Conceptual Design of a Solar-Powered Winged Hybrid Airship for Agricultural Purposes

Agriculture has been fundamental to human sustenance since ancient times. As the need for food production continues to escalate, researchers have been exploring methods to enhance yield while minimizing resource usage and environmental impact. In light of the rising worldwide population, there is an anticipated surge in food demand, and precision farming offers a hopeful remedy to satisfy this demand. This study presents a conceptual design and sizing of a winged hybrid airship for agricultural purposes. The airship is designed to provide a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for crop monitoring and fertilization. The design process includes the determination of the payload capacity, cruise altitude, range, and endurance of the airship. The propulsion system is a combination of solar panels and electric motors. The airship’s lifting mechanism is achieved through the use of helium and aerodynamic lift. The results show that the airship has the potential to carry a payload of up to 30 kg with an endurance of 24 hours. The proposed design offers a significant improvement in efficiency compared to traditional crop monitoring methods.