  Use of lighter than air platforms (aerostats and airships) for reconnaissance
and surveillance over long periods can be facilitated by generation of power
on-board through solar photovoltaic arrays. Attempts to integrate solar
photovoltaic modules on such contoured surfaces leads to multiple challenges
ranging from the choice of solar modules, determination of best method of their
integration with the lighter than air platform, and design of the array layout
in order to optimize the loss of power due to non-uniform illumination. This
paper describes the method of designing such a system and suggests strategies
for overcoming these challenges. The issue of non-uniform illumination has been
tackled by maximum power point tracking using the scanning window technique for
maximizing power generation and an algorithm of distributed maximum power point
tracking has been suggested for further improvement. The procedure described in
this paper can be used for obtaining the optimum power generation capability of
a solar photovoltaic array mounted on a lighter than air platform of a given
volume and payload carrying capability.
