Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport

The MAAT project (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport) aims to investigate aerial transportation possibility by airship based cruiser-feeder system. MAAT is composed by two modules: The cruiser, named PTAH, (acronym of Photovoltaic Transport Aerial High altitude system); the feeder, named ATEN (Aerial Transport Elevator Network feeder), is a VTOL system (Vertical Take Off and Landing) which ensure the connection between the cruiser and the ground. They can lift up and down by the control of buoyancy force and displace horizontally to join to cruiser.

The project aims to:

1. 1
   identify and design the most functional cruiser/feeder airship architecture based on a discoid innovative airship able to remain airborne for long periods and to travel great distances;
2. 2
   design the best type of propulsion both for cruiser and feeder so they can contribute together to the propulsion of an innovative modular airship;
3. 3
   minimize the environmental air transport impacts by annulling the fossil fuels energy consumption by designing both cruiser and feeder are energetically autonomous by photovoltaic energy and innovative electric propulsion.
4. 4
   study the different possible ways of approaching and joining between ATEN and PTAH, and consequently, the release of ATEN from PTAH.
5. 5
   design the best procedure of docking operations thus identified in order to obtain the minimum disruption to passengers and the maximum safety for themselves and for goods
6. 6
   study the different architectures of PTAH and Athens, in such a way that :
   1. a
      the lift up capacity guaranteed by the buoyancy force, may be accompanied by the power of the engines;
   2. b
      effective and safe procedures for docking;
   3. c
      ATEN can land and take off from Airport Hubs named AHA located in major populated centres
   4. d
      PTAH satisfies the better possible aerodynamic performances possible for the dimensions and the operative mission.

To study the transfer operations between ATEN and PTAH of goods and people and vice versa, to:

• minimize distress conditions for passengers,
• maximize performances especially for goods;
• enhance safety of these operations to maximum possible level.

The objectives described are congruent with each other and to achieve this study of the system and components must be highly structured…