Product category:
3D CAD software
News Release from: INCAT | Subject: Catia 3D modelling software
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 20 December 2001
3D CAD for the world's biggest-ever
helium balloon
3D modelling software Catia is being used to build the world's biggest-ever helium balloon, designed to set a new 25 mile altitude record in manned balloon flight.
Catia Solutions, the 3D modelling software package, is being used to build the world's biggest-ever helium balloon, designed to set a new 25 mile altitude record in manned balloon flight The helium-filled balloon, named 'Qinetiq1' in recognition of primary sponsoring company Qinetiq, is seven times higher than Nelson's Column and is scheduled for launch in the summer of 2002
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 14 Jun 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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In January 2003, Washington Precision Engineering took the decision to invest in a Catia V5 CAD/CAM/CAE system following a detailed appraisal of similar software lasting several months.
It will travel more than 132,000 feet (25 miles) into the stratosphere - a region that remains largely unexplored.
The pilots, Andy Elson and Colin Prescot, will get their first live views of the curvature of the earth at peak altitude while floating in a virtually atmosphere-free environment.
But the technical aspects of the flight will already have been thoroughly tried and tested using Catia software from Hemel Hempstead, UK-based Incat, a engineering software solutions provider to the aerospace, automotive and general manufacturing industries worldwide.
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Incat is providing full technical support and training for the QinetiQ 1 team on location in Glastonbury, Somerset.
Andy Elson, pilot and project director, says: "Catia is the latest 3D design system with a built-in finite element analysis capability.
This is very useful to us because we can immediately get a view of the structural integrity of our component." Catia has been used to develop many aspects of the QinetiQ 1 programme, including how to carry the cameras into space and instantly feed back pictures, tracking the balloon, testing the space suits, telemetry and communications, parachute testing, free fall aerodynamics and sea stability of the flight deck.
The QinetiQ 1 team chose Catia because of its ability to generate extremely accurate images and its high level of compatibility.
"Catia has excellent graphic presentation, which can be interfaced with all types of media," Elson says." It is a very powerful tool - we can look at a design from all directions and angles." The project team was able to model a wide range of scenarios on screen to assess the impact on its pilots who will make the ascent in space suits to combat the extreme conditions and lack of atmosphere on the open flight deck.
"Catia comes with a 'mannequin' programme, allowing us to actually put a human figure into the design and assess dimensions in relation to it," Elson adds.
The user-friendliness of the software, and the fact that it is now the industry standard for the aerospace business, were other influential factors in the decision to use Catia.
Incat is happy to be involved with the QinetiQ 1 project, which it sees as a major challenge and opportunity to prove the design software at a new level.
For example, there is a need to work with safety criteria that have not yet been proven, so being able to perform accurate modelling and prototype testing on-screen is absolutely essential.
Having worked with Andrew Cox, QinetiQ 1 director of engineering, for several years, Incat believes the partnership and project will prove highly successful.
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