Development and manufacturing concepts for a Kytoon
Bachelor / Master thesis / Research thesis
Background
A Kytoon is an aircraft that combines the characteristics of a kite and a balloon. The term is a portmanteau of the English words ‘kite’ and ‘balloon’. Technically, it is a tethered balloon with a tail unit that utilises both static lift from the lifting gas and dynamic lift from the on-flow.
Kytoons are particularly suitable for aerial applications where stationary operation or tethering to a ground vehicle is required. Typical areas of application include advertising, high-altitude research, the exploration of raw material deposits and the monitoring of major events. Compared to other aircraft, Kytoons are characterised by long operational times in the air and low maintenance and operating costs.
Tasks
The aim of the work is to investigate technical and manufacturing-related issues surrounding the development of a Kytoon. Depending on the area of focus, the following topics may be addressed:
- Research into balloon manufacturing processes, as well as the handling and storage of lift gases
- Investigation of the technical feasibility of manufacturing, particularly with regard to the cutting and joining of film materials, as well as the attachment of structural components to flexible envelope structures
- Development of a scalable model for deriving and validating suitable manufacturing steps
- Development of concepts for energy transfer, energy storage and energy generation for on-board systems and payloads
This work offers the opportunity to combine theoretical analysis with practical development and design tasks. Interdisciplinary approaches drawing on the fields of aeronautical engineering, materials science, manufacturing technology and energy engineering are expressly encouraged.
Start date
Available immediately.
© Wolfram Groh
Research Associate
NameMr Dipl.-Ing. Wolfram Groh
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Chair of Aircraft Engineering
Chair of Aircraft Engineering
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