Configuration Design and Sizing Optimization of a Winged Airship

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a near space aerial vehicle, which combines aerodynamic lift and buoyancy with buoyancy force and operates at day and night energy saving mode. The configuration is designed and optimized by a Non-dominated Sorted Genetic Algorithm (NSGAII). The design project for winged airship in the kink of non dominated solution set is selected as a best one. The sizing of the optimized airship is closed to that of the high altitude airship published by Lockheed Martins Inc, which shows that the optimization model for the winged airship is accurate, and is of reference value for the configuration design in low speed near space aerial vehicle.