International Conference On Electric Airships - Challenges for Commercialization

Speakers and Topics
Abstract submission for presentations and posters is open

Invited Speakers:

Udo Berthold, MITEB, Germany 

Safety Aspects for Unmanned Airships

The principle of “lighter than air” generates a fundamentally different behavior of the aircraft with regard to risks on the ground and in the air. Making sensible use of the intrinsic safety advantages can open up new application potential, for example when flying beyond visual line of sight and over densely populated areas.

Spencer Horne, Founder and CEO of Cloudline, South Africa

Solar Airships: What Price Scale?

As solar airship technology matures beyond proof-of-concept demonstrations, the fundamental question of optimal scale becomes central to its commercial success. This presentation examines the relationship between airship size and solar power integration, drawing parallels to Von Karman and Gabrielli's classic analysis of speed-power relationships in aircraft design, through the lens of our experiences in building at Cloudline.

Sylvain Allano, Flying Whales, France

Contribution of solar energy to the global Information-Energy system of a cargo airship

Although it is clear that solar cells placed on or in the envelope of a cargo airship could not alone meet the power requirements for hovering operations, recent progress made in solar textiles makes it possible to consider their use for specific functions within the airship. However, their impact on the thermodynamics of the airship will have to be taken into account, with the risk of uncontrolled heating of the helium cells.

Prof. Dr. Christoph Pflaum, Professorship for Computer Science, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)

Route Optimization of Large Airships with Solar Cells

Route optimization of large airship is a difficult from algorithmic point of view. It has to include wind data, clouds, solar irradiance and  battery charge level. Simulation results and impact on travel time will be discussed.

Barry E. Prentice, ISO Polar Airship Assoc

Airships for Mining Critical Mineral

New technologies that require rare earth minerals for magnets, batteries, and electronics have created a growing demand, while trade issues have reduced supply from China. Canada is a potential beneficiary because 32 different critical mineral deposits are known to exist in the North. The problem is obtaining access. The distances are too long and the costs of building roads in too high. This has created market for cargo airships that is large enough to sustain a new manufacturing industry. This presentation sets out the economics and potential of cargo airships to accessing critical mineral in remote locations.

Ross Prentice, CEO BASI

Drone Airships for Wildfire Detectin and Prevention

Bonnet-Eymard Bénédicte, CSEM Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Lightweight solar modules implementing advanced polymer materials and solar cells

With a decade of expertise in lightweight solar modules, CSEM has crafted specialized PV products for applications demanding minimal added weight and high power output with precise assessment, design, and installation for optimal integration. This talk will highlight past achievements and explore future possibilities.

Daniel Wibbing, Roboloon, Germany

Environmental Robustness of Unmanned Airships

For a long time aerial inspections of our energy and mobility infrastructures have been carried out by noisy, fuel guzzling helicopters. Today new kinds of small unmanned airships are trying to replace them. How can they achieve the required pin point accuracy even under adverse environmental conditions? Daniel Wibbing from roboloon will give us insights into his experiences with the matter.

Bentheimer, Christian , Fraunhofer IISB, Germany

Cryogenic Power Electronics and Superconducting Aircraft Powertrains

Superconducting technologies will be a key enabler for the electrification of future hydrogen-electric powered aircraft. It will lead to performance improvements of the propulsion system, translating into significant weight and fuel saving potential. The presentation gives an insight about the design basics and challenges of cryogenic powertrains.

Prof. Patrick Hendrick, ULB - Université Libre de Bruxelles 

Airship Drones: H2 vs. Helium as lifting gas

The presentation will highlight the advantages and drawbacks of using hydrogen as the lifting gas of LTA UAVs, including the use of H2 for the (electric) propulsion system of the LTA drones.

Prof. Carlo Riboldi, Politecnico di Milano

On the technical and economic feasibility of unmanned airships: a comparative study

This contribution discusses the profitability of unmanned LTAs, based on the comparison of purpose-designed LTA platforms vs. multi-copter and fixed-wing UAVs, as well as manned helicopters, considering three missions currently flown by these flying machines and compatible with the technical abilities of small-scale, autonomously-flying LTAs.

Raffaello Terenzi, Politecnico di Milano

IPROP: Pioneering Ionic Propulsion for Next-Generation Stratospheric Airships

The IPROP project advances ionic air-breathing propulsion toward stratospheric airships capable of replacing satellite functions. A demonstrator airship will showcase silent, emission-free ionic thrusters. The airship will be optimized to enable the propulsion units to operate under the most favorable conditions. The project fully investigates integration between ionic thrusters and airship platforms, unlocking sustainable, long-endurance solutions for telecommunications and sensing.

Oliver Gochermann, Managing Director, Gochermann Solar Technology

Bespoke solar arrays in mobile applications past achievements, current developments, future goals

Piers Olsen, Chairman of Olsen Actuators & Drives

Propellor pitch actuation

Olsen Actuators & Drives is a UK engineering company specializing in the design and manufacture of high precision electro-mechanical actuator systems - both linear and rotary - including associated servo drives, motors, encoders and bespoke XYZ gantry solutions. Their products are used in demanding sectors such as aerospace, defense, marine, space, eVTOL and industrial automation. 

Prof. Lei Zhou, China Special Vehicle Research Institute

AS700D - the Development of Electric Version of the AS700 Airship

The AS700D represents a fully electric evolution of the AS700 airship platform, featuring 100% battery-powered propulsion. This advanced model replaces conventional systems with electric drive technology through two key modifications:

1. Power System Conversion: Traditional fuel system replaced with high-capacity Li-ion battery arrays.

2. Propulsion Upgrade: Combustion engines replaced by efficient electric drive motors; Integrated digital control system for precision operation.

The lithium-ion battery configuration delivers clean, sustainable operation while maintaining the AS700 platform's core capabilities. This electric variant demonstrates significant progress in eco-friendly airship technology development.

Hannah Reindle, Technical University of Munich, Institute of Flight System Dynamics

Research Platform Airship

To enable research flights over complex urban areas, the institute of Flight System Dynamics of TUM developed a medium-sized blimp. With a payload capacity of up to 15 kg, the airship provides sensor-carrying capabilities for investigations in the context of advanced air mobility. Besides the presentation of the features of the airship and the results of the project, this talk points out why it is advantageous to use an airship as a research platform, especially in urban environment.

Prof. Dr. Rajkumar Sureshchandra Pant, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Conceptual Sizing and Environmental Assessment of Rigid Cargo Airships 

This presentation will showcase a sizing methodology for conceptual design of Rigid Cargo Airships, by building upon and refining century‑old textbook models with empirical data drawn from historical rigid airships. Additionally, a methodology for quantifying the environmental impact of the historic rigid airship USS Macon will be presented, and the results will be benchmarked against major contemporary transport modes.

Registration

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