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New aircraft rises 'like a balloon' | New aircraft rises 'like a balloon' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Researchers from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have helped create a revolutionary new type of aircraft. | Researchers from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have helped create a revolutionary new type of aircraft. |
Phoenix is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to stay in the air indefinitely using a new type of propulsion. | Phoenix is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to stay in the air indefinitely using a new type of propulsion. |
Despite being 15m (50ft) long with a mass of 120kg (19 stone) she rises gracefully onto the air. | Despite being 15m (50ft) long with a mass of 120kg (19 stone) she rises gracefully onto the air. |
She looks a little like an airship, except airships don't have wings. | She looks a little like an airship, except airships don't have wings. |
"It's a proper aeroplane," says the UHI's Professor Andrew Rae. | "It's a proper aeroplane," says the UHI's Professor Andrew Rae. |
As the project's chief engineer, he has overseen the integration of Phoenix's systems. | As the project's chief engineer, he has overseen the integration of Phoenix's systems. |
"It flies under its own propulsion although it has no engines," he says. | "It flies under its own propulsion although it has no engines," he says. |
"The central fuselage is filled with helium, which makes it buoyant so it can ascend like a balloon. | "The central fuselage is filled with helium, which makes it buoyant so it can ascend like a balloon. |
"And inside that there's another bag with compressors on it that brings air from outside, compresses the air, which makes the aeroplane heavier and then it descends like a glider." | "And inside that there's another bag with compressors on it that brings air from outside, compresses the air, which makes the aeroplane heavier and then it descends like a glider." |
Launch satellites | Launch satellites |
This ability to "breathe" - to switch quickly between being heavier or lighter than air - doesn't just make the plane go up and down. | This ability to "breathe" - to switch quickly between being heavier or lighter than air - doesn't just make the plane go up and down. |
It is the key to driving it forward. Phoenix is the first large-scale aircraft to be powered by variable-buoyancy propulsion. | It is the key to driving it forward. Phoenix is the first large-scale aircraft to be powered by variable-buoyancy propulsion. |
It moves through the air like a porpoise through water. | It moves through the air like a porpoise through water. |
That means it can travel long distances and stay aloft for long periods. | That means it can travel long distances and stay aloft for long periods. |
The point? To create a cheaper alternative to launching satellites. | The point? To create a cheaper alternative to launching satellites. |
The wings and tail carry solar panels so there is no need to carry fuel aloft. | The wings and tail carry solar panels so there is no need to carry fuel aloft. |
The quasi-airship shape is based on an aerofoil, meaning it also provides lift like its wings do when the plane moves forward. | The quasi-airship shape is based on an aerofoil, meaning it also provides lift like its wings do when the plane moves forward. |
Prof Rae, using two wind tunnels at UHI's Perth College campus, led the design of its aerodynamics. | Prof Rae, using two wind tunnels at UHI's Perth College campus, led the design of its aerodynamics. |
The technique of variable-buoyancy propulsion is already used underwater. | The technique of variable-buoyancy propulsion is already used underwater. |
The Scottish Association for Marine Science (also part of UHI) has a small fleet of remotely operated vehicles - they call them gliders - that gather data in the North Atlantic. | The Scottish Association for Marine Science (also part of UHI) has a small fleet of remotely operated vehicles - they call them gliders - that gather data in the North Atlantic. |
They dive deep to collect data, then rise to the surface to transmit it via satellite. | They dive deep to collect data, then rise to the surface to transmit it via satellite. |
But air is much less dense than water and this has made the principle a trickier proposition for flight. | But air is much less dense than water and this has made the principle a trickier proposition for flight. |
Phoenix is the first aircraft of its size to use it. | Phoenix is the first aircraft of its size to use it. |
It is 15m (49ft) long with a wingspan of almost 11m (36ft) | It is 15m (49ft) long with a wingspan of almost 11m (36ft) |
Production versions would need to be scaled up to reach the altitudes of 20km required to fulfil its intended role. | Production versions would need to be scaled up to reach the altitudes of 20km required to fulfil its intended role. |
An autonomous vehicle which is self-sufficient in energy could stay in the air for days, weeks, even months. | An autonomous vehicle which is self-sufficient in energy could stay in the air for days, weeks, even months. |
The technical term is "ultra-long endurance autonomous aircraft". | The technical term is "ultra-long endurance autonomous aircraft". |
The team think it could revolutionise the telecommunications industry. | The team think it could revolutionise the telecommunications industry. |
'Almost expendable' | 'Almost expendable' |
The oft-quoted rule of thumb in the space business is that putting a satellite into orbit costs its weight in gold. | The oft-quoted rule of thumb in the space business is that putting a satellite into orbit costs its weight in gold. |
A Phoenix "pseudosatellite" could do the same job from high in the atmosphere at a fraction of the cost. | |
Prof Rae says some aircraft can already do this but are complex and expensive. | Prof Rae says some aircraft can already do this but are complex and expensive. |
Phoenix, by contrast, is so cheap as to be "almost expendable". | Phoenix, by contrast, is so cheap as to be "almost expendable". |
In addition to UHI, the Phoenix project involves Bristol, Newcastle, Sheffield and Southampton universities. | In addition to UHI, the Phoenix project involves Bristol, Newcastle, Sheffield and Southampton universities. |
It also involved four commercial companies and three of the UK's Technology Catapults, and has been part funded by the UK government's innovation agency Innovate UK. | It also involved four commercial companies and three of the UK's Technology Catapults, and has been part funded by the UK government's innovation agency Innovate UK. |
Winter winds | Winter winds |
The prototype Phoenix has been successfully tested inside the Drystack in Portsmouth, a huge indoor area which normally stores pleasure boats. | The prototype Phoenix has been successfully tested inside the Drystack in Portsmouth, a huge indoor area which normally stores pleasure boats. |
It was used to shelter the aircraft from the winter winds although production versions would operate in all weathers. | It was used to shelter the aircraft from the winter winds although production versions would operate in all weathers. |
The project has involved its partners integrating the solar cells, flight control system, micropumps, carbon fibre wings and tail, reversible hydrogen fuel cell and rechargeable battery. | The project has involved its partners integrating the solar cells, flight control system, micropumps, carbon fibre wings and tail, reversible hydrogen fuel cell and rechargeable battery. |
The last of these is what enables a solar-powered vehicle to keep working all night. | The last of these is what enables a solar-powered vehicle to keep working all night. |
Now that the prototype has flown successfully, the consortium wants to collaborate with major manufacturers to take Phoenix to the next level. | Now that the prototype has flown successfully, the consortium wants to collaborate with major manufacturers to take Phoenix to the next level. |