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Feasibility Study of Cargo Airship Transportation Systems Powered by New Green Energy TechnologiesThe development of transportation systems that use new and sustainable energy technologies is of utmost importance due to the possible future shortfalls that current transportation modes will encounter because of increased volume and costs. The introduction and further research and development of new transportation and energy systems by materials researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC) and the Department of Transportation are discussed in this Technical Memorandum. In this preliminary study, airship concepts were assessed for cargo transportation using various green energy technologies capable of 24-hour operation (i.e., night and day). Two prototype airships were successfully constructed and tested at LaRC to demonstrate their feasibility: one with commercially available solar cells for operation during the daytime and one with microwave rectennas (i.e., rectifying antennas) developed in-house for night-time operation. The test results indicate the feasibility of a cargo transportation airship powered by new green energy sources and wireless power technology. Future applications will exploit new green energy sources that use materials and devices recently developed or are in the process of being developed at LaRC. These include quantum well SiGe solar cells; low, mid-, and high temperature thermoelectric modules; and wireless microwave and optical rectenna devices. This study examines the need and development of new energy sources for transportation, including the current status of research, materials, and potential applications.
Document ID
20140006040
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Skuza, Jonathan R.
(National Inst. of Aerospace Hampton, VA, United States)
Park, Yeonjoon
(National Inst. of Aerospace Hampton, VA, United States)
Kim, Hyun Jung
(National Inst. of Aerospace Hampton, VA, United States)
Seaman, Shane T.
(National Inst. of Aerospace Hampton, VA, United States)
King, Glen C.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Choi, Sang H.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Song, Kyo D.
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Yoon, Hargsoon
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Lee, Kunik
(Department of Transportation McLean, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 22, 2014
Publication Date
April 1, 2014
Subject Category
Electronics And Electrical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2014-218241
NF1676L-17035
L-20307
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 833011.02.07.89Z5.13
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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