A remotely-controlled micro airship for wireless coverage

This paper describes the design process and prototype development of a remotely controlled airship for wireless coverage. The airship is designed to be used as a platform to provide wireless coverage for rural areas. The design process follows a systematic design process for lighter-than-air vehicles, modified to impart slight heaviness to the vehicle. A remotely-controlled, thrust-vectored electric propulsion system offsets the slight vehicle heaviness. The electric propulsion system comprises two tilting rotors for takeoff, cruise, hovering, and horizontal manoeuvring. A rudder-less, rotor-less, cruciform fin design was implemented. A reduced-scale prototype of the airship was developed to prove the design concept. The airship prototype was successfully tested in an indoor environment.