UNCLASSIFIED Mobilus Creating A New Transport Airship Capability in the US Aerospace Industry Presented to AIAA September 2004* LTC Michael Woodgerd 703.806.5438 michael.woodgerd@caa.army.mil * Updated for web posting UNCLASSIFIED 1
Background Speaker Background/Military Interest/Analyses/Results The Mobilus Initiative/Why and What it is www.sddc.army.mil Media articles/interviews Purpose of Briefing Seeking Active Participation General Aviation, not just Lighter-Than-Air Sample of Work Most Relevant to Technical Audience Spread the Word Commercial End Users Stakeholders/Support Networks Clarification 2
Transport Airships & The Mobilus Initiative Desired capability the What? Ultra-Large Airlifters (ULAs)- various types of transport airships New term for proposed systems Payload & Volume far greater than conventional aircraft (100s of tons) Range capability measured in thousands of miles Speed significantly greater than surface ships Will NOT require significant infrastructure for operations VTOL - Crane Creating the capability the How? : Mobilus Identifies need for a new sector of US aerospace industry a transport airship capability - to serve unmet military and commercial needs Uses a balanced, cost-sharing (money and in kind contributions) Public/Private Partnership (P3) to coalesce a fragmented industry Develops a commercial transport airship capacity and access it for military and other governmental purposes (in a CRAF like manner) Seeks to rapidly develop a broad capability/multiple suppliers/new entrants Goes beyond any previous P3 VTOL STOL 3
Understanding The Mobilus Initiative What it is NOT Military acquisition Program Traditional contracting Aimed at Defense Contractors Hit for funds WRONG Questions Who is building it? What Service/staff section has lead? What does it do how fast does it fly, etc How much does it cost? What it IS Initiative to develop a broad commercial capability Process to determine the smartest way forward Aimed at new participants smaller companies new industrial base Copying success from private sector partnership approach RIGHT Questions What capability do we need? What is it worth? What team of stakeholders share this common interest? What can each of us contribute to a partnership to make this 4 capability real?
What Matters to Military Deployment Commercial project freight and military deployment needs overlap. This list identifies the key military interests Landing Zone Requirements (where it can deliver in the world) Volume of payload bay (weight is secondary) Load/Unload Time/Simplicity Range Speed Commercial use criteria is similar, but varied by application Static equilibrium ( ballasting ) is a universal factor, but more of an operational consideration than a make or break 5
Stakeholder Map/Partnership Members The Relevant Environment Cognitive Domain Building Consensus/ Support Physical Domain: The Thrust Line Government Universities Industry Interest Groups Commercial Users Balanced Joint Initiative VISION Broad LTA Based Aerospace Capability Centered On Transport Airships Collaborative Effort to Create a Broad Capability Each participant brings a capability to the team money, IP, facilities, etc. Legal framework for efficiency/protection/product protects all participants and produces new intellectual property, coordinates all necessary efforts, tracks money, financial reporting and other requirements Creates opportunities for multiple supply chains in private sector 6 Only way for multiple small companies/designs to gain necessary support
Analytical Baseline Study Details Specific primary tasks: ID realistic performance expectations of possible types ID logical design paths ID and prioritize future S&T and R&D efforts ID all the necessary steps to design, build, test and certify transport airships (ULAs) ID and quantify key commercial markets/required performance 177 existing studies screened so far (only in second quarter of contract) Validating analytical tools Building database Match Commercial Needs with Military Needs and cross walk to viable design choice(s). Then match with stakeholders. Follow the money! 7
Capabilities Focused Analysis Background on LTA technologies, and design types Not platform specific Not done by the vendor Operational Categories STOL VTOL VTOL-Crane ULA Concept Classes Conventional ellipsoid airship Spherical Lenticular Hybrid-rotary Hybrid-winged Hybrid-lifting body LTA Construction Non-rigid Semi-rigid Rigid Potential ULA Enabling Technologies Weight reduction, Helium compression/heating, boundary layer control/stern propulsion, drag reduction 8
Unified Trade Off Environment (UTE) RSEs SYNTHESIS & SIZING 1 Requirements Space Concept Space Technology Space + TWR DISCIPLINARY RSEs Aerodynamic s Structures Cost Aerostatics 100% 0% Objective 9 Aspiration Aspiration Space Space Probability Criterion 2 or Requirement 2 Constraints Constraints Constraints Responses Responses Responses Metrics/Objectives Responses Responses Metrics/Objectives Responses Metrics/Objectives Dynamic Contour Plots ²%$/RPM Visualization of Trade-off Space CDF TOFLmod SLNmod JPDM MCS Criterion 1 Meta-model
Parametric Analysis Sample AIRSHIP DESIGN RESPONSES Hp 1,005 System Power Requirement (HP) CALCULATIONS V 2,168,772 Envelope volume of the ship (ft3) D 165,586 Standard Displacement (lb) Weight of Air: 0.150 x D We 114,408 Empty Weight (lb) Weight of Gas: 0.850 x D SE 0.31 Static Efficiency Total Air & Gas Weight: 0.287 x D OSE 19.63 Overall Ship Efficiency Weight Allowance: 0.358 x D VARIABLES v 60.00 Speed (Kts) or 101.3 ft/s Weight of Pwr Plt + Fuel 44 x Hp ρ a 0.07635 Density of Air (lb/ft3) or 0.002371 Slug/ft3 System Power Req't (Hp) 0.333 x D 2/3 OPE 63.50 Overall Propulsive Efficiency Wp 15,000 Payload (lb) Eq.1: {D - A.D 2/3 = B} E 60.00 Endurance (Hrs) A = 41.00 ρ g 0.06400 Density of the gas (lb/ft3) in standard atmosphere B = 41944 lbs Kew 0.355 Empty Weight to Displacement ratio Solving Eq.1 for D Kpw 8.00 Propulsion Weight to Power Ratio (lb/hp) D = 165585.739 lbs Ksfw 0.60 Specific Fuel & Fuel System Weight to Power Ratio (lb/hp.hrs) Error = -5.804E-08 lbs A 5,700 Altitude (ft) Air Volume (V) 2168771.96 ft3 %I 85.01% Inflation at sea level Required Power (Hp) 1004.94 HP RESPONSES Hp 750 System Power Requirement (kw) CALCULATIONS V 61,410 Envelope volume of the ship (m3) D 75 Standard Displacement (MT) Weight of Air: 0.150 x D We 52 Empty Weight (MT) Weight of Gas: 0.850 x D SE 0.31 Static Efficiency Total Air & Gas Weight: 0.287 x D OSE 19.63 Overall Ship Efficiency Weight Allowance: 0.358 x D VARIABLES v 111.12 Speed (km/hr) Weight of Pwr Plt + Fuel 44 x Hp ρ a 1.22285 Density of Air (kg/m3) System Power Req't (Hp) 0.333 x D 2/3 OPE 63.50 Overall Propulsive Efficiency Wp 7 Payload (MT) Eq.1: {D - A.D 2/3 = B} E 60.00 Endurance (Hrs) A = 41.00 ρ g 1.02504 Density of the gas (kg/m3) in standard atmosphere B = 19022 kg Kew 0.355 Empty Weight to Displacement ratio Solving Eq.1 for D Kpw 4.86 Propulsion Weight to Power Ratio (kg/kw) D = 75096 kg Ksfw 0.36 Specific Fuel & Fuel System Weight to Power Ratio (kg/kw.hrs) Error = -2.632E-08 kg A 1,738 Altitude (m) Air Volume (V) 61410.4643 m3 %I 85.01% Inflation at sea level Required Power (Hp) 749.95 kw Compare structural, aerodynamic, and dimensional differences between ULA concepts as related to their performance and missions. Investigate relationship of speed, distance, and payload to initial static conditions. Consider various landing site limitations to determine necessity of landing vs in-flight delivery of cargos. 10
Technology Roadmapping Right tech is not necessarily high tech 80T 80T 80T Vision: ULA Capability 50T 50T 50T Legend 20T 20T 20T Concept Class 1 Concept Class 2 Concept Class 3 Now Fabrics Gen. I Fabrics Gen II He Heat Solar Time Required Technology Insertions 11
Snapshot My Current focus: Finding/Working with commercial end users Laying analytical baseline/overseeing contract study Performance Costs Internal Government coordination Getting the Word Out Wide Open for Participation Initial participants/stakeholders drive the train and get first seat at table of new industry segment 12
If We Could Do This In The 30s USS Akron flying aircraft carrier at forward operating base 13