Cargo Business Newswire

Friday, March 21, 2014

Dirigible drone newest innovation in surveillance, navigation

StratoBus, a new dirigible drone designed in France, may be the next new innovation in surveillance and navigation.

StratoBus, floats to the lower stratosphere at an altitude of about 13 miles, where inventors say it will be in an ideal position to carry out a range of functions, including surveillance, border security monitoring, communications reinforcement and facilitating navigation — all from a stationary position with the help of two self-adjusting electric motors.

The StratoBus will be as long as a of a football field and 25 yards in diameter, and feature a blimp-shaped vehicle's shell made of carbon fiber.
The dirigible will be able to go on missions of up to a year and has a total lifetime of five years.

The ultra-lightweight design allows for a plug-and-play payload that can accommodate up to 450 pounds. And because it stays closer to earth, it will be able to take higher resolution images and maintain a stronger communications system than a satellite. It might even be used to boost GSM network capacity during high traffic periods.

StratoBus will feature a high tech solar power system with panels that rotate to maximize sun access along with a power amplification system to handle any surges in expended power.

For more of the Wired story and video: wired.com