AIRSHIPS IN 21 ST CENTURY

Abstract

The research and development of diverse types of airships are reviewed in this paper. The early history of non-rigid, semi-rigid, and rigid airships is first introduced. It is followed by a description of a wide variety of unconventional airships with distinct features due to unique shape design, lifting gas, operation mode, or payload capability. The current ongoing airship projects in the world are summarized and the characteristics of hybrid airships and heavy-lift air vehicles are analysed in greater detail because of the increasing interest in their development. The techniques of modelling, structural analysis, and simulation used during airship development are reviewed. Also, the optimization of airship body shape is briefly discussed. The main emphasis of this review is on the consideration of the structural aspects.