High maneuverability unmanned airship capable to perform a tethered flight aiming to obtain aerial images and establish a network communication

Abstract

Lighter-Than-Air Vehicles are highly indicated for missions with long time duration flights or low speed flights. In particular, airships are the most indicated vehicle for these missions because they are able to perform hovering and aerodynamic flight, dispensing fuel to overcome its weight. Furthermore, airships are capable to perform slow speed flights, commonly used on inspections, and they are safer than the others vehicles because when their propulsion system fail, it does not imply in an abrupt drop and they have a resistant envelop. ALTAVE is partner of Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica - ITA since 2012, starting with the development of an "Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Platform Based in a Hybrid Lighter-Than-Air Vehicle ", supported by the Science Without Borders Program, in its modality PVE CAPES. With this project, it was possible to bring Prof. Rajkumar Pant, a specialist in lighter than air from the Indian Institute of Technology, and it was developed prototypes for concept validation of autonomous airships. Furthermore, supported by FAPESP and CNPq projects, ALTAVE reached maturity in the design, manufacture and captive airship, tethered in the ground using a particular cable. Through previous experience in airships and active participation in the development, experimental flight campaigns and testing airships in India, in cooperation project with the ITA, ALTAVE proves capability to overcoming the PHASE 1 because of the expertise and quantity of results showed. This project aims to develop a hybrid airship through a combination of a high maneuverability airship and a tethered gas balloon. Four propellers will be attached in this product that is capable to have high autonomy in operations and flexible navigation in a certain area while maintaining physical link with the ground. It is expected to design a flexible product able to perform inspections with robustness and also able to handle in restricted perimeters without worry about a limited autonomy in operation. This product will be used in the follow areas: Public Security, Defense, power line inspection, pipeline inspection, agricultural and forest areas monitoring. In particular, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Regulations have been discussed by aeronautical agencies, and airships will have great advantages regarding safety flight and high probability of acceptance to fly over populated areas. (AU)