3:12 p.m., Jan. 12, 2009----The University of Delaware's new airship, a recently acquired 60-foot long remotely controlled blimp, will be showcased from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Center for Applied Coastal Research, behind Penny Hall.

THIS STORY

E-mail

Print

Delicious

Digg this

Facebook

The blimp will be shown by Michael A. O'Neal, assistant professor of geography, and Jack A. Puleo, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.

The blimp is designed for heavy lifting of earth and atmosphere observing equipment for both classroom and research activities. It operates via remote control at altitudes of up to 500 meters with instrument payloads of up to 100 pounds.

Remotely controlled blimps of this scale have never been employed as environmental research and monitoring platforms before, making the University's airship a unique, groundbreaking instrument.

Examples of upcoming missions include time series imagery of terrestrial and near shore systems in a variety of wavelengths, and atmospheric observations of air quality above landfills.

The researchers said they anticipate that the blimp will have great interdisciplinary potential and hope to see it foster collaborations throughout the University.

All University of Delaware faculty, staff and students are welcome to visit. Faculty will be available to answer questions for those interested in incorporating data from blimp missions in their teaching or research.