The bottom line is airships have been a lousy idea ever since the Hindenburg exploded in the 1930s. (Oh the humanity!) In retrospect, considering the number of accidents—a plane just crashed in Indonesia this week—and terrorist acts perpetrated on passenger airlines, it’s hard to tell which transportation medium is more viable in the long run.
This doesn’t seem to be a problem with the U.S. military, who’ve re-introduced airships for a couple of purposes: First is for airborne observation posts that are moored to the ground. Second as supply transports in places where infrastructure is limited. (See Afghanistan.)
The Challenges of Airships
As mentioned, however, airships are just lousy. The helium that keeps it afloat is vulnerable and maintaining buoyancy is a pain, an engineering problem that has stumped the best and brightest for ages. Helium, while non-flammable and safer than hydrogen, is expensive and scarce. The structural integrity of airships also poses a significant challenge. They are susceptible to weather conditions, making them less reliable compared to other forms of transportation. Additionally, the sheer size of airships makes them difficult to maneuver and land, requiring large open spaces that are not always available.
Innovations in Airship Technology
Not stumped is this Oleg Pasternak guy from Ukraine who works out of California. He’s developed this COSH system that resolves the mobility issues of future airships, including the ones that the U.S. military will commission in 2013. The COSH system, which stands for “Control of Static Heaviness,” is a groundbreaking technology that allows airships to adjust their buoyancy dynamically. This system uses a combination of helium and air to control lift, making the airship more stable and easier to maneuver.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. For instance, airships equipped with the COSH system could be used for disaster relief, providing a means to deliver supplies to areas that are otherwise inaccessible. They could also serve as mobile communication hubs, offering a reliable platform for telecommunications in remote regions. Moreover, the environmental impact of airships is significantly lower than that of airplanes, as they consume less fuel and produce fewer emissions.
Despite these advancements, the adoption of airships on a large scale remains uncertain. The public perception of airships is still tainted by historical disasters like the Hindenburg, and there are significant regulatory hurdles to overcome. However, with continued innovation and investment, airships could become a viable alternative for specific applications where traditional aircraft fall short.
Watch out for more news on this front.
Source The Register
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