The year 2029 marks 100 years since the Graf Zeppelin's maiden flight, marking a century since its historic impact on aviation!
Completed in 1928, the Graf Zeppelin quickly became a symbol of innovation and ambition in the field of lighter-than-air travel. Over its operational life, it completed numerous record-breaking voyages, most impressive being the first successful circumnavigation of the globe by airship in 1929, covering over 20,000 miles in just 21 days!
As we approach this 100-year milestone, Galaxy Unmanned Systems LLC looks to remember and honor this historic flight, with a first of our own....
MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
The A.I.R.S.H.I.P.²
Artificial Intelligence | Renewable & Sustainable | Hybridized Instinctive Power/Propulsion
Harnessing the perpetual nature of lighter-than-air blimps, or airships as we prefer to call them, which can last for hours in the air with relatively low energy operation, paired with hydrogen fuel cell generation and augmented by solar panels, this system is set to operate autonomously for weeks at a time, making this the first unmanned autonomous circumnavigation of the globe by airship!
Bio-Inspired AI integration will create a 'hunt and forage' capability in the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.², where it can actually search for sunlight and oxygen-dense areas along its 20,000 mile voyage, all the while avoiding storms and hazardous weather, potentially changing weeks to months, to even years of consistent flight; no breaks, no pit stops, no refueling...
...making the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² the first intelligent, self-sustaining human-made species!
Upon release, this system will navigate the globe, not necessarily following the flight of the Graf Zeppelin. This is an autonomous flight, the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² will make decisions about what to do and where to go (with some limitations for hostile countries and legal complications), and will travel the earth as it sees fit, finding the most efficient route. Once it finishes its mission, will explore the world autonomously, visiting people all over the world!
Where To Start?
It's a huge question. This is an enormously complicated system, with unique energy sources, unique intelligence, on a unique platform. Each part comes with a set number of challenges, and requires research, AI training, and even simply spreading awareness.
In short, this all starts with an app.
The A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² App
The A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² App invites users into a one-of-a-kind virtual adventure where they don’t just observe the first autonomous circumnavigation of the globe—they participate in it. By becoming the airship themselves, they train AI systems, manage fuel, and gather weather data, all while competing with others to develop the most successful flight strategies. This app offers a mix of education, competition, and real-world interaction, building a global community that supports both learning and fun. Whether verifying local weather, unlocking restricted zones, or training AI, users are an integral part of this historic mission.
With every task they complete, every challenge they overcome, and every piece of data they collect, users push the boundaries of aviation history—much like the Graf Zeppelin did 100 years ago, all the while informing our engineers how the real A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² will operate!
Key Features of the App:
First-Person Airship Simulation:
Users operate as the autonomous A.I.R.S.H.I.P.², experiencing life as the airship itself.
They’ll navigate through realistic sunspots, oxygen-dense areas, and must avoid storms to sustain the journey.
"Hunt" for solar energy in specific regions to maintain the ship's power, simulating real-time weather and atmospheric conditions.
First-Person Airship Simulation:
As part of the gameplay, the app will ask users for suggestions or ideas on how to handle certain challenges, like fuel management or navigating harsh weather conditions.
Users’ input will help train the real AI that will be used on the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.²!.
Players will be able to fly the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² with a first person view, and will be able to engage autonomous mode, let their virtual airship to autonomously navigate the world based of the player's playing styles, even when they're not on the app, fine-tuning the airship’s decisions to improve performance.
Competitions and Leaderboards:
Users compete to see who can train the most effective airship, or pilot it themselves! The challenge is to complete virtual circumnavigation by making efficient energy choices and avoiding obstacles.
Begin with basic airships that use solar power only and unlock advanced features, such as hydrogen power, through successful missions and completion of paperwork challenges.
Real-World Interaction:
The app connects with real-time weather data and asks users to report on the conditions in their area.
Players can verify: “Is this really the weather in your area?” It creates a fun, interactive experience while improving real-world data for the airship’s missions.
Unlockable Zones:
Certain regions, especially restricted or “red areas,” are locked behind paperwork and regulatory challenges. Completing virtual documentation and missions unlocks these regions for exploration.
Community Engagement:
Users can share their airship’s journeys, access global maps, and track progress.
The app fosters a virtual community where participants can collaborate and compete. The more users from a specific region, the more influence that area has on the airship’s journey.
Special Access Features:
Players can unlock badges, marking their contribution to the airship’s mission. These identifiers will make each user’s airship special, signifying their role in the global challenge.
Data Points Needed:
To learn all we can to make the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² a reality, we need to track and collect several types of data:
AI idea generation inputs (how to handle flight decisions)
Player inputs for strategizing routes and ways to operate
Competition and leaderboard progress
User location (for tracking community density and flight progress)
User-Generated Data:
Energy & Fuel Tracking:
Solar power generation and hydrogen fuel cell status (theory)
Energy usage patterns for virtual airships
Virtual resources available in regions (sunlight, moisture, etc.)
Interaction and Engagement:
User participation in virtual missions
Community interactions and communication frequency
Number of users per region contributing to airship behavior
Educational Content:
Camera data and feeds from the airship to share with users
Virtual simulations of airship controls for training and learning
User tasks like virtual paperwork for unlocking restricted areas
What Happens When The A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² Is Airborne?
This is when things get more fun! The following capabilities will be added to the app to make the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² experience even more awesome:
Schedule a visit from the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.²!
A new submission portal will be added to the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² app
Users will be able to request a visit from the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² through the portal!
With enough requests, the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² will autonomously navigate to your country!
View the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.²'s Livestream!
A new viewing portal will be added to the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² app
This portal will show live video footage from the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² wherever it sits inflight!
Talk to the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.²!
A new chat portal will be added to the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² app
This chat portal will allow direct communication with the A.I.R.S.H.I.P.²! The A.I.R.S.H.I.P.² will as questions about the weather where you are, tell you about its flight status and thoughts it has on its travels!