Flying Around the World in under 80 Days
3 days ago
- #airship-technology
- #autonomous-drones
- #circumnavigation
- The project aims to create an autonomous airship drone capable of circumnavigating the globe in under 80 days.
- Key considerations include achieving a minimum speed of 10 m/s, using hydrogen for buoyancy, and designing a lightweight, durable outer shell.
- The airship will utilize solar panels for power during the day and batteries at night, with a target daily distance of 500 km.
- Navigation will leverage trade winds for efficiency, with a proposed route starting in Southern Spain and crossing the Americas, Pacific, and Asia.
- Challenges include maintaining buoyancy over time due to hydrogen leakage, legal and political hurdles, and ensuring the airship can withstand varying weather conditions.
- The estimated weight budget is 8.1 kg, with components including the enclosure, gas bag, structure, battery, solar panel, and electronics.
- The project draws inspiration from historical airship designs and modern solar-powered drones like the Airbus Zephyr.
- Potential routes must avoid hostile regions and take advantage of favorable wind patterns, with a proposed journey length of approximately 41,000 km.
- Communications will rely on technologies like LoRa or SigFox for telemetry, though coverage may be patchy in some regions.
- The project is motivated by the desire to break endurance records and explore the feasibility of autonomous airship travel.