Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Aerostats and Stratolites could play a major role in expanding current satellite and other technologies
in the near future. A study was made on the development of aerostat platforms and the current
state of Stratolite development.
The aim was to develop an airship system that is capable of maintaining a specific position
regardless of the presence of wind. The various applications of such a geostationary platform are
discussed.
A dynamic model of an airship was developed and a simulation was implemented in software.
This was done to study the possibility of developing aerostats like these.
A tethered airship system was developed and built to demonstrate that it is possible to control
the position of an airship. The airship system uses current technology in an unique combination to
fulfil the requirement of remaining stationary despite the influence of wind.
Various control system design techniques were used to implement the controllers. Linear models
of the airship system were identified practically and used to design the controllers.
The controllers were tested in simulation as well as practically and the results of these tests
are given. It was concluded that there exists potential for the development of Stratolite systems,
although there exists a fair amount of challenges and obstacles that would need to be overcome
before this technology could be implemented. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aerostats en Stratolites kan ’n besondere rol speel in die uitbreiding van huidige sateliet- en ander
aardwaarnemingstoepassings. ’n Studie is gemaak oor die ontwikkeling van Aerostat platforms en
die huidige stand van Stratolite ontwikkeling.
Die mikpunt was om ’n lugskipstelsel te ontwikkel wat in staat is om ’n spesifieke posisie te
handhaaf ten spyte van die invloed van wind. Die verskeidenheid van toepassings, waarvoor so ’n
geostasionêre platform gebruik kan word, word genoem.
’n Dinamiese model van ’n lugskip is ontwikkel en die stelsel is in sagteware gesimuleer. Dit is
gedoen om die moontlikheid te ondersoek om sulke Aerostats in die toekoms te ontwikkel.
’n Lugskipstelsel, wat aan die grond geanker word met ’n kabel, is ontwerp en gebou. Die stelsel
is gedemonstreer en daar is bewys dat dit moontlik is om die posisie van die lugskip te beheer. Die
lugskip gebruik huidige tegnologie wat in ’n unieke kombinasie saamgevoeg is om te illustreer dat
dit moontlik is vir die lugskip om stasionêr te bly ten spyte van wind.
Verskeie beheerstelsels ontwerptegnieke is gebruik om die beheerders mee te implementeer. Lineêre
modelle van die lugskip is prakties geïdentifiseer en is gebruik om die beheerders te ontwerp.
Die lugskip se beheerders is in simulasie sowel as prakties getoets en die resultate van hierdie
toetse word gegee. Die projek bevestig dat daar ’n potensiaal bestaan vir die praktiese ontwikkeling
van Stratolite stelsels. Daar is egter ’n hele paar uitdagings en probleme wat eers uit die weg geruim
sal moet word, voordat hierdie tegnologie ’n alledaagse werklikheid sal word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2984 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Fourie, Daniel Andries |
| Contributors | Steyn, W. H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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