TAO Products

Helium tight gascells

Helium tight gascells

Stratospheric airships, Google Balloons and UFOs :-) need for the flight helium gas. The helium tightness was a problem. Okay, there are new heliumtight foils, but the careful and heliumtight welding of the seams was a problem. The expensive helium was lost rapidly. TAO invented a new welding method for heliumtight gascells, which held the gas for weeks. After testing this technique for TAOs own stratospheric airship gas cells successfully, TAO is able to layout and produce customized gas cells for the needs of customers with airship or high altitude balloon vehicles.

Air electrode

Air electrode

TAO has developed own types of air electrodes for zinc-air batteries. The best invention is a new Perovskite-electrode, which has a better performance than platin - air electrodes. In addition to the standard air electrode TAO produce air electrodes according to individual customer requirements (size, coating). More information at our website air electrode.

TAO Services

Feasibility studies, energy calculations and structural analysis

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics
Thermodynamic calculations and designs of energy conversion processes and systems are fundamental to many developments. Primarily, TAO applies them to the HAP airship envelopes as well as to the HAP altitude control. Furthermore, TAO uses them in "earthly" projects such as solar drinking water purification, batteries and fuel cells, air electrodes with catalyst systems, among others.

icebear building

Regenerable adsorption storage
In the icebear building a new seasonal energy storage for heating and cooling were designed and developed, tested and measured.

The Flake

Architektur der Superlative
The largest self-supporting hall in the world: Is this possible to build? For the flake project TAO has worked out the energy calculation and the static of the building in form of a feasibility study.

Measurement services and tests

Cold tests in the TAO Stratolab

Cold tests in the TAO Stratolab
Does it stick or not stick at -80 degrees? In the TAO "Stratolab", adhesives, foils und their weld seams, valves and motors, among other things, are tested for their durability or functionality at inhospitable temperatures (like in the stratosphere) over long periods of time. This is not only highly interesting for flights in the stratosphere.

Individual wind tunnel tests for customers

Individual wind tunnel tests for customers
TAO conducts its own wind tunnel tests. Together with an institute, aerodynamic model tests on airship construction samples are prepared and tested in the wind tunnel. The photos show wind tunnel models of the TAO HAP, the solar airship "Lotte" and tests of a HAP and a wind turbine in the wind tunnel.

Material tensile and processing tests

Material tensile and processing tests
In the area of material testing, TAO tests its own foils and textile materials used for the outer shells of the HAPs and data balloons, among other things, in tensile tests. These can be combined with cold tests in the TAO Stratolab.

Measurement services and tests

Against the forces of the G-forces
How is a pilot effected by centrifugal forces? TAO has developed its own pressure measuring technology with various sensors and imitating the pressure conditions in 20,000 m altitude. In addition to the pressure in high altitudes special cold tests (in a StratoLab) examine the materials for their durability.

R & D / Contract Research

Solar applications and solar panels

Solar applications and solar panels
Efficient and lightweight: TAO designs and develops lightweight solar modules for airborne use in the stratosphere and for use in super-light SunTrackers for on-roof applications. For this, TAO received the ThinKing Award from the Baden-Württemberg State Agency for Lightweight Construction in 2022.

innovative membrane

Innovative materials
Flying at high altitudes needs special materials: TAO developed an innovative membrane for high-flying airships (type SkyDragon) in a research project.

Prototypes / small series / production

Additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping

Additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping
Layer by layer to the new component: TAO also uses the 3D printing manufacturing process to quickly produce components for prototypes for HAPs and to enable functional testing quickly and cost-effectively.

Lightweight construction & Co.

Lightweight construction & Co.
Especially in lightweight construction for HAPs and airships (LTA), TAO has many years of experience in design, simulation and calculation tasks (CAD/FEM models). The production and assembly of large, lightweight tails as prototypes for functional tests and flight use are also part of TAO's portfolio. TAO sets new standards in lightweight construction, from calculation/simulation and CAD design to integration in the HAPs or airship structure and the final tests.

HAP for telecommunication

Design and prototyping
All prototypes of the HAP for telecommunication with propulsion systems, energy management, control, boost control etc. are designed at TAO, built and flown on the airfield in Germany.

zinc-air-battery

Batteries and fuel cells
TAO developes and manufactures prototypes of a zinc-air-battery as well as different battery configurations in own laboratories.

The pre-production for a particular pilot suit with an inlet for pressure balancing was sewn and welded at TAO.

Exhibitions / Events

helium clouds
air cocons

Flying exhibition buildings
Our pneumatic, inflatable light constructions are practical and aesthetic at the same time. Like the ceiling of helium clouds flying with helium or our inflatable air cocons, which can be used as a temporary exhibition space.