Introduction

An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that

can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and
propellers or other thrust mechanisms. Unlike aerodynamic aircraft such
as fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, which produce lift by moving
awing through the air, aerostatic aircraft, such as airships and hot air
balloons, stay aloft by filling a large cavity with a lifting gas.

Objectives
The project will be broken down into 3 phases:

• Conceptual Design
i. Justifying the need to develop this project.
ii. Define the potential role of the airship functioning as an UAV
iii. Setting the criteria for the operation of the airship.

• Preliminary Design
i. Propulsion System Evaluation
ii. Estimation of payload
iii. Dimension of envelope
iv. Determination of center of buoyancy and center of mass.
v. Performance of the airship.

• Detailed Design
i. Assembling of components
ii. Flight tests

Potential roles of airship UAV

 1. Surveillance
2. Mobile advertisement
3. Replacing existing signal antennas, as it saves 75% of the cost

Criteria for operation of airship

i. Low altitude operation

ii. Basic maneuvering capability
iii. Slow speed handling
iv. Handle payload of 20% of the total weight of the blimp components.
v. Simplicity and low cost operation.

Main components of the airship

i. Gasbag (Envelope)

ii. Propulsion system

iii. Power source

Shape of gas envelope

The shape of the envelope has a major influence on its overall
performance. Envelope weight is proportional to surface area and lift is
proportional to the volume. In an ideal case, the surface area should
be as small as possible relative to the volume. Air resistance is also
determined primarily by the surface area. A spherical shape provides
optimum lift efficiency. Any deviation from this optimum should utilized
shapes based on circular arc sections to minimize surface stress. The
conventional streamlined shape is selected. It is the most efficient
shape for an immersed body moving through a fluid.
Dimension of envelope

CALCULATIONS
LIFT

1000Lts of helium can lift 1Kg of weight

Volume=1.609*(pi)*(a)*(b*b)
a =distance from left buldge to centre=1.7ft

b=maximum radius=1ft
=8.545 cu ft

=0.24192 cu mt
Lift due to gas=241.92 grams

Lift generated by motor and propeller = 124.9gm(experimental)

= 136.88gm (theoritical)

NET LIFT = 241.92+124.9 = 366.8gm

THRUST FORCE
Thrust force=(0.5)(air density)*(Ap)*(4*Vp*Vp)

Air density=1.35gm/ml
Vp=velocity of propeller=(pi)(D)(N)/60

D=diameter of propeller
N=speed in rpm

=1.96N

DRAG FORCE
Drag force= (0.5)(Cd)(air density)* (Ae)*(Ve*Ve)
=1.3N

Cd=coefficient of drag=0.35
Ae= surface area of envelope

Ve=cruising velocity

NET FORWARD PROPELLING FORCE

= 1.96N - 1.3N

= 0.66N

MATERIALS
 NAME WEIGHT QUANTITY SPECIFICATIONS PRICE (Rs) CURRENT
(gm) STATUS

MOTOR 52 2 9000 RPM (2)*(450) OBTAINED

PROPELLER 8 2 22 cm DIA (2)*(200) OBTAINED

RF CONTROL 68 1 50 m RANGE 700 OBTAINED

BATTERY 70 1 2000mA,9.2V 80 OBTAINED

GAS

1)HELIUM - 242Lts 99.8% pure 400 NO

2)HYDROGEN - 242Lts Inflammable 50 RISKY

STRAPS 4 1 10 m 20 OBTAINED

ENVELOPE

1)MYLAR 65 1 4 ft Length,2ft Dia 2000 NOT

AVAILABLE

2)PVC 6200 1 8ft dia 12000 Not affordable

NET EXPECTED WEIGHT = 267 gms

Estimation of payload
It is difficult to calculate the actual overall weight of the airship. An
estimation of payload is important as it will determine the volume of lifting
gas required and hence, the size of the airship. It will also affect the
performance of the airship.
Therefore

Payload = net lift – net expected weight

= 366.8 gm – 267gm

= 99.8gm