Current Developments
Various additions and developments regarding the original Hyperblimp have been ongoing for over a decade, when the first thin, rear-propelled and controlled, vehicle was tested in Sugarhouse, Utah. Developments are not necessarily in order here, but we’re doing our best to add the latest developments to the top of the list:
- Give us a break... who else has a crime-fighting blimp but Ogden? Read the 9/06/2011 article.
- Look up in the sky! It's a bird... a plane... a crime blimp. Read the MSNBC.com Weird News article from 9/06/2011.
- Experimenting with new camera arrangements, this one a GoPro parallel to a Panasonic TM700, filming near the new U of Utah Museum of Natural History.
- Hyperblimp LLC received Charles Lindbergh Award to study right whales with biologists from the University of Utah.
- Gimbaled nose-thruster tested and proven, for extreme maneuvers (in video gallery)
- Motor mount solidified with carbon fiber, carbon fiber tow and epoxy; interchangeable aluminum support developed.
- Continuous research and testing to make Hyperblimps user-friendly and reliable.
- Streamlined, ultra-light, strong, foam and carbon fiber fins developed.
- Strictly solar airships built and successfully flown on three occasions.
- Front thruster motor added in sync with rear motor, for yet more mobility.
- Highly functional relief valve developed, repeatedly tested.
- Fin, payload, ballast attachments improved and highly functional.
- Different voltages, motors, speed controllers regularly being experimented with.
- New material and coatings continually researched and tested for envelope strength, lightness, and helium retention.
- Camera gimbals added and proven functional.
- High definition cameras used and being further tested.
- Downlinks improved.
- Cell phone transmission and instant feedback under development.
- Filming of professional events, including foot and bicycle races.
- First testing for Forest Service communications at 900 feet highly successful.