3 ms·

Veritasium recently did a good video on airships and some of their potential modern applications https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjBgEkbnX2I https://www.youtube

• eagerpace 3y ago
  This video was good and helped me understand it's not just lifting, but what happens when it drops the lifted object. The main issue is after you drop the weight the ship will take off into the sky if it doesn't vent or compress gas, both are non-trivial processes that require significant cost, waste or energy.
  • gretch 3y ago
    Well another option presented in the video is to use weight offsets - when you drop the cargo off, also pick up something equally heavy. It’s not that hard to imagine that weight being return trip cargo or seawater in worst case.
  • fellowniusmonk 3y ago
    I mean it seems like loading and unloading over ponds and other bodies of water and using pumps to displace weight is the most straightforward. During the transition phase of loading and unloading, tethering to ground seems like it would make things easier. Still cheaper and more flexible than equipment at an existing seaport.
  • tschwimmer 3y ago
    Perhaps this is a stupid question but couldn't you just tether it down? I suppose this would not be ideal for very rudimentary landing zones but depending on the forces involved would cleats embedded in concrete be sufficient?