Pelican
Abstract
In conjunction with the NASA-Ames Research Center, the Department has undertaken an effort called "Project Pelican" which is an advanced technology demonstrator whose purpose is to integrate independent technologies into a single, rigid aeroshell variable buoyancy (RAVB) air vehicle. The Pelican RAVB will demonstrate the technical maturity of a scalable vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Key technologies to be demonstrated include a buoyancy management system to enable ballast-independent operations, composite lightweight rigid external structure to reduce environmental restrictions, a responsive low-speed/hover control system with associated control algorithms, and a ground handling subsystem to enable operations on unimproved landing surfaces. The program objective is to mitigate long-term technical risk by integrating and demonstrating a suite of technologies with the potential to reduce operational constraints on future heavy-lift, buoyant-aircraft development programs. If successful, the Pelican prototype will enable the rapid development of a nascent class of air vehicle which will radically reduce the energy use per ton-mile of airlift operations, permit high-payload operations directly into and out of austere regions with little infrastructure, and enable long-endurance manned or unmanned air operations. RAVB aircraft appear to be potentially scalable to payloads of 500-1,000 tons (compared with payloads in the 125-ton range for the largest current US cargo aircraft). With cruise speeds of 80-100 knots, RAVB aircraft could surpass by several times the speed of fast sealift. With the potential to operate from land or water with very little infrastructure, RAVB aircraft may also drastically reduce the need for intermodal transportation as cargo moves from origin to point of need, with corresponding reduction in delivery times. Project Pelican will be conducted over a five-year period with the first three years consisting of vehicle design, analysis, and subsystem prototyping/testing. Year four will involve systems integration and construction with ground and flight testing being conducted in year five.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- 5a6a982cf92e13cfb2b97923c1d49cb3
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