Altaeros is the world’s only developer of fully autonomous aerostat systems. Our next-generation aerial platforms maximize mission availability (>95% up time).

With over a decade of autonomous aerostat design and build experience, our team delivers aerostat excellence to handle the toughest missions. Aerostats have been used by the Army for decades as a proven way to lift heavy payloads for long periods. Altaeros innovated the next generation of aerostat platforms, integrating modern automation and artificial intelligence to reduce manpower and increase operational availability.

 

The Autonomous Advantage

Altaeros’ patented autonomous control system, Aerostat Autopilot™️, is at the heart of every autonomous aerostat. Aerostat Autopilot incorporates multiple layers of autonomy to manage all aspects of day-to-day operations. In addition to crewless launch and recovery, Aerostat Autopilot allows our aerostats, for the first time, to actively respond to adverse wind and weather events. This unique capability ensures our aerostats remain stable in the widest range of conditions so that our customer’s missions can continue uninterrupted.

The deployment of autonomous aerostats flips the logistical paradigm of traditional aerostats on its head. Instead of housing, feeding, and protecting 12-15 ground crew at each site, a regional field support team of 3-4 people can service multiple aerostats in a geographical region. At the same time, flight operations monitoring of an entire fleet can be performed remotely from a centralized Network Operations Center, further enhancing operational efficiency.

Aerostat Autopilot delivers 3 layers of autonomy to keep day-to-day aerostat operations running smoothly.

 

Automated Dispatch Control (ADC)	ADC makes decisions on when it is safe to fly. If conditions are not currently safe to fly, ADC will command the aerostat to land and then will command relaunch when conditions have improved.
AI Flight Director	AI Flight Director pulls data from sensors to make decisions to maintain stable flight including handling updrafts and downdrafts in real time.
Actuator Control	Actuator Control operates winches, slew drive, and pressure management while the aerostat is in flight and on the ground.

 

Meet the Fleet

Altaeros’ fleet of autonomous aerostats ranges from the light and rapidly deployable ST-Flex to the long duration and high-capacity ST-300 and ST-1000.

With hundreds of pounds of lift capacity, and a modular payload interface, Altaeros aerostats can accommodate almost any type of payload, from EO/IR to radar, comms or electronic warfare systems. And with the ability to deploy in austere locations without the logistics train of a large crew, Altaeros aerostats open entirely new possibilities for persistent surveillance applications.

Altaeros introduced its tactical class ST-Flex aerostat model in 2021. ST-Flex comes with a trailer-mounted mooring station that can be rapidly deployed in any environment. With 130 pounds of lift capacity, ST-Flex is compatible with a wide range of use cases, from border security to tactical comms networks or emergency response applications.

Introducing: ST-Flex, Altaeros’ Rapidly Deployable Autonomous Aerostat:

 

System Specifications	ST-Flex	ST-300	ST-1000
Volume	400 m3	~3500 m3	~6500 m3
Payload Mass	132 lbs.	660 lbs.	2200 lbs.
Payload Power	1000 VA	7000 VA	15000 VA
Target Availability	>95%	>98%	>98%
Maximum Altitude	1000 ft AGL	2000 ft AGL	2500 ft AGL
Maximum Ground Elevation	7000 ft MSL	7000 ft MSL	7000 ft MSL
Operating Temperature	-20 °C to 50 °C	-20 °C to 50 °C	-20 °C to 50 °C
Maximum Operating Wind Speed	63 mph	75 mph	85 mph
Maximum Survival Wind Speed	93 mph	110 mph	110 mph
Tether Fiber Count	1 primary + 1 redundant	1 primary + 1 redundant	TBD
System Lifetime	20+ years	20+ years	20+ years
Envelope Replacement	4 years	5 years	TBD
Service Interval	1-3 wks typ.	4-6 wks typ.	TBD
Site Size	30 x 30 m	75 x 75 m (100 x 100m preferred)	TBD

 

Team Altaeros

Altaeros spun out of MIT in 2010 on a mission to create the world’s first autonomous aerostat. Our team is innovative, creative, collaborative, and has a bias towards action. We value people who operate with a high level of respect and integrity, hold a We>I mindset, and never give up even in the face of tough challenges. Explore career opportunities here: www.altaeros.com/careers

Altaeros is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts and operates an R&D Center in Fremont New Hampshire. All Altaeros aerostats are assembled in the USA.

Visit our website: www.altaeros.com