Aeroscraft Proof of Design Demonstration Vehicle: 'Dragon Dream'
To better understand the
systems that enable the
Aeroscraft's unique capabilities
and game-changing potential,
our engineers and experts
explan underlying technology
and major sub-systems.
The Aeroscraft is an innovative rigid variable buoyancy air vehicle Aeros has great confidence we have developed a breakthrough,
developed to provide new ways of moving heavy and oversized game-changing technology with the variably buoyancy Aeroscraft; an
cargo from point-of-origin to point-of-need, even to areas with aircraft designed to deliver nearly twice the weight and many times the
damaged or under-developed infrastructure. The vehicle will volume of cargo that can be carried by the largest fixed-wing aircraft
begame-changing in global logistics and will help side-step operating in the world today, and deliver this cargo to new destinations
infrastructure development costs and delays for numerous projects through its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flight capabilities.
of global economic benefits, while providing new ways of moving Internal buoyancy management and VTOL flight enable, for the first
heavy and oversized cargo from point-of-origin to point-of-need. time in aviation history, airships to have independence from needing
significant ground support, external ballast exchange or infrastructure.
“The biggest obstacle that conventional
and hybrid airships face when tackling the
cargo function is their inability to control
buoyancy. The requirement for ballast
exchange, ground infrastructure and
need for runways significantly limited the
usefulness of traditional lighter-than-air
(LTA) vehicles for cargo applications, until
now! By being able control the vehicle’s
heaviness relative to the outside air, the
Aeroscraft has eliminated the need for
infrastructure and ground personnel from the
equation, and opened a new area for cargo
logistics, commercial and private aviation.
-- Igor Pasternak, CEO, Aeroscraft Corp.
"The HPE units contain
and control the compressed
helium and allow the overall
helium volume envelope to
be reduced or increased,
enabling the air vehicle to
Tim Kenny,
become heavy or buoyant in
Aeros Director,
a controlled manner.
" Engineering
pressure and discharge it into Helium
Pressure Envelopes at high speeds,
through a system of pipes and control
valves.
"The compression of helium into the HPE’s
also creates a negative pressure within
THE COSH SYSTEM: Through the pilot’s touch control, the the Aeroshell, permitting air-expansion
COSH - or control-of-static-heaviness - COSH system permits the vehicle to be chambers to fill with readily-available
is a proprietary buoyancy management configured to provide static heaviness environmental ballast (air), which acts in
system that permits the Aeroscraft to necessary for off-loading personnel or concert with reduced Helium lift to make
operate as a lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle cargo, with flexibility and without the the Aeroscraft heavier, when desired," Tim
when flying, while allowing the vehicle to limitation of taking on external ballast to Kenny adds.
become heavier upon demand for hover stay grounded at destination.
and ground operations. Initial production has begun for the 66-ton
The control of static heaviness system aircraft's revolutionary COSH system.
The COSH system pressurizes the inert internally ballasts the non-flammable
helium within the aeroshell into Helium helium into the aircraft’s helium pressure The COSH system's main component test
Pressure Envelopes (HPEs), reducing the envelopes (HPEs) (pictured above), helping articles are now in production following the
gas’ lift capability. When reversed, this the vehicle manage buoyant lift similarly to system level design freeze.
pressurized helium is then released back submarine's ballast management under
into the envelope, making the Aeroscraft water. Energy converters (EC) control the
lighter through added static lift. compression of helium to a determined
HPE
air expansion chamber
"The Aeroscraft's rigid shell
works in conjunction with
an internal ballast control
system to enable new
runway-independent ways
of moving large project
cargo.
" Armen Amirian
Sr. Aeronautical
Engineer
RIGID STRUCTURE:
Generally, modern airships have a non-rigid
structure. And because of this, traditional
airships rely on the gases that fill them to
help mantain their shape. Harkening the
earlier Zeppelin era, the Aeroscraft has a
rigid structural design. It is the only rigid
structured variable buoyancy air vehicle of
its kind. "The Aeroscraft's rigid shell works in
conjunction with an internal ballast control
The Aeroscraft harnesses impressive system to enable new runway-independent
material innovations over the past half ways of moving large project cargo."
Century that help it balance utility with explains Aeros Sr. Aeronautical Engineer
weight budget management. Its rigid Armen Amirian.
structure is derived from ultra-light carbon
fiber and aluminum trusses designed at
Aeros, which are reinforced with high
strength composite tensioned cables,
The Aeroscraft’s truss structure is essential
for cargo applications, helping the aircraft
shoulder the burden of cargo loads, helping
the vehicle achieve a faster cruise speed
by combating aerodynamic forces in
forward flight, and helping the Aeroscraft
with improved weather resilience compared
to traditional LTA vehicles. The rigid truss
structure also provides an excellent range
of hard points for mounting engines,
canards, cockpit, propulsion systems, and
other auxiliary systems both inside and
outside of the hull mould line.
The rigid structure for the ‘Dragon Dream’
technology demonstration vehicle contains
approximately 200 trusses, with the length
of individual varying from 18 feet to 55 feet
long. They impart needed strength with a
lightness not possible in earlier airship eras.
AEROSCRAFT AEROSHELL: aerodynamic forces through to the rigid providing a structural element with a
internal structural truss system. great strength to weigh ratio," explains
"The aeroshell is custom
Temelkova. "The placement and alignment
honeycomb aluminum If the rigid truss framework can be of these aluminum elements gives the
panels, in which the ultra- thought of the vehicle’s ‘bones,’ then the Aeroscraft its shape, when draped with
light-weight geometric Aeroshell can be thought of as its muscle modern lightweight textiles."
design is sandwiched and skin. Together aluminum and textiles
between sheets of aluminum, synergistically provided the Aeroscraft The ‘skin’ of the ‘Dragon Dream’ vehicle
providing a structural element Gita Temelkova with the desired lightweight rigid structure is a proprietary combination of Mylar and
with a great strength to weigh Mechanical
that imparts its form. other lightweight fiber-based materials
"
ratio. Engineer
selected by engineers to impart desired
The Aeroshell is comprised of two principle characteristics, like solar reflectivity,
elements. Mechanical Engineer, Gita helium retention, strength, and durability.
The Aeroshell is a rigid structure Temelkova explains both in greater detail.
representing the major external frame of
the Aeroscraft. The Aeroshell maintains "The first element are the custom
the Aeroscraft’s shape in flight, unlike honeycomb aluminum panels, in which
blimps that maintain their shape through ultra-light-weight geometric design is
internal pressure, helping transfer the sandwiched between sheets of aluminum,
a robust system with lower mantainence
"The ability to hover for costs, and will not be limited to aviation
hours over a targeted area fueling stations.
and/or rapidly load and
offload cargo without ballast
Aeros will be utilizing a diesel to electric
problems is what sets
propulsion system that provides needed
"
Aeroscraft apart from the rest,
John Wertz,
Engineering advantages like overcoming the aviation
Manager fuel distribution limitations that would
complicate global operations for a vehicle
THE VECTORED THRUST like the Aeroscraft that is infrastructure
ENGINES AND VTOL: independent.
Similar to a submarine, the Aeroscraft
has the ability to ascend and descend "The ability to hover for hours over a
because of a unique variable bouyancy targeted area and rapidly load and/or
system that allows for the aircraft offload cargo without ballast problems is
to generate static and dynamic lift what sets Aeroscraft apart from the rest,"
through a combination of gas buoyancy explaines Engineering Manager, John
mangaement and thrust vectoring. Wertz.
The Aeroscraft also is equipped with It isn't just the Aeroscraft's uniqe ability
vectored thrust engines that rotate and to hover without the need for external
allow for advanced maneuverability as ballast that sets it apart from the rest.
well as aid VTOL flight operations like a The propulsion system will help The
helicopter. Aeroscraft deliver greater fuel efficiency
in operations. The Aeroscraft is also
The vectored thrust engines give the extremely environmentally friendly
Aeroscraft the ability to propel itself in burning only 1/3 the fuel of traditional
foward flight and aids the vehicle with aircraft to stay aloft.
hover operations and any ground-based
taxiing maneuvers.
Aeros 66-ton configuration will have
multiple electric propulsion units that will
provide 360 degree flexibility powered
by diesel generators. By using diesel
electric fuel for the propulsion system,
the Aeroscraft fleet will be quieter, have
"Reducing the workload of Aeros' avionics system will provide a more
manageable, user-friendly experience."
pilots is what we are aiming
to achieve. By combining
both a standard suite of Much like the aircrafts in use today,
flight technologies and the the Aeros' engines are controlled and
technologies of the VMS, the backed up by standard throttle levers
Aeros' avionics system will Louis Pu, and hard switches. However, what sets
provide a more manageable, Aerospace Aeros' systems apart from the rest is that
"
user-friendly experience. Control Engineer everything is communicated through a
VMS, eliminating need for extra support --
AVIONICS: such as flight engineers.
The Aeroscraft's avionic system was
specifically designed to compliment a Aeros’ avionics system includes a state of
vehicle that combines flight attributes of the art, centralized vehicle management
fixed-wing, rotary and traditional lighter- system (VMS) that allows pilots to
than-air vehicles. The Aeroscraft's avionic simultaneously coordinate with all vehicle
system was also designed with special sub systems, at any stage of flight. With
focus on streamlining pilot control to make just a tap on Aeros’ touch screen control
flying more manageable, and feature a systems (along with the help of its suite
centralized control system with the modern of flight instruments), pilots can manage
glass cockpit. the COSH system, vertical thrust engines,
landing systems, low speed control, etc.
Unlike the conventional fixed-wing yoke, -- all without the need for additional ground
the Aeroscraft is equipped with a side-stick support.
controller--allowing both pilot and co-pilot a
full range of control from either seat. Production of Aeros' 66 and 250 ton
avionics system will also include onboard
Numerous cameras onboard the aircraft weather systems and automated cargo
optimize situational awareness and handling systems -- eliminating need for
systems monitoring, providing operators loadmasters.
instant perspective inside and outside the
aircraft from numerous vantage points.
"Reducing the workload of pilots is what we
are aiming to achieve," stated Aerospace
Control Engineer Louis Pu. "By combining
both a standard suite of flight technologies
and the technologies of the VMS, the
"With a press of a button,
certain sides of the landing
systems simply deflate and
inflate to compensate for
uneven terrain--allowing
the Aeroscraft to appear
Alex Canto
as though it has just
Director of
landed on an even surface "
Quality Control
THE LANDING SYSTEM: during vertical landings, of providing suction the Aeroscraft to appear as though it has
Building infrastructure to support cargo- between the air vehicle and the ground to just landed on an even surface."
carrying aircraft takes an abundance of stabilize the air vehicle during passenger/
both time and money. By replacing the more cargo unloading and high wind conditions. The Aeroscraft's landing system also has
familiar landing gears found on traditional, the capability to elevate the fusil lodge high
fixed-wing aircraft's today, the Aeroscraft The landing system also provides positive enough for ground loading and offloading.
will eliminate both the need for extra time buoyancy to reduce friction to sufficiently to
and funding in a variety of aspects. allow the air vehicle to taxi. Contacts:
John Kiehle
The air-bearing landing system is another When completed, the Aeroscraft's landing
Phone: (323) 201-8374
truly a one-of-a-kind system that helps aid system will measure in at ~70 ft long and
john.kiehle@aeroscraft.com
the Aeroscraft's unique functionality. The 10 ft tall and will be designed with materials
landing system allows for the Aeroscraft that are capable of withstanding virtually
to land on virtually any surface—including any environmental condition. Sarah Hollins
unimproved surfaces and water. Phone: (323) 201-83732
"What makes the landing cushions truly sarah.hollins@aeroscraft.com
The system is equipped with powerful unique is their ability to inflate and deflate
gripping and suction capabilities. These based on surface conditions," says Alex
capabilities play a major role in allowing Canto, Director of Quality Control "With
the Aeroscraft stay grounded after arriving a press of a button, certain sides of the
to a destination for cargo offloading. The landing systems simply deflate and inflate
system is capable of absorbing energy to compensate for uneven terrain--allowing
