The proposed design is of a generally spherical, semi-spherical, cone-shaped, or bell-shaped mini-autonomous airship that has an internal guidance and control system connected to ground operations. The structure of the airship is approximately 2.25 ft in diameter and 2.625 ft in height with a double layered ballonet structure and a gondola on the bottom housing the propulsion, guidance, control, sensor, and communication systems. This unique mini-airship serves to provide persistent low-altitude low-cost surveillance. The airship has a propulsion and control system that permits it to rise over a desired loitering location, and to be maintained in that location for a period of time. In one embodiment the airship may achieve neutral buoyancy when the internal envelope is about 60% full of lifting gas, and may have a service ceiling of about 100 meters. The airship has an equipment module that can include either communications equipment, or monitoring equipment, or both. The airship can be remotely controlled from a ground operator. The airship has electric motors for propulsion and control systems that are driven by power obtained from these motors and systems.
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