Advanced Technologies for Modern Airship

In this video, we will explore the latest technologies that are going into building the new generation of Airship. We will also look at Vacuum Airships and how they can become a reality with modern technology

[EliteRock]

There's a 'travelogue' kicking around on the internet (read it many years ago) by a passenger on a Zeppelin flight from Germany, across Europe and the Mediterranean to Morocco, it's quite magical. Amongst other things he vividly describes cruising over the Alps close to the peaks, a stop in Paris for lunch and to pick up passengers, and so on. Given what the Germans achieved with early 20th C tech and materials, the airship has always struck me as a lost opportunity, certainly for cargo transport and leisure/sightseeing flights. Electric drive makes them seem all the more attractive for these purposes, given the reduction in noise that it facilitates.

[richardrigling]

Rather than full vacuum, as an interim step, what about reduced pressure Helium airships? If the pressure is 1/2 bar, Helium lift, buoyancy, equals that of Hydrogen. As materials strength to weight improves, new vessels use progressively higher vacuums for improved lift.

[bernardthedisappointedowl]

Also, hydrogen can be used as a fuel in the ship itself - The Graf Zeppelin of the 1930s used a gas a fuel that was the same weight as air to avoid ballasting issues - Ultra fine loose weave fabrics that prevent flame fronts can be very light indeed (such membranes work in gas pipes to prevent travel of fire, but still allow the flow of gas) so pragmatically, I can image hydrogen airships being a very good solution, ^oo^

[christopherstube]

R. Buckminster Fuller pointed out that if you made a geodesic sphere out of steel and glass, it would float in the atmosphere because of the solar heating inside would be lighter than the cooler air outside. He envisioned habitats in the sky. But you would have to heat them at night to keep them aloft.

[solifugus]

Most informative video I've seen yet on contemporary airship design concerns. However, has anyone considered dynamically increasing vacuum with altitude based on differential pressures between inside and outside? It doesn't have to be all one or the other. Atmospheric pressure reduces rapidly with altitude, which means it's kinda silly not to reduce the pressure within one's dirigible airship, in kind. If hydrogen is used with lightweight flexible solar cells on top then you could release the hydrogen gas and make more from water, using electrolysis when descending.

Another approach to containing a vacuum even under full atmospheric pressure would be to use a high-velocity rotation of the vacuum chamber to counter the strength of the vacuum. High tensile strengths are easy to acquire in the lightest materials, e.g. and especially carbon nanotubes. Granted, the velocity would need to be pretty extreme. We can achieve those extreme velocities through brushless electric motors and also with larger diameters. In other words, larger vacuum ships would be easier to build.

This was once the basis of an orbital launch vehicle I designed, at home. The idea was to form it with broad wings for lift. A large lightweight vehicle would take far too much energy to gain any reasonable velocity at 1 atmosphere of pressure but this dynamic changes very rapidly with altitude. As the air thins, hydrogen gas could be expelled replacing it with a vacuum. If that hydrogen gas is heated (or combusted) then substantial thrust will ensue, at an increasing rate with altitude. So long as there is sufficient atmosphere to create resistance there must also be enough to create lift, so little energy is lost. Once there is no resistance, it is possible to maintain unpowered orbital velocity. There is an obvious equation here that implies that the vehicle must be pretty large and the ascent will begin very slow but with an exponential increase in velocity.

[bernardthedisappointedowl]

Airships were a lot more successful than people remember - both in transoceanic transport and anti-submarine duties during WWI and WWII - great video as ever, thanks, ^oo^

[OgdenThorntonFamily]

Damn! I had thought about vacuum air ships when I was a kid. I never figured out the math to see how feasible it was. Thank you for showing us here. Also ISO truss from BYU's material science dept would be a great weight saver, used as a vacuum shell, surrounded by some amazing skin material.

[Ron]

I do hope the airships become more successful and popular. I'd book a ride.

As always. A very informative and interesting video. This channel has become my go-to source of information in the emerging technology in the aerospace industry. Thank you.

[meta_pyx]

There is ongoing R&D for pure carbon based meta-materials for vacuum airships. The strength of such material allows for airframes of various shapes with a utility comparable aluminum alloyed aircraft. The acceleration and speed of these upcoming aircraft will also facilitate access to orbit, space, Mars, and the asteroids. Imagine using bouyancy to reach the edge of space and then firing rocket engines. 1000's of tons per ascent. A thoroughly reusable vessel similar to aircraft. A Martian outpost can be a reality in a few years once the meta-material is perfected.

[atrumluminarium]

A note regarding vacuum airships, it's good to mention that it doesn't have to be a full vacuum. If you take a normal airship filled by a lifting gas but at slightly lower pressure and slightly higher temperature you reduce the density of the gas further without needing as strong of a hull. The heating could in theory be a solarthermal system if operated in a hot enough climate like in the mediterranean, africa, central america or the middle east

[douglasfachincicone]

Incredible video I love airship the more safe aircraft of the world 👏

[larrylandei]

The idea is great ! But Wind / Storm is a force which makes it to a nice weather "hopper" ! Or it needs a lot of engine power !

[daveweiss]

I would like to thank you for this video. I am not an expert but have always had a fascination with Airships since I was a kid and always watch videos or read about them whenever I come across something on them... and I have to say this is the most informative short video I have ever seen on them, tons of info for a relatively short time span and though I have heard of most of the companies and concepts in the video some of the info you had on both "vacuum" airships, modern safe hydrogen tech and solar powered airships was new to me! Many thanks for the great video! I've subscribed to your channel!

[carlost.]

Super informative, and well made video. I always appreciate your content, and look forward to the latest aerospace industry developments you share with us next!

[fleam]

I always learn something from your videos, and I thank you!

[eyewonder]

Expanding a composite plastic foam inside of a vacuum chamber would allow you to create a material that would be naturally lighter-than-air permanently.

[colleenforrest]

Someone did a calculation that determined that you didn't have to have a single hollow sphere holding a vacuum to create lift. Instead you can create microscopic hollow spheres out of graphene that could hold a vacuum and still create sufficient lift.

I don't have the source information, but the math is straight forward and should be easy enough to check and to find where the sweet spot is where the graphene sphere is small enough to maintain its shape and still have enough displacement to cause lift.

[heavypen]

Thank you for an excellent update on airship technology. As you say, we keep hearing about certain developments - and it's hard to stay enthusiastic. I'm encouraged by your prediction that cargo airships may be in service within this decade - that's very good news!

[michaelsmith]

Glad I found this video! Very good information and explanations. Thank you.