International Conference On Electric Airships - Challenges for Commercialization
10141Flexible thin-film solar cells, highly efficient power electronics, and lightweight batteries enable the construction of a new generation of airships. This includes drones, high altitude airships, and airships for cargo and passenger transport. In particular, airships can be used in the future for:
- transport to remote areas
- sustainable cargo transport
- transport of heavy loads
- sustainable passenger transport
- monitoring and surveillance of e.g. pipelines, high power transmission lines
- provision of telecom and internet connections
- tourism transport, recreation, and sightseeing
- humanitarian aid, disaster relief

Airship “Pathfinder 1”
- A proof-of-concept vehicle designed and manufactured by LTA Research
- flies untethered at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California.
The conference covers technical aspects as well as applications and environmental aspects.
Conference Topics:
- Construction and design of airships
- Construction of low and high altitude drones
- Sustainable aviation by airships
- Power electronics and batteries for airships
- Solar energy for airships
- Application of airships
- Usage of hydrogen as energy source and lifting gas
- Certification, regulation and integration in existing aerospace
- Infrastructure, ground handling of airships
Program Overview
Note: Childcare available upon request.
Sept. 24th | Sept. 25th | Sept. 26th | Sept. 27th | |
---|---|---|---|---|
7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. | - Registration Location: Energie Campus Nürnberg | - Registration Location: Energie Campus Nürnberg | ||
8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | - Conference, Lunch - Poster Session Location: Energie Campus Nürnberg | - Conference - Discussions with lunch - coffee breaks, snacks Location: Energie Campus Nürnberg | - SPECIAL Sightseeing at 10:30 a.m. with Prof. Thomas Weber "Nuremberg during World Wars of Disinformation and Demagoguery: A Walking Tour of the Zeppelin Field" | |
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | - Registration and Casual Welcome Meeting Location: Adina Hotel, Dr. Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 1, Nürnberg | - Reception Location: DB Museum, Lessingstr. 6, Nürnberg With: Bavarian Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann, Alexandra Mehnert, Member of European Parliament | - Conference Dinner Location: Mautkeller, Hallplatz 2, Nürnberg |
Conference Agenda
The detailed program of the conference will follow.
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.
Bob Boyd, AT Squared Aerospace, USA
Martin Bocken, Co-Founder & CEO of Hylight, France
- Small unmanned hydrogen airships for long range monitoring
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.
Lei Zhou, AVIC , China
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
- Our Mission is to automate aerial inspections in a way that is cost effective, safe to operate, and sustainable for our environment!
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.
Price information
(all prices incl. VAT)
Conference ticket includes meals and beverages during the day.
Regular Ticket | Early Bird 300€ / Late Registration 380€ |
Student Ticket | 50€ |
Welcome Meeting (Wednesday) | 20€ |
Conference Dinner (Friday) | 60€ |
Sightseeing (Saturday) | 30€ |
Total Package (includes conference, dinner and sightseeing) | 380€ |
Registration
Please register for the conference by clicking on the red “Register” button at the top right of this page.
Timeline Registration:
a) Abstract submission: | |
Date abstract submission: | start at: May 15th |
End of abstract submission: | July 15th |
Publication of decision on talk/poster: | July 15th |
b) Registration: | |
Start early registration: | latest date: May 15th |
End early registration: | July 15th |
End late registration: | September 10th |
Conference Committee
- Prof. Dr. Christoph Pflaum (FAU)
- Prof. Dr. Christoph Brabec (FAU, Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg)
- Prof. Dr. Martin März (FAU, Fraunhofer-Institut IISB)
- Dr. Frank Neumann (IMIEU)
- Prof. Dr. Barry Prentice (University of Manitoba)
- Prof. Carlo Riboldi, Politecnico di Milano, Department of Aerospace Science and Technology
- Prof. Patrick Hendrick, University of Brussels, Aerospace Department (ULB/ATM)
Contact Information
Prof. Dr. Christoph Pflaum
Department of Computer Science
Professorship for Computer Science (Numerical Simulation using Highest-Performance Computers)
Phone number: +49 9131 85-28692
E-Mail: christoph.pflaum@fau.de
Sponsors