airbus zephyr: pioneering the stratosphere · • airbus zephyr has a demonstrated lead in the...
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Airbus
Zephyr: Pioneering the Stratosphere
Airbus Proprietary
Paul Stevens – Head of Design
Airbus Zephyr Programme
25/02/2019
ZP-PN-0039v2.0
“All air vehicles are limited by physics, some by
imagination, all others are limited by fuel”
Chris Kelleher 2015
Contents:1. What is Zephyr?
2. Why the stratosphere?
3. How does Zephyr work?
4. What does Zephyr do?
5. What Next for Zephyr?
Proven System Performance
• After taking off on 11th July in Arizona, USA, Zephyr S logged a maiden
flight of over 25 days, the longest duration flight ever made.
• Consistently achieved dawn altitudes of c60,000 ft throughout the flight, and
achieved an ultimate altitude record of >74,00ft.
• Payload operations: OPAZ 26cm resolution images, video and 3D mapping.
• BLOS: Whilst we remained in LOS of the local GCS at all times, we tested
BLOS and commanded the aircraft from the GCS in Farnborough
• The flight also proved a completely new battery technology which we have
developed from concept to flight within a year and allowed us to operate
with a dedicated flight ops crew for the first time
• An application has been made to establish this as a new world record and
we now move to operations from our new Australian permanent
operating base to support our customers
.
Q. Why fly so high? A. To avoid the weather
Altitude
Speed
Jet stream
65kft
40kft
Po
we
r re
qu
ire
d to
cru
ise
Power required to cruise
Mission planning and navigation starts with answering the question:
“how high must Zephyr fly?”.
Sweet spot!
Wind Speed Example
True Air Speed Cruise
Flight operations
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• After take off from a launch site, Zephyr will ascend into
the stratosphere under Line Of Sight control from the
launch site, and then switch to Beyond Line Of Sight
control for the transit to the mission location.
• Operating between 60kft to 75kft, Zephyr remains well
clear of conventional air traffic and above the Jet-
stream.
• At 65kft, LOS to horizon is 500km.
• Zephyr transits approximately 1000nm per day.
• The only time Zephyr is integrated with other airspace
users is during the ascent and descent phases.
~1800km/day
LOS 1000km
diameter
Transit
Zephyr C&C Irridium
Payload BLOS
Inmarsat
LRE
Deployable
P/L terminal
Area of Interest
Zephyr Video - Maiden Flight 2018:
Q. How does Zephyr Work?
A. It’s a perfect balance of energy IN and energy OUT
The Zephyr concept is made viable by low cruise power at high altitude, which is determined by:
• Aero-structural design needs to offer low mass, low wing loading and low drag;
• High propulsion system efficiency;
• Minimum power requirements for on-board avionicssystems;
• High energy density power storage system with good cycle life (high Whrs/kg);
• Efficient power generation (high W/kg).
Q. What does Zephyr do?
A. It reliably stays in the stratosphere ALL NIGHT
No other aircraft has achieved this or is remotely close to this!
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Zephyr S top level specification:
1. AUM <75kg;
2. Endurance up to 2 years;
3. Year round operating capability:
• Current battery ±25degrees
latitude;
• Planned, approx. ±40degrees;
• Seasonal endurance outside
these latitudes.
4. Payload capacity up to 250W, 4kg to
12kg, with some seasonal
dependence.
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Example of a still image from wing tip camera transferred
over BLOS data links
Payloads and applicationsRemote sensing:
• Border security
• Civil planning
• Maritime monitoring (AIS)
Environmental monitoring:
• Pollution
• Desertification / water resources
• Atmospheric monitoring
Communications:
• Wide area relay and broadcast
Huge LOS foot print
• 1000km diameter
Benign Flight Envelop
• Roll angle ~7degrees
• Very low vibration
Augments space and aircraft
• Qualities of a Geo-stationary satellite
• Dynamically re-tasked like a tactical
UAS
Q. What does Zephyr do?
A. It flies for months at a time.
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The 2018 test flight:
• Performed in restricted airspace;
• Blue snail trail, if straightened out,
would go around the world almost
1 ½ times;
• Did anyone follow the stratospheric
art on Flight Radar 24?
Transit
Zephyr C&C Irridium
Payload BLOS
Inmarsat
LRE
Deployable
P/L terminal
Area of Interest
OPAZ images – © Airbus DS 2018 – view from Airbus Zephyr
Zephyr Video – OPAZ Acquisitions 2018:
Year round services
Legislation and approval
Applications and Payloads
Batteries
Q What next for Zephyr
TechnologyEnd user value
Flight Demonstrations
Flight hours
Confidence
Only Zephyr has
proven and sustained flight in
the stratosphere
Q. What next for Zephyr?
Wyndham, Western Australia
• The technology is here and Zephyr S works!
• High Altitude Pseudo Satellites address high
value applications requiring persistent
presence;
• Airbus Zephyr has a demonstrated lead in the
design, build and operation of HAPS allowing
low risk access to a World class development;
• Clear program to develop operations,
legislation and payloads in parallel for rapid
entrance to market.