathematical models of airscrew propulsors any specific

Neydorf, Rudolf, Sigida, Youriy

Roto-Cycloid Propelled Airship Dimensioning and Energetic Equilibrium

2014-01-210709/16/2014

Rotocycloid propulsion presents interesting performance as a possible long-term alternative to helicopters in a far future. It will lead to increase the energy efficiency of VTOL vehicles. This paper focuses on optimization of an airship with the possibility up to 2000 h/year of photovoltaic propelled flight at a cruise speed about 20 m/s. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of this airship concept and presents a full dimensioning according to the CDE (Constructal Design for Efficiency) developed at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The proposed solution has been deeply analyzed and the analysis of performances has been presented. The results allow thinking to a novel class of vehicles designed specifically to take the maximum advantage by this propulsion method.

Trancossi, Michele, Dumas, Antonio, Xisto, Carlos, Pascoa, Jose, Andrisani, Andrea

Infrared Piloted Autonomous Landing: System Design and Experimental Evaluation

2014-01-219609/16/2014

This paper introduces a new equipment, which allows autonomous landing and docking of a VTOL aircraft and any mobile system. It has been studied and developed inside the MAAT (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport) EU FP7 project to control autonomous docking of manned cruiser and feeder airships in movement. After a detailed analysis it has been verified that It could be considered a technological spin off the MAAT project. It defines a new instrumental system for governing relative positioning between a movable target and VTOL air vehicles, such as helicopters, airships and multi-copters. This solution is expected to become a short time to market equipment for helicopters (both manned and unmanned) ensuring autonomous landing ability even in case of low visibility. Infrared emitters allow controlling both position and yaws angle. It is in advanced testing phase after a preliminary successful testing using a quadcopter. Tests has produced autonomous landing on a small platform

Conte, Massimo, Trancossi, Michele

Aerostatic Aircraft Flight Environment Modeling and Investigation

2014-01-214709/16/2014

Airship dimensions define the application of the computer modeling methods under their development and investigation. Herein, the need to simulate the flight environment state - the atmospheric conditions of their traffic route - arises. The atmospheric parameters have both regular and random components, which is due to the nonstationarity of the atmospheric phenomena. Hence, it is essential to define the actual ranges, and the representative values of the atmospheric effects. Weather data are used for the analysis and the airflow performance computation in the operational area. Through their statistical processing, we need to obtain the most informative characteristics of the weather conditions in whole, and of their trends. The investigation has shown that the weather data gathering system is nonperfect. The sampling frequency is irregular and not high, test values in the specific parameters are obtained asynchronously. At this, altitude is the most critical parameter under measuring

Neydorf, Rudolf, Sigida, Youriy, Kudinov, Nikita, Portnova, Elena

Method of Docking for Stratospheric Airships of Multibody Transportation System

2014-01-216209/16/2014

The paper describes methods for control of docking of two moving stratospheric airships. One of them (cruiser) implements cruising flight at the defined altitude with defined velocity. The other one (feeder) fulfills the mission of chasing the cruiser with following docking operations. Mathematical model of exact airships are used in the work. Instances of structural and algorithmic implementation are based on position-trajectory controller. Simulation of docking control was accomplished with proposed methods.

Pshikhopov, Viacheslav, Medvedev, Mikhail, Krukhmalev, Victor, Fedorenko, Roman, Gurenko, Boris

A Mesh Based Approach for Unconventional Unmanned Airship Added Masses Computation

2013-01-219109/17/2013

Added masses computation is a crucial aspect to be considered when the density of a body moving in a fluid is comparable to the density of the fluid displaced: added mass can be defined as the inertia added to a system because an accelerating or decelerating body displaces some volume of neighboring fluid as it moves through it. The motion of vehicles like airships and ships can be addressed only by keeping into account the effect of added masses, while in case of aircrafts and helicopters this contribution is usually neglected. Lighter Than Air flight simulation, unmanned airships flight control system, airships flight dynamics are typical applications in which added masses are fundamental to achieve an effective and realistic modeling. A panel based method using the mesh of an airship external shape is developed to account for the added massed. While the mathematical background of the methodology is described in literature, what is missing is a proper description suitable for

Tuveri, Marco, Ceruti, Alessandro, Persiani, Franco, Marzocca, Piergiovanni

Rapid Prototyping as a Tool to Support Wind Tunnel Testing of Unconventional Unmanned Airships

2013-01-219309/17/2013

Scaled models are often used to check the aerodynamic performance of full scale aircraft and airship concepts, which have gone through a conceptual and preliminary design process. Results from these tests can be quite useful to improve the design of unconventional airships whose aerodynamics might be quite different from classical configurations. Once the airship geometry has been defined, testing is required to acquire aerodynamic data necessary to implement the mathematical model of the airship needed by the flight control system to develop full autonomous capabilities. Rapid prototyping has the great potential of playing a beneficial role in unconventional autonomous airship design similarly to the success obtained in the design process of conventional aircrafts. By reducing model cost, build time, difficulty of construction, and maintaining acceptable surface quality and finish, designers have greater ability to analyze several configurations of airships and to change the geometry

Ceruti, Alessandro, Marzocca, Piergiovanni, Stockbridge, Casey

Stability Analysis of the MAAT Feeder Airship During Ascent and Descent with Wind Disturbances

2013-01-211109/17/2013

This paper looks into with the aerodynamic properties and stability of the feeder airship in the framework of MAAT project. FP7 MAAT project is based on the concept of two different types of airships (the cruiser and the feeder) working together as a transportation system. The feeder considered in this paper is a rigid airship with an unconventional envelope shape. Aerodynamic forces and moments acting on the airship during the horizontal and vertical flight modes are of special interest in this study, because the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft directly influences its general dynamic behavior and, thus, its in-flight stability. A set of CFD simulations was conducted for vertical and horizontal flights of the feeder airship. Drag and lift forces and pitching moment together with their coefficients, were obtained for different altitudes and velocities from the proposed operational ranges of the airship. Based on the results of CFD simulations the relations between these

Neydorf, Rudolf, Sigida, Youriy, Voloshin, Vitaly, Chen, Yong

Aerodynamic Characteristics Study and Possible Improvements of MAAT Feeder Airships

2013-01-211209/17/2013

This paper is dedicated to the study and improvement of the aerodynamic properties of the feeder airship in the context of MAAT project. FP7 MAAT project is based on the concept of two different types of airships (the cruiser and the feeder) working together as a transportation system. The current feeder concept includes unconventional shape changing envelope. Two problems are considered in this paper. The first problem is to find a condition of the effective vertical ascent for the feeder (from the ground to the altitude of the cruiser). A series of CFD simulations were carried out for the top flow for a range of altitudes from 0 to 16 km and velocities between 2 and 10 m/s. The results confirm the appearance of some negative effects, including high drag during the vertical ascent, especially, at low altitudes. The second problem is to study and reduce the side wind effects on the ascending feeder airship. Another series of CFD simulations was conducted for the side flow at the same

Voloshin, Vitaly, Chen, Yong, Neydorf, Rudolf, Boldyreva, Anna

A Predictive Climatic Model for Ballast in a Fixed Volume Blimp

2013-01-220409/17/2013

This paper presents a mathematical model of the vertical forces acting on an airship during vertical motion. The main effort is the definition of an airship model, which move only vertically by ballast, and buoyancy effects, with a much reduced energy consumption for take-off and landing operations. It has been considered a disc-shaped airship, which can operate using the open balloon airship architecture defined to operate safely with hydrogen. This architecture does not require internal ballonets, because of the connected increased fire dangers that they create even if vented. Several models of airship based on vertical forces have been presented in literature. They often consider only the US or International Standard Atmosphere models and they neglect effects of weather conditions. The latter are connected with the location and with the season. These environmental and climatic factors have a large influence on behaviors of the airship system, because it is well known that the

Dumas, Antonio, Madonia, Mauro, Trancossi, Michele

Thermojet: An Old Idea Can Define a Novel Family of Jets

2013-01-220509/17/2013

This paper investigates the ancient idea of augmenting the thrust produced by a rotating fan by producing a thermal gradient by heating the outflow. Some of the pioneers of aeronautics have originally conceived this idea: the indirect jet (Bleriot Coanda Monoplane, 1910) and the “thermojet” (Caproni-Ciampini CC2, 1942). They were abandoned because of the better performances by traditional jets such as the ones developed in Germany and USA during 2nd World War. Antony Colozza (NASA), one of the modern fathers of high altitude airships, has recently proposed it again to be used on fuel cells powered airplanes and airships. Most fuel cells have a large thermal dispersion at high temperature (about 40%), but it could be possible to use it for heating the propulsive stream of high-speed air produced into ducted fan propulsive units. The actual state of the research is only introductory and aims to verify the feasibility of this energy recovery, which could in future enhance the energy

Trancossi, Michele, Pascoa, Jose

MAAT Cruiser/Feeder Airship: Connection and Passenger Exchange Modes

2013-01-211309/17/2013

In the general framework of the EU FP7 MAAT project, a novel green air transport architecture is under development. The paper presents the possible architectures for the cabin connections and the transfer modalities for people, crew and freight, for to the European project MAAT. Different architectures have been evaluated setting out to cover the structural and propulsive needs and to enable the transport modes between the Cruiser and the Feeders. The different possibilities are discussed conceptually, by considering the advantages and disadvantages of the presented configurations. The bases for future detailed design and research are established, as through such conceptual study the main parameters are identified and found to affect the general design of both airships and their operability. The aim of this paper is to specify the necessary elements, which are necessary to perform the docking operation by taking into account the prescribed Feeder-Cruiser geometries. Consequently, it

Vucinic, Dean, Sunol, Anna, Trancossi, Michele, Dumas, Antonio, Gaviraghi, Giorgio

Optimization of Airships with Constructal Design for Efficiency Method

2013-01-216809/17/2013

It is possible to define a novel optimization method, which aims to overcome the traditional Multidisciplinary Design Optimization. It aims to improve Constructal design method to optimize complex systems such as vehicles. The proposed method is based on the constructal principle and it is articulated in different stages: 1 preliminary top-down design process to ensure that the full system has one of the best configurations for the specified goals (contour conditions for constructal optimization could be stated ensuring an effective optimization at full-system level). 2 constructal optimization of the elemental components of the system to maximize the system performances; 3 eventually a competitive comparison between different configurations choosing the better one. The definition of an optimized flying vehicle (an airship) has been produced an example of this improved design method with the objective of minimizing the energy consumption during flight. Following this method, this paper

Trancossi, Michele, Dumas, Antonio, Madonia, Mauro

High Altitude Transitional Flow Computation for a Propulsion System Nacelle of MAAT Airship

2013-01-226809/17/2013

The flow around the nacelles of high altitude airships is very important in order to assess the inlet conditions and losses associated to their propulsion systems. The aerodynamics prediction of low Re number flows is a problem usually associated to the lack of accuracy of most of the turbulence models in everyday use. Herein we present a laminar kinetic energy transitional model that is then applied on the analysis of the flow around an example of the MAAT airship nacelle. The model is also validated using several well known test cases from the literature. Results indicate the effects of accurate transition prediction in the redesign of the nacelle for improvement in efficiency.

Vizinho, Rui, Pascoa, Jose C., Silvestre, Miguel

Continuous-Positional Automatic Ballonet Control System for Airship

2013-01-223609/17/2013

This paper is devoted to a method of creating of the automated ballonet system for pressure control inside an airship envelope. Along with the study of the effects of the positional control system parameters, the authors develop novel control scheme. It is based on a new hybrid controller, which combines positional approach to forming the output control signal with a contour of continuous correction of input signal, which defines the pressure drop on the surface of the envelope as a function of the flight altitude. This approach allows reducing the effect of self-oscillations of airship envelope internal pressure on the flight altitude. In order to prove the new approach the mathematical model is being obtained. The results of the derivation and simulations of the control system operation are presented in this paper.

Neydorf, Rudolf, Novikov, Sergey, Fedorenko, Roman

Propulsion of Photovoltaic Cruiser-Feeder Airships Dimensioning by Constructal Design for Efficiency Method

2013-01-230309/17/2013

The European project MAAT (Multi-body Advanced Airship for Transport) is producing the design of a transportation system for transport of people and goods, based on the cruiser feeder concept. This project defined novel airship concepts capable of handling safer than in the past hydrogen as a buoyant gas. In particular, it has explored novel variable shape airship concepts, which presents also intrinsic energetic advantages. It has recently conduced to the definition of an innovative design method based on the constructal principle, which applies to large transport vehicles and allows performing an effective energetic optimization and an effective optimization for the specific mission. While the traditional constructal method performs an optimization with a down-to-top approach, it produces an optimization process in two stages: the first one defines the optimal characteristics of the system understood as a unitary system to achieve the desired performances; the second analyzes the

Dumas, Antonio, Madonia, Mauro, Trancossi, Michele, Vucinic, Dean

Motion-Corrected 3D Sonic Anemometer for Tethersondes and Other Moving Platforms

TBMG-1509611/01/2012

To date, it has not been possible to apply 3D sonic anemometers on tethersondes or similar atmospheric research platforms due to the motion of the supporting platform. A tethersonde module including both a 3D sonic anemometer and associated motion correction sensors has been developed, enabling motion-corrected 3D winds to be measured from a moving platform such as a tethersonde.

Energetic Design and Optimization of a Large Photovoltaic Stratospheric Unconventional Feeder Airship

2012-01-216610/22/2012

This paper presents a model of energetic consumption and photovoltaic production for a large airship which acts as feeder connecting the ground with a large cruiser. The analysis of energy needs and productivity allows defining both an ideal sizing and operative mission profiles. The specialised mission of this airship is to ascent and descent. It includes also the connection with the airport buildings on the ground and with the cruiser at high altitude. Photovoltaic production has evaluated in terms of hydrogen and electric propulsion. They have estimated both and a calculation methodology has proposed. The evaluation has supported by CFD evaluations on aerodynamic behaviour of the system at various altitudes.

Dumas, Antonio, Trancossi, Michele, Madonia, Mauro

Quite-Rigid Airship Structure Concept and Design for Enhanced Hovering Capability

2012-01-189209/10/2012

This paper explores a novel structural design concept for a demonstrator of a high altitude photovoltaic feeder airship. The presented structural design concept aims to minimize the use of strategic materials in the structure of the airship, but also to maximize the ease of construction of the structure. The proposed design concept and method an effective analysis of historic airship structures considering their efficiency vs. weight and desired performances. By this analysis a novel structural design has been defined to reach the ambitious goal of a lighter and cheaper structure concept which can ensure comparable performances with traditional rigid airships. A discoid shaped airship with a central column has been taken into account. Structural calculations and constructive design has been presented in depth.

Madonia, Mauro, Trancossi, Michele, Coppola, Agostino

Fire-safe Airship System Design

2012-01-151202/29/2012

This paper presents the new Hydrogen Fire-safe Airship system that overcomes the limitations present in previous airships designs of that kind, when considering their functioning at advanced operative position. Hydrogen is considered to be more effective than helium because of its low-cost production by hydrolysis, which process is nicely driven only by the photovoltaic energy. This paper presents a novel architectural concept of the buoyant balloon designed to increase the fire related safety, when applying hydrogen as the buoyant gas. The proposed buoyant volume is designed as a multi-balloon structure with a naturally ventilated shape, to ensure that hydrogen cannot reach the dangerous concentration level in the central airship balloon. This concept is expected to be the start of a novel hydrogen airship type, to be much safer than preceding ones. It permits to reduce the traditional economic costs, when compared with helium inflated airships, due to the helium scarcity in the world

Pascoa, Jose, Trancossi, Michele, Dumas, Antonio, Madonia, Mauro, Vucinic, Dean

Ground Testing of the ETF Unmanned Airship Technology Demonstrator

2011-01-258910/18/2011

This paper deals with the ground testing of the technological demonstrator of the innovative remotely controlled ETF airship1. The testing activities are intended to validate the flight control system of the ETF, which is based on the thrust vectoring technology and represents one of the major innovations of the ETF design, together with the airship architecture. A research team of the Aeronautical and Space Department of the Polytechnic of Turin, in collaboration with Nautilus, a small Italian private company, has been working since a few years on the ETF (Elettra Twin Flyers). This airship is remotely-piloted, with high maneuverability capabilities and good operative features also in adverse atmospheric conditions2. The Nautilus new concept airship features architecture and appropriate command system, which should enable the vehicle to maneuver in forward, backward and sideward flight and hovering with any heading, both in normal and severe wind conditions. To achieve these

Gili, Piero, Battipede, Manuela, Vazzola, Matteo, Cassino, Piero

Airship Autopilot Design

2011-01-273610/18/2011

In this paper a control system design for robotic airship is developed. The nonlinear multilinked mathematic model of airship is considered. The results of aerodynamic analysis, parametric and structure disturbances estimation, nonlinear control algorithms are presented. Airship motion simulator is developed and successfully applied. Airship is implemented on experimental robotic mini-airship.

Pshikhopov, Viacheslav, Medvedev, Mikhail, Kostjukov, Vladimir, Fedorenko, Roman, Gurenko, Boris, Krukhmalev, Victor

A New Approach for the Estimation of the Aerodynamic Damping Characteristics of the ETF Demonstrator

2011-01-264910/18/2011

Nautilus S.p.A. and the Polytechnic of Turin, in cooperation with Blue Engineering, have developed a very versatile product, the ELETTRA Twin Flyers [6] (ETF), which consists in a very innovative remotely-piloted airship equipped with high precision sensors and communication devices. This multipurpose platform is particularly suitable for border and maritime surveillance missions and for telecommunication, both in military and civil area. To assess the actual maneuver capabilities of the airship [14], a prototype of reduced size and complexity has been assembled [16]. Before the flight tests a further assessment on the flight simulator is needed, because the first version of the software is tuned on the full scale prototype. Steady state performance and static stability of the demonstrator have been evaluated with CFD analysis. The dynamic stability have been evaluated using CFD as well, because the classical methods to calculate dynamic derivatives, using USAF Datcom or wind tunnel

Gili, Piero, Lerro, Angelo, Vazzola, Matteo, Visone, Michele

MAAT Cruiser/Feeder Project: Criticalities and Solution Guidelines

2011-01-278410/18/2011

MAAT project is a large airship project presented to the last European 7 Framework Program Transport including Aeronautics 2011 deadline. MAAT project is an airship based cruiser-feeder transport system. This paper analyzes the criticalities of the project and the way to upfront these problems which have different natures and possible solutions. Most important criticalities are analyzed both on a methodological point of view and on a direct point of view. Enhanced design methodologies are analyzed in depth to analyze problems, upgrade the project design status continuously and to examine different design options and solutions. An innovative design method has been defined to avoid that problems can produce show stoppers and minimize time delays during project definition.

Dumas, Antonio, Madonia, Mauro, Giuliani, Ilaria, Trancossi, Michele

Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport

2011-01-278610/18/2011

The MAAT project (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport) aims to investigate aerial transportation possibility by airship based cruiser-feeder system. MAAT is composed by two modules: The cruiser, named PTAH, (acronym of Photovoltaic Transport Aerial High altitude system); the feeder, named ATEN (Aerial Transport Elevator Network feeder), is a VTOL system (Vertical Take Off and Landing) which ensure the connection between the cruiser and the ground. They can lift up and down by the control of buoyancy force and displace horizontally to join to cruiser. The project aims to: 1 identify and design the most functional cruiser/feeder airship architecture based on a discoid innovative airship able to remain airborne for long periods and to travel great distances; 2 design the best type of propulsion both for cruiser and feeder so they can contribute together to the propulsion of an innovative modular airship; 3 minimize the environmental air transport impacts by annulling the fossil fuels

Dumas, Antonio, Trancossi, Michele, Madonia, Mauro, Giuliani, Ilaria

A New Approach for the Estimation of the Aerodynamic Damping Characteristics of the ETF Demonstrator

2011-01-2649-TEST-REC10/18/2011

Gili, Piero, Lerro, Angelo, Vazzola, Matteo, Visone, Michele

In Situ Aerosol Detector

TBMG-1046007/01/2011

An affordable technology designed to facilitate extensive global atmospheric aerosol measurements has been developed. This lightweight instrument is compatible with newly developed platforms such as tethered balloons, blimps, kites, and even disposable instruments such as dropsondes. This technology is based on detection of light scattered by aerosol particles where an optical layout is used to enhance the performance of the laboratory prototype instrument, which allows detection of smaller aerosol particles and improves the accuracy of aerosol particle size measurement.

Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Technology for High-Altitude Airships

TBMG-915802/07/2011

The High Altitude Airship (HAA) has various application potential and mission scenarios that require onboard energy harvesting and power distribution systems. The power technology for HAA maneuverability and mission-oriented applications must come from its surroundings, e.g. solar power. The energy harvesting system considered for HAA is based on the advanced thermoelectric (ATE) materials being developed at NASA Langley Research Center.

Meet the Judges, "Create the Future" 2007 Design Contest

TBMG-273904/01/2008

, P.E., Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems

Update on Controlling Herds of Cooperative Robots

TBMG-194706/01/2007

A document presents further information on the subject matter of “Controlling Herds of Cooperative Robots” (NPO-40723), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 30, No. 4 (April 2006), page 81. To recapitulate: A methodology for controlling a herd of cooperative and autonomous mobile robots exploring the surface of a remote planet or moon (specifically, Titan or Titan-like) is undergoing development. The proposed configuration of mobile robots consists of a blimp and a herd of surface sondes. The blimp is the leader of the herd, and it commands the other robots to move to locations on the surface or below the surface to conduct science operations. Once a target is chosen, the sondes cooperatively aim sensors at the target to maximize scientific return. This hierarchical and cooperative behavior is necessary in the face of such unpredictable factors as terrain obstacles and uncertainties in the model of the environment.

Controlling Herds of Cooperative Robots

TBMG-TB-00105801/29/2007

A document poses, and suggests a program of research for answering, questions of how to achieve autonomous operation of herds of cooperative robots to be used in exploration and/or colonization of remote planets. In a typical scenario, a flock of mobile sensory robots would be deployed in a previously unexplored region, one of the robots would be designated the leader, and the leader would issue commands to move the robots to different locations or aim sensors at different targets to maximize scientific return. It would be necessary to provide for this hierarchical, cooperative behavior even in the face of such unpredictable factors as terrain obstacles. A potential-fields approach is proposed as a theoretical basis for developing methods of autonomous command and guidance of a herd. A survival-of-the-fittest approach is suggested as a theoretical basis for selection, mutation, and adaptation of a description of (1) the body, joints, sensors, actuators, and control computer of each

Multi-Layer Laminated Thin Films for Inflatable Structures

TBMG-77804/01/2005

Special-purpose balloons and other inflatable structures would be constructed as flexible laminates of multiple thin polymeric films interspersed with layers of adhesive, according to a proposal. In the original intended application, the laminate would serve as the envelope of the Titan Aerobot — a proposed robotic airship for exploring Titan (one of the moons of Saturn). Potential terrestrial applications for such flexible laminates could include blimps and sails.

Inverse Rectennas for Two-Way Wireless Power Transmission

TBMG-217407/01/1998

The term "inverse rectenna" may seem like an oxymoron at first glance. However, preliminary experiments have demonstrated that a rectenna of suitable design can be made to operate in an inverse mode, in which radio-frequency (RF) power is generated in the rectenna rectifier circuits and radiated by the rectenna antenna elements.

An Acrobatic Airship ‘ACROSTAT’

91199409/01/1991

A novel type of airships or a powered LTA aircraft has been proposed, which is designed with a rather conventionally shaped hull and with conventional thrusters and is not made as a control configured vehicle(CCV) nor utilized any sophisticated control mechanism. None of control surfaces are installed but couples of stabilizers equipped to the aft hull, and without any active control tricks the vehicle holds its stability and realizes enhanced maneuverability performances. This newly conceived type model is named as ‘ACROSTAT’. This airship can ascent and descent vertically, and can perform somersaults, spiral flights, and rotates around its C.G. as the center of the movement. The paper deals with the structural design concept of the model, design data and the attitude control principle.

Onda, Masahiko, Morikawa, Yasushi

Some Applications of Buoyancy Systems and Parawings to Replace Conventional and Proposed Transportation Systems

72058002/01/1972

An exploratory study has been conducted to assess the performance potential of buoyant airships and parawings in short-haul passenger transportation. Results show that such systems can be used effectively, from a performance standpoint, in a VTOL or STOL mode of operation. A supplementary assessment of potential applications of such vehicles is examined, with a brief look at economic factors and an examination of missions for which they might be effectively used.

Havill, C. Dewey, Williams, Louis J.

WHAT AMERICA NEEDS IN A COMMERCIAL AIRSHIP - (The content of this report is based upon an undergraduate thesis prepared by Mr. Yachnin, Class of March, 1949)

49006101/01/1949

Youngman, Clarence E., Yachnin, Stanley P.

The Airship and Its Place in Modern Transportation

37014601/01/1937

THIS paper discusses the position of the airship as a means of transportation, briefly reviewing the history of the supposed but really non-existing competition between the airship and the airplane. The results of the Hindenburg's ten North Atlantic demonstration trips of 1936 are reported on, and the meteorological observations made are discussed. Figures of cost of operation and revenues of the Hindenburg are revealed, showing the relatively low cost of operation of the modern passenger airship. The relative places of the express steamer, the airship and the airplane in the future North Atlantic transport picture are discussed, and the necessity for cooperation between Germany and the United States in the future development of the airship is emphasized. Since Dr. Eckener presented this paper at the 1937 Annual Meeting of the Society, an increased 1937 schedule of Transatlantic service for the Hindenburg has been announced. Eighteen round trips across the North Atlantic, eight more

Eckener, Hugo

COMMERCIAL AVIATION IN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE

21002401/01/1921

This paper is illuminative and affords an opportunity for better comprehension of the remarkable progress and accomplishment made in Europe along the lines of commercial aviation. Reviewing the present European routes now in regular or partial operation, the author stresses the essentialness of the attitude of the press in general being favorable if commercial aviation is to become wholly successful. The airship appears most practical for long-distance service, to the author, and he mentions the possibility of towns and cities growing up around “air ports.” The cost of airship travel is specified, although it is difficult to figure costs and necessary charges because so few data on the depreciation of equipment are available. Regarding successful operation, much depends upon the efficiency of the ground personnel and organization. It is present practice to send out to aviation pilots by radio telegraph hourly weather warnings which give the height of the clouds, the degree of fog at

WARNER, EDWARD P

AERIAL TRANSPORTATION AS A BUSINESS PROPOSITION

21001401/01/1921

Aviation has no perfect analogy, for it has no precedent. Two classifications are made. Scheduled service includes the carrying of mail, express or passengers on a definite and regularly maintained schedule, independent of, or supplementary to, other forms of transportation. Special service includes pleasure flights, oil-field survey, selecting industrial land-sites, planning cities, aerial photography, forest-fire patrol, visiting remote points, exploration, aerial advertising, delivery of perishable products, real-estate survey and industrial purposes. Each of these classifications requires different equipment, organization and operating personnel. The equipment requirements and the reliability of aerial transportation are discussed, the necessity for suitable terminals and federal flying regulations are emphasized, the subject of insurance is commented upon and the development of aerial commercial transportation is outlined. Recent statistics regarding European air travel are quoted

MARTIN, GLENN L

AIRSHIPS AND THEIR COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES

19006501/01/1919

Airships were not generally considered important before the war. Many thought they would never become practical as a means of transportation. The proper conception of what an airship is having first been explained, the three principal ways in which progress has been made are specified as weight-saving, improvement of overall propulsion efficiency and decreasing resistance and increase in size. The last mentioned feature is discussed in some detail, the conclusion being that practically anything is possible, given an airship of sufficient size. The future needs of airship development are then considered, such as more suitable engines, multiple powerplants, dependability, the development of better fabric and better landing and hangar facilities.

UPSON, R H

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