We believe that solar powered, autonomous airships with the capability to embark on extended duration sampling missions will serve as valuable tools for environmental science. In this paper, we outline our vision for an autonomous airship and discuss some of the applications for which such a craft would be well suited. We also report on our efforts to date to realize this vision. Specifically, we discuss the use of solar energy as a renewable source of power for airships. We also describe the configuration of a nine meter airship that we will use as a testbed for environmental sampling and autonomy research. We conclude by outlining directions for future research.
Kantor and colleagues REF discussed the use of solar energy as a renewable source of power for airships using an outdoor blimp.
Collection of environmental data from an airship platform
SPIE Optics East
Engineering Environmental Science