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Wow, the heli-blimp looks like something I would have built in Kerbal Space Program (A game which lets you build spaceships and planes). Its a bad idea, and it

Wow, the heli-blimp looks like something I would have built in Kerbal Space Program (A game which lets you build spaceships and planes). Its a bad idea, and it looks like they thought adding a lot of cross-beams would make it stable. "Guess and Check" might have worked for HS Calculus, but it's not a good way to build a flying machine on a Navy contract.

dm2 13y ago
Blimps are making a comeback apparently. I think the goal is to use them as a central relay for communications and to put a bunch of cameras and sensors on them. Possibly even release smaller drones and allow drones to refuel or recharge on them, kind of like a "mothership". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3n5cUaG5fg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3n5cUaG5fg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z72GPZ3MI2M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z72GPZ3MI2M
- jasonwatkinspdx 13y ago
  Tethered blimps are already in use by the US military and border patrol: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-vehicles/ptds.html http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-v... I expect we'll see more and more of this. Military stuff aside, they could be useful for early fire detection in high risk areas of CA, etc.
  - dm2 13y ago
    Yeah, those are cool, and a really good idea. Some great outside-the-box thinking, "let's put blimps everywhere!" They're a lot larger than I thought after seeing that photo you linked to. I always assumed they were the size of a small car or even smaller. I think they're also combined with the boomerang shooter detection system, and probably other sensors to give troops as much data as possible (wind speeds for shooting would probably be helpful). Also, the chrome version (with solar panels on top!) http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-vehicles/haa.html http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-v...

dm2 13y ago

Blimps are making a comeback apparently. I think the goal is to use them as a central relay for communications and to put a bunch of cameras and sensors on them. Possibly even release smaller drones and allow drones to refuel or recharge on them, kind of like a "mothership". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3n5cUaG5fg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3n5cUaG5fg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z72GPZ3MI2M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z72GPZ3MI2M

jasonwatkinspdx 13y ago
Tethered blimps are already in use by the US military and border patrol: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-vehicles/ptds.html http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-v... I expect we'll see more and more of this. Military stuff aside, they could be useful for early fire detection in high risk areas of CA, etc.
- dm2 13y ago
  Yeah, those are cool, and a really good idea. Some great outside-the-box thinking, "let's put blimps everywhere!" They're a lot larger than I thought after seeing that photo you linked to. I always assumed they were the size of a small car or even smaller. I think they're also combined with the boomerang shooter detection system, and probably other sensors to give troops as much data as possible (wind speeds for shooting would probably be helpful). Also, the chrome version (with solar panels on top!) http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-vehicles/haa.html http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/lighter-than-air-v...