The invention discloses a light kite comprising a body. The body includes a wing, a supporting member, and a tying place, the supporting member is arranged on the wing and integrally formed with the wing, the body of the kite is made of a blister material or a material capable of being embossed or indented, and the supporting member is made by blistering or embossing or indenting on the wing, so that the supporting member is integrally formed with the wing and maintains a shape of the body. The kite is made of a blister material or composite paper, the durability and plasticity are high; moreover, the support member is made by means of plastic package, some existing kite production processes can be omitted, and the local production in large scale can be achieved.

Systems and methods are disclosed for implanting a dual-kite aerial vehicle including a first kite apparatus, a second kite apparatus, and a tether extending between the first and second kite apparatuses. In particular, the disclosed systems include a first kite apparatus including a first flight controller that maintains flight at a first altitude. The disclosed system further includes a second kite apparatus including a second flight controller that maintains flight at a second altitude. The flight controllers can cooperatively maintain a gradient air movement between the first and second altitudes by extending or retracting the tether to modify a difference in the air movements between the first and second kite apparatuses. The systems described herein additionally include components for generating electrical energy from the gradient air movement to extend a flight time of the dual-kite aerial vehicle.

Systems and methods are disclosed for implanting a dual-kite aerial vehicle including a first kite apparatus, a second kite apparatus, and a tether extending between the first and second kite apparatuses. In particular, the disclosed systems include a first kite apparatus including a first flight controller that maintains flight at a first altitude. The disclosed system further includes a second kite apparatus including a second flight controller that maintains flight at a second altitude. The flight controllers can cooperatively maintain a gradient air movement between the first and second altitudes by extending or retracting the tether to modify a difference in the air movements between the first and second kite apparatuses. The systems described herein additionally include components for generating electrical energy from the gradient air movement to extend a flight time of the dual-kite aerial vehicle.

An aircraft can include a wing. The wing can include a tip. A winglet can be pivotably connected to the wing proximate the tip. A connecting member can be operatively connected to the wing and the winglet. The connecting member can include a flexible material with a super elastic material member operatively connected to the flexible material. Thus, the connecting member can allow passive movement of the winglet responsive to real-time operational forces acting upon the aircraft. In some arrangements, the flexible material can be a fabric, and the super elastic material member can be a wire. In some arrangements, the super elastic material member can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The stiffness profile of the super elastic material member can be selectively varied, such as by controlling a temperature of the super elastic material member.

An aircraft can include a wing. The wing can include a tip. A winglet can be pivotably connected to the wing proximate the tip. A connecting member can be operatively connected to the wing and the winglet. The connecting member can include a flexible material with a super elastic material member operatively connected to the flexible material. Thus, the connecting member can allow passive movement of the winglet responsive to real-time operational forces acting upon the aircraft. In some arrangements, the flexible material can be a fabric, and the super elastic material member can be a wire. In some arrangements, the super elastic material member can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The stiffness profile of the super elastic material member can be selectively varied, such as by controlling a temperature of the super elastic material member.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a tether line to be supported by a kite at a distal end thereof, and a release to deploy and expand a parafoil from at least one of the tether line or the kite in response to the aircraft contacting the tether line.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a tether line to be supported by a kite at a distal end thereof, and a release to deploy and expand a parafoil from at least one of the tether line or the kite in response to the aircraft contacting the tether line.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover an aircraft includes a mast extending from a base, a boom extending from the mast at a first end of the boom to a second end of the boom opposite the first end, a tether line extending between the mast to the base and guided by the boom, a portion of the tether line extending between the second end of the boom and the base, and a mount to operatively coupled the a kite to the tether line, the kite to support the tether line as the aircraft contacts the portion for recovery thereof.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover an aircraft includes a mast extending from a base, a boom extending from the mast at a first end of the boom to a second end of the boom opposite the first end, a tether line extending between the mast to the base and guided by the boom, a portion of the tether line extending between the second end of the boom and the base, and a mount to operatively coupled the a kite to the tether line, the kite to support the tether line as the aircraft contacts the portion for recovery thereof.

An adjustable tension kite holding and release apparatus, which has an apparatus head, and an apparatus body having an adjustable thumbscrew coupled to the apparatus body, and first and second ring grippers having first and second bumps providing a ring gripping mechanism at a distal end of the apparatus body. The ring gripping mechanism holding a releasable ring, running a fishing line through the releasable ring, tightening the adjustable thumbscrew such that the ring gripping mechanism applies tension to the releasable ring, and increasing or decreasing the tension based on an estimated force desired to release the releasable ring.