Remote Load monitoring and Airworthiness Assessment of Inflatable Aerostat Structure Using Fiber-Optic Sensing Technology

Inflatable aerostat systems provide significant load carrying capabilities compared to other unmanned systems. These robust systems are ideal for aerial observation applications due to their enormous payload capacity and extended altitude range. They can stay at high altitude for almost unlimited time periods. In recent years, the demand for larger aerostat systems which can carry higher and more valuable payloads increased. The complexity of aerostat fabric structure imposes significant challenges for engineers in designing, analyzing, and testing. An important step in the development of an aerostat system, is monitoring the structure during its development. This must be accomplished by quantitative assessment of stress and strains developed in the fabric as a result of the induced aerodynamic loading, internal pressure and payload weight.