Case Studies Solar Ship Inc. - Commercializing the First Solar-Powered Hybrid Airship with Solidworks Solutions

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	Solar Ship Inc. - Commercializing the First Solar-Powered Hybrid Airship with Solidworks Solutions

Solar Ship Inc. - Commercializing the First Solar-Powered Hybrid Airship with Solidworks Solutions

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM)
Applicable Industries	Healthcare & Hospitals National Security & Defense Transportation
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Digital Twin Fleet Management Predictive Maintenance Process Control & Optimization Remote Asset Management
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration Training
Challenge	Accelerate development of the first piloted hybrid airplane/airship that meets governmental safety requirements for commercial use to transport people and freight to remote locations. Read More
About Customer	Solar Ship Inc. is a Toronto-based company that has developed the first solar-powered hybrid airship, known as the solarship. This innovative aircraft combines the characteristics of airplanes and dirigibles, utilizing both buoyant gas and aerodynamics for lift. The solarship's wing-ship design provides a large surface area for solar cells, enabling short takeoffs and landings, and long, self-sufficient flights. The company aims to commercialize this technology for various applications, including delivering medical supplies and serving the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) markets. Solar Ship Inc. is driven by a team of passionate engineers and global partners who collaborate using SOLIDWORKS solutions to bring this groundbreaking technology to market. Read More
Solution	Solar Ship Inc. implemented a suite of SOLIDWORKS solutions to accelerate the development of their solar-powered hybrid airship. The company utilized SOLIDWORKS Standard, Professional, and Premium for design, along with SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Simulation Premium, and Flow Simulation for analysis. Additionally, they employed SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM for product data management, SOLIDWORKS Sustainability for environmental impact assessment, and SOLIDWORKS Composer for technical communication. These integrated tools provided a robust platform for design, simulation, visualization, communication, and data management, enabling efficient and collaborative development. The use of SOLIDWORKS Simulation and Flow Simulation allowed the engineers to conduct structural and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses, ensuring the safety and performance of the aircraft. This comprehensive approach facilitated rapid innovation and adherence to safety standards, ultimately leading to the successful piloting and regulatory approval of the first hybrid airship. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization

Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM)

Applicable Industries

Healthcare & Hospitals

National Security & Defense

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Digital Twin

Fleet Management

Predictive Maintenance

Process Control & Optimization

Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Training

Challenge

Accelerate development of the first piloted hybrid airplane/airship that meets governmental safety requirements for commercial use to transport people and freight to remote locations.

About Customer

Solar Ship Inc. is a Toronto-based company that has developed the first solar-powered hybrid airship, known as the solarship. This innovative aircraft combines the characteristics of airplanes and dirigibles, utilizing both buoyant gas and aerodynamics for lift. The solarship's wing-ship design provides a large surface area for solar cells, enabling short takeoffs and landings, and long, self-sufficient flights. The company aims to commercialize this technology for various applications, including delivering medical supplies and serving the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) markets. Solar Ship Inc. is driven by a team of passionate engineers and global partners who collaborate using SOLIDWORKS solutions to bring this groundbreaking technology to market.

Solution

Solar Ship Inc. implemented a suite of SOLIDWORKS solutions to accelerate the development of their solar-powered hybrid airship. The company utilized SOLIDWORKS Standard, Professional, and Premium for design, along with SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Simulation Premium, and Flow Simulation for analysis. Additionally, they employed SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM for product data management, SOLIDWORKS Sustainability for environmental impact assessment, and SOLIDWORKS Composer for technical communication. These integrated tools provided a robust platform for design, simulation, visualization, communication, and data management, enabling efficient and collaborative development. The use of SOLIDWORKS Simulation and Flow Simulation allowed the engineers to conduct structural and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses, ensuring the safety and performance of the aircraft. This comprehensive approach facilitated rapid innovation and adherence to safety standards, ultimately leading to the successful piloting and regulatory approval of the first hybrid airship.

Impact #1	Accelerated development process: The use of SOLIDWORKS solutions enabled Solar Ship to speed up the development of their hybrid airship, allowing for quicker iterations and innovations.
Impact #2	Reduced number of prototypes required: By leveraging simulation tools, the company minimized the need for physical prototypes, saving time and resources.
Impact #3	Fostered collaboration among global partners: The integrated SOLIDWORKS platform facilitated seamless collaboration among engineers and partners worldwide, enhancing the collective intelligence and efficiency of the development process.

Impact #1

Accelerated development process: The use of SOLIDWORKS solutions enabled Solar Ship to speed up the development of their hybrid airship, allowing for quicker iterations and innovations.

Impact #2

Reduced number of prototypes required: By leveraging simulation tools, the company minimized the need for physical prototypes, saving time and resources.

Impact #3

Fostered collaboration among global partners: The integrated SOLIDWORKS platform facilitated seamless collaboration among engineers and partners worldwide, enhancing the collective intelligence and efficiency of the development process.

Benefit #1	Reduced number of prototypes required, leading to cost savings.
Benefit #2	Accelerated development process, shortening the time to market.
Benefit #3	Minimized destructive testing, saving time and money.

Benefit #1

Reduced number of prototypes required, leading to cost savings.

Benefit #2

Accelerated development process, shortening the time to market.

Benefit #3

Minimized destructive testing, saving time and money.

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Overview

Solar Ship Inc. - Commercializing the First Solar-Powered Hybrid Airship with Solidworks Solutions

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit