How does piloting work? Is the goal to make these things completely autonomous, or will there be a remote pilot at all times?
What's the business model? Can I buy one of your blimps, or are you going to become FedEx of the low skies?
How does piloting work? Is the goal to make these things completely autonomous, or will there be a remote pilot at all times?
What's the business model? Can I buy one of your blimps, or are you going to become FedEx of the low skies?
Business model is something we're still figuring out. We have interest on both sides, but at first we'll definitely be operating themselves as the 'FedEx of the low skies.' Once the airship is certified (1-3 years after we build it), we can sell them.
If you build the infrastructure for the latter, one operator could likely manage multiple craft.
That said, what does either type of pilot do, if the vehicle misbehaves? What's the abort protocol, esp. over populated areas? Given a 600-lb payload, self-destruct is not an appealing way to exit.