User:LogisticsNetwork/sandbox

MAAT - Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport
MAAT - Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport is a three-year EU-project within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), launched on 18th September 2011 in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The MAAT project provides the design of a novel discoid airship or cruiser, which has the possibility of very long non-stop-flights, at economical altitudes and cruise speeds. 12 partners from eight countries (EU, Russia, Uruguay) collaborate in the project. The MAAT project is coordinated by the Department of Engineering Sciences and Methods, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. The European Commission Directorate - General for Research and Innovation funds the project, which will finalize in August 2014.

Project
The project is aiming at developing an airship operating in the stratosphere, allowing for the exachange of passengers and freight during operations, in doing so acting like an airborne logistics centre, thus minimizing problematic ground based logistics. MAAT is a green system due to the complete absence of emissions and is energetically self sufficient. The vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) allows to stop at town centres.

The MAAT system is composed by three modules. The PTAH (Photovoltaic Transport Airship for High-altitudes) is a heavy payload and high quote cruiser which remains airborne on stable routes. The ATEN (Air Transport Efficient Network feeder) or feeder is a VTOL feeder airship by gas buoyancy linking the cruiser to the ground. The AHA (Airship Hub Airport) is a new concept of low cost vertical airport hub joinable by ATEN, easy to build both in towns and in logistic centres.

The project objectives are:
 * 1) to identify and design the best type of propulsion for the PTAH (feeder, starting with the available electric energy supplied by the photovoltaic modules
 * 2) to study the different possible ways of approaching, joining and release between ATEN and PTAH
 * 3) to identify and design the joining modality between the ATENs and PTAH
 * 4) to design the best procedure of docking operations
 * 5) to size the propulsive system of the PTAH and the ATENs
 * 6) to study the different architectures of PTAH and ATENs, such that PTAH is optimized for aerodynamic performances given specified dimensions and operative mission
 * 7) to set up a feeder demonstrator of the system
 * 8) to test the capability of PTAH to remain airborne for long periods without interruption.

Consortium
The following project partners participate in the project:


 * 1) University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
 * 2) Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal
 * 3) LogisticNetwork Consultants GmbH (LNC), Germany
 * 4) The University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
 * 5) Southern Federal University, Russia
 * 6) engys Ltd., United Kingdom
 * 7) University of Lincoln, United Kingdom
 * 8) University of Bologna, Italy
 * 9) Esponential design Lab. S.A., Uruguay
 * 10) Aero Sekur, Italy
 * 11) Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
 * 12) Politecnico of Turin

Project Structure
The project is divided into the subsequent Work Package structures:


 * WP 1 Project management and coordination
 * WP 2 Overall System Design
 * WP 3 Flight Mechanics
 * WP 4 Energy and Propulsive Systems
 * WP 5 Controls and Telecommunications
 * WP 6 Cruiser/Feeder Docking and Joints
 * WP 7 Cabins, Cargos and Transfer Systems
 * WP 8 Concept Testing and Demonstration
 * WP 9 Dissemination of MAAT Results.

Cooperation with other Projects
MAAT has initiated a technology transfer with the FP7 Projects ACHEON and CROP to provide for re-use of technology. ACHEON focuses on Coanda Effect Jet Vectoring; CROP on innovative propulsion concepts for low speeds.

ACHEON
FP7 AAT L0 ACHEON is fundamental because it permits a vector and thrust control, especially of the feeder, permitting both propulsion and stability control without moving parts maximizing the affordability of the system. Such solution is derived by a patent of UNIMORE and initially developed within the MAAT project. The Consortium is evaluating if the solution can be effectively applied to the MAAT propulsion system.

CROP
CROP Project (FP7 AAT L0) refers to a Cycloidal Rotor Optimized for Propulsion that will be considered in particular for the MAAT cruiser airship, since it is the vehicle whose geometry will make easier the implementation of cyclorotors. Also, since cyclorotors can have large span and work by rotating at low speed, they can overcome present day limitations associated to low-Re number flows in high altitude classical rotors. Further, CROP Plasma Enhanced Cycloidal Thruster can use electrical power available on MAAT cruiser to further increase the performance of the cyclorotors using dielectric barrier discharge to control boundary layer flow in the cycloidal rotors.