An aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a ducted wing portion and a fan chamber. The fan chamber is attached to a bottom of the ducted wing portion. A fan assembly is provided in the fan chamber and is operative to blow air through the ducted wing portion. The ducted wing portion is configured to direct air blown by the fan assembly down to provide lift for the aircraft.

Air stream-driven power-generating systems for electric vehicles have been described and illustrated.

Air stream-driven power-generating systems for electric vehicles have been described and illustrated.

An energy conversion unit for converting wind energy into electrical energy includes at least one rotor with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, having a plurality of rotor blades extending radially to the axis of rotation, wherein the rotor has a flow direction which corresponds to the axis of rotation, a wall to be arranged next to a traffic route for vehicles which can move on the traffic route in a direction of travel and the movement of which causes an air flow, wherein the wall has a receptacle in which the rotor is arranged, wherein the receptacle has an opening on a side surface of the wall to be directed towards the traffic route, and wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one rotor is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel.

An energy conversion unit for converting wind energy into electrical energy includes at least one rotor with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, having a plurality of rotor blades extending radially to the axis of rotation, wherein the rotor has a flow direction which corresponds to the axis of rotation, a wall to be arranged next to a traffic route for vehicles which can move on the traffic route in a direction of travel and the movement of which causes an air flow, wherein the wall has a receptacle in which the rotor is arranged, wherein the receptacle has an opening on a side surface of the wall to be directed towards the traffic route, and wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one rotor is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel.

A wind generator assembly for harnessing wind to charge batteries in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles includes a housing that is mounted on a roof of a vehicle. The housing has a wind passage extending therethrough and wind passes through the wind passage when the vehicle is driven. A turbine is rotatably positioned in the housing. The turbine is positioned in the wind passage and the turbine is rotated by wind passing through the wind passage. A generator is mounted in the generator space and the generator is in mechanical communication with the turbine. Thus, the turbine rotates the generator when the turbine rotates thereby facilitating the generator to produce electrical current. The generator is electrically coupled to batteries in the vehicle to charge the batteries.

A wind generator assembly for harnessing wind to charge batteries in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles includes a housing that is mounted on a roof of a vehicle. The housing has a wind passage extending therethrough and wind passes through the wind passage when the vehicle is driven. A turbine is rotatably positioned in the housing. The turbine is positioned in the wind passage and the turbine is rotated by wind passing through the wind passage. A generator is mounted in the generator space and the generator is in mechanical communication with the turbine. Thus, the turbine rotates the generator when the turbine rotates thereby facilitating the generator to produce electrical current. The generator is electrically coupled to batteries in the vehicle to charge the batteries.

A system for servicing watercraft includes one or more waterborne platforms. Each waterborne platform includes an electric power supply, a driving system for moving the waterborne platform in a body of water, a watercraft interfacing system configured to at least supply electric power to an electrically-powered watercraft, and a control interface configured to exchange data with a controller. The controller is configured to: receive input data, determine respective destination locations for the waterborne platforms to supply electric power to the electrically-powered watercraft, and send control data that includes data indicating the destination locations to the waterborne platforms.

An electric power generation system is disclosed to produce electrical energy. The electric power generation system includes a solar awning that is ideally carried by a vehicle that is operable under its own power or towed behind a lead vehicle. The solar awning has a solar base attached to the roof of the vehicle and a pair of solar arms that are hingedly connected to respective opposite sides of the solar base. Each of the solar base and the pair of solar arms has an array of solar panels that convert solar energy to electrical energy. The solar awning is folded from an open configuration for maximum exposure to the sun at which the solar arms lie side-by-side the solar base to a closed configuration for minimum exposure to the sun at which the solar arms rotate downwardly from the solar base to lie alongside the vehicle.

An electric power generation system is disclosed to produce electrical energy. The electric power generation system includes a solar awning that is ideally carried by a vehicle that is operable under its own power or towed behind a lead vehicle. The solar awning has a solar base attached to the roof of the vehicle and a pair of solar arms that are hingedly connected to respective opposite sides of the solar base. Each of the solar base and the pair of solar arms has an array of solar panels that convert solar energy to electrical energy. The solar awning is folded from an open configuration for maximum exposure to the sun at which the solar arms lie side-by-side the solar base to a closed configuration for minimum exposure to the sun at which the solar arms rotate downwardly from the solar base to lie alongside the vehicle.