An example method includes: determining a period of natural oscillation of a floating ground station in an airborne wind turbine with an aerial vehicle coupled to the ground station via a tether, and wherein each natural-oscillation period comprises forward and backward displacement of the floating ground station with respect to the aerial vehicle; and operating the aerial vehicle to fly in a substantially circular path with a looping period that matches the natural-oscillation period of the floating ground station, and a looping phase that aligns with the oscillation phase of the floating ground station such that movement of the aerial vehicle on a downstroke portion the circular path corresponds to forward displacement of the floating ground station, and movement of the aerial vehicle on an upstroke portion the circular path corresponds to reverse displacement of the floating ground station.

A device for a traction kite for generating electricity by means of wind force, wherein exact horizontal positioning of a traction kite or of a group of interconnected traction kites or rotating flyer wheels is made possible in that obliquely braced additional traction ropes 4 at the edges of this traction kite group permit a fixed position of the traction kite, similar to when bracing domestic tents.

A turbine system that harnesses energy from natural atmospheric wind and water currents for power generation and storage in a power storage mode, and in a reverse switched operation, sources current to the turbine system from storage power to function in a propulsion mode to propel an associated structure (e.g., boat, aircraft).

Examples include a spar buoy for use in water, the spar buoy including a bottom section configured to be completely submerged and having a first average diameter, the bottom section including an anchor cable attachment device, a top section configured to be partially submerged, the top section including an aerial tether attachment device, an intermediate section configured to be completely submerged and having a second average diameter that is greater than the first average diameter, where the intermediate section is disposed between the bottom section and the top section, the intermediate section including a buoyancy chamber having a first density less than the water, and a ballast material disposed in the bottom section and having a second density greater than or equal to the water, where the spar buoy is configured to exhibit a particular buoyancy-to-weight ratio and a particular moment ratio when in the water.

In a system of the disclosure, power generation devices installed at separate places include a kite-shaped flying object staying in the air, a generator installed on a ground and a tether operatively connecting the two to each other. The tether, which is pulled when the kite-shaped flying object rises, rotates a rotor of a generator to generate power. A power supply controller controls power supply such that, when power suppliable from a power generation device meets a target power needed by a power receiving facility, power is supplied from the power generation device to the power receiving facility, and when the target power of the power receiving facility exceeds the power suppliable from the power generation device, power from another power generation device is supplied to the power receiving facility.

An example system includes a ground station, an aerial vehicle, a tether, a probe, and a control system. The tether includes a core having a strength member as well as an electrical conductor that is wound around the core. The probe is attached to the strength member so that the probe is able to measure an electrical property of at least a portion of the strength member. The control system is configured to measure the electrical property along the strength member at a predetermined measurement rate and also determine that the electrical property is outside a predetermined range. Based on the electrical property, damage to the tether core can be assessed.

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a bridle for use with a rigid wing having two opposing ends, the bridle having a fixed bridle member attached to a bottom surface of the wing, a pair of connection points positioned on the fixed bridle and located at distance D vertically below the bottom surface of the wing, a rolling bridle member with a pair of opposing ends, where each opposing end is attached at one of the connection points, and a pulley with a sheave that travels along the rolling bridle member. In some embodiments, a motor is mechanically connected with the sheave. In some embodiments, the distance D is optimized for a preferred roll moment as the wing rolls through various angles.

A glider, a system and methods for electric power production from wind are disclosed. The glider includes an airfoil, onboard steering means for pitching, rolling and yawing the glider when airborne, sensor means that provide a first signal related to an absolute position of the glider, a second signal related to an air speed of the glider and a third signal related to an acceleration of the glider, a control device connected to the steering means for controlling autonomous flight of the glider based on the signals provided by the sensor means, and a connection means for a tether connecting the glider to a ground-based electrical machine constructed for converting a lift force generated upon exposure of the airfoil to wind and transferred to the ground via the tether into electric power. The system includes the glider, the ground-based electrical machine and tether.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an airborne device that includes at least three airfoils and a linking device. The airfoils are connected together by first cables, each airfoil further being connected to the linking device by a second cable. The linking device being connected to a third cable intended for being connected to a base. The first, second and third cables being tensioned when the airborne device is placed in the wind. The device further includes for each airfoil, at least one first rigid lever element connected to the first cables and the airfoil by a first electromechanical linking system having at least one degree of rotational freedom and designed for modifying the orientation of the first lever element relative to the airfoil.

An airborne wind turbine system for generation of power via windbags and waterbags.