On the design and implementation of a tri-ellipsoid unmanned autonomous blimp

In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a tri-ellipsoid unmanned autonomous blimp. The tri-ellipsoid blimp has larger payload capacity and anti-wind ability compared with the conventional solo-ellipsoid ones, while it maintains the length and streamline structure. Based on the dynamic model and simulation results, we designed and implemented the prototype. The proposed blimp includes the tri-ellipsoid blimp body, the flying control system, and the ground communication station. To test the performance of the proposed system, we carried out field experiments. The blimp can finish the tasks of remote control and autonomous flying in the outdoor environment. Preliminary experimental results show that the proposed blimp is a prospective unmanned aerial vehicle for the tasks of the near-ground search.