YC Grad Buoyant Aims to Revolutionize Delivery with Airships

The Resurgence of Airship Technology

In recent times, a growing number of firms are dedicating resources to the revival of airship technology, a method of transport previously superseded by airplanes and helicopters.

Companies such as Flying Whales, based in France, Hybrid Air Vehicles in the United Kingdom, Lockheed Martin, and even Sergey Brin, a prominent billionaire, are all actively engaged in airship development projects. A primary focus of these endeavors is the transportation of cargo.

However, none of these projects have yet transitioned into providing services to paying customers.

Buoyant: Pioneering Middle-Mile Cargo Delivery

Buoyant aims to be the first to commercially deploy this technology.

Emerging from the Y Combinator program this year, the startup intends to construct small, unmanned airships specifically for middle-mile cargo transport. This involves moving goods between depots, rather than directly to consumers’ homes.

The founders, Ben Claman and Joe Figura, assert that their approach can reduce delivery costs by as much as 50% compared to traditional small plane or helicopter flights.

They believe their strategy for success lies in focusing on smaller designs, differentiating themselves from projects aiming for massive, hundreds-of-feet-long airships that demand substantial capital investment and lifting gas.

Buoyant’s ultimate vehicle is projected to be approximately 60 feet in length.

The Team Behind Buoyant

Claman and Figura are both MIT-trained hardware engineers with experience in building spacecraft and antenna systems.

Their prior work involved providing affordable connectivity to remote regions, such as Alaska, where Claman also spent his formative years.

Addressing a Critical Logistics Gap

“Our discussions with various companies revealed that the challenge of rural middle-mile delivery is significantly greater than that of rural last-mile delivery,” Claman explained.

“In communities with, say, 5,000 residents, last-mile delivery can be effectively outsourced to local individuals or the postal service.

However, transporting parcels from a central hub to these remote locations presents substantial logistical and financial hurdles.”

A Hybrid Approach to Airship Design

To overcome these challenges, Buoyant has developed a “hybrid” battery-electric airship.

Around 70% of the airship’s lift is generated by lighter-than-air gas – specifically, helium.

The remaining 30% is provided by a tilt-rotor system.

This hybrid design addresses a key issue in airship cargo operations: the risk of the airship ascending unexpectedly when offloading weight.

The tilt-rotor enables the airship to maneuver like a helicopter during takeoff and landing.

Cost Efficiency and Automation

Unlike helicopters, which must lift their entire weight – ranging from 1,500 to 10,000 pounds of carbon fiber and stainless steel – Buoyant’s airship only needs to lift the weight of the payload and its airframe.

This design is projected to reduce capital costs significantly.

Furthermore, the founders are developing the airship for autonomous operation, eliminating the need for pilots and further reducing operational expenses.

Prototype Development and Future Plans

Buoyant has successfully built and flown four prototype airships.

The latest sub-scale prototype measures 20 feet in length, achieves speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, and has a payload capacity of 10 pounds.

The ultimate goal is to create an airship capable of transporting up to 650 pounds of cargo at a cruising speed of approximately 60 miles per hour.

Currently, the airship operates under a Part 107 license.

Before commencing commercial operations, the company must obtain both a type certification, confirming the airworthiness of the craft, and operator certifications for the flight crews.

“Achieving these certifications will require substantial flight testing, which will be our primary focus,” Figura stated on HackerNews.

Looking Ahead: Scaling and Commercialization

Buoyant plans to continue refining its flight control system and conduct a field demonstration with the sub-scale prototype in the coming months.

The company intends to build a full-scale version next year, likely through in-house manufacturing.

These steps are critical for converting the $5 million in letters of intent received from potential customers – including an Alaskan regional air carrier – into firm contracts.

Two pilot programs are already in the pipeline: one with the sub-scale prototype this fall and another with the full-scale ship in a year, both in collaboration with logistics and parcel delivery companies.

Leveraging a Century of Airship Innovation

“Airships were being constructed long before the advent of computers, and even before a comprehensive understanding of aerodynamics,” Claman noted.

“We benefit from over a century of accumulated data and continuous development in airship technology.

It’s not a field that has been stagnant; airship development has been ongoing for over 100 years.”