An exemplary unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mountable to a conductor of an aerial power transmission line system includes a body having a rotor system, a motivation system attached to the body to motivate the UAV along the conductor, a battery carried by the body and electrically connected to at least one of the rotor system and the motivation system, a monitoring tool mounted with the body and an inductive coil carried by the body and in electric connection with the battery, wherein the inductive coil is configured to harvest electricity from the aerial power transmission line system and charge the battery.

A control device for controlling a kite steering arrangement, including a base, a control bar support extending downward on the base, a control bar pivot point mounted displaceably about the control bar support, a pair of interconnecting members extending between opposing end regions of the control bar and the base upper the control bar support, a tensioning mechanism, a base pivot point, a base rotator for allowing rotation of the base about a vertical axis thereof, a manipulator that manipulates the base pivot point and base rotator, and a communicator, that communicates adjustment of the interconnecting members to the kite steering arrangement. The length aspect of the interconnecting members is adjusted by pivoting the control bar about the control bar pivot point and/or by displacement of the control bar pivot point relative the control bar support.

A control device for controlling a kite steering arrangement, including a base, a control bar support extending downward on the base, a control bar pivot point mounted displaceably about the control bar support, a pair of interconnecting members extending between opposing end regions of the control bar and the base upper the control bar support, a tensioning mechanism, a base pivot point, a base rotator for allowing rotation of the base about a vertical axis thereof, a manipulator that manipulates the base pivot point and base rotator, and a communicator, that communicates adjustment of the interconnecting members to the kite steering arrangement. The length aspect of the interconnecting members is adjusted by pivoting the control bar about the control bar pivot point and/or by displacement of the control bar pivot point relative the control bar support.

An aerial vehicle electrical power system for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, and related methods are provided. The aerial vehicle electric power system includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED) carried by an aerial vehicle. At least one electrical circuit is carried by the aerial vehicle. The at least one electrical circuit has a DC buck converter electrically in series with at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs. A tether is connected between the aerial vehicle and a power source positioned remote from the aerial vehicle. Electrical power is transmitted to the aerial vehicle and at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs through the tether. The electrical circuit minimizes variances in power supplied to the aerial vehicle and the plurality of LEDs.

An aerial vehicle electrical power system for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, and related methods are provided. The aerial vehicle electric power system includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED) carried by an aerial vehicle. At least one electrical circuit is carried by the aerial vehicle. The at least one electrical circuit has a DC buck converter electrically in series with at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs. A tether is connected between the aerial vehicle and a power source positioned remote from the aerial vehicle. Electrical power is transmitted to the aerial vehicle and at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs through the tether. The electrical circuit minimizes variances in power supplied to the aerial vehicle and the plurality of LEDs.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cable used to at least moor a moving body to be moored and supply power thereto, such that weight of the whole cable can be reduced. A cable according to the present invention connects a moving body to be moored to a unit assembly including a power supply unit. The cable is used to at least moor the moving body to be moored to the unit assembly and supply power from the power supply unit to the moving body to be moored. The cable includes a conductor constituted with element wires, and at least part of the element wires is a high-strength aluminum-based conductor.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cable used to at least moor a moving body to be moored and supply power thereto, such that weight of the whole cable can be reduced. A cable according to the present invention connects a moving body to be moored to a unit assembly including a power supply unit. The cable is used to at least moor the moving body to be moored to the unit assembly and supply power from the power supply unit to the moving body to be moored. The cable includes a conductor constituted with element wires, and at least part of the element wires is a high-strength aluminum-based conductor.

An aerial platform receives power in the form of light, for example laser light, transmitted via an optical fiber from a remote optical power source. The platform comprises a receiver which converts at least a portion of the light to a different form of power, for example electric power. The platform also comprises a propulsion element which consumes the different form of power to generate propulsive thrust. Supplying power to the aerial platform from a remote source enables the platform to remain aloft longer than a battery or fuel tank carried by the platform would allow. Transmitting the power in the form of light is preferable in many cases to transmitting electric power, because electrical conductors are generally heavier than optical fibers, and are hazardous in the presence of lightning or a high-voltage power line.

An aerial platform receives power in the form of light, for example laser light, transmitted via an optical fiber from a remote optical power source. The platform comprises a receiver which converts at least a portion of the light to a different form of power, for example electric power. The platform also comprises a propulsion element which consumes the different form of power to generate propulsive thrust. Supplying power to the aerial platform from a remote source enables the platform to remain aloft longer than a battery or fuel tank carried by the platform would allow. Transmitting the power in the form of light is preferable in many cases to transmitting electric power, because electrical conductors are generally heavier than optical fibers, and are hazardous in the presence of lightning or a high-voltage power line.

A vehicle-based airborne wind turbine system having an aerial wing, a plurality of rotors each having a plurality of rotatable blades positioned on the aerial wing, an electrically conductive tether secured to the aerial wing and secured to a ground station positioned on a vehicle, wherein the aerial wing is adapted to receive electrical power from the vehicle that is delivered to the aerial wing through the electrically conductive tether; wherein the aerial wing is adapted to operate in a flying mode to harness wind energy to provide a first pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle; and wherein the aerial wing is also adapted to operate in a powered flying mode wherein the rotors may be powered so that the turbine blades serve as thrust-generating propellers to provide a second pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle.