A system including a spine portion that is configured to run from top end and a bottom end of a kite. A cross-spar segment having a first end portion and a second end portion that runs from wingtip to wingtip of said kite. A cover part, in which the cover part comprise a fabric made of at least one of a nylon and a cloth. A tail section. A first flight operative system disposed on one end portion of the cross-spar segment. A second flight operative system disposed on another end portion of the cross-spar segment.

A system including a spine portion that is configured to run from top end and a bottom end of a kite. A cross-spar segment having a first end portion and a second end portion that runs from wingtip to wingtip of said kite. A cover part, in which the cover part comprise a fabric made of at least one of a nylon and a cloth. A tail section. A first flight operative system disposed on one end portion of the cross-spar segment. A second flight operative system disposed on another end portion of the cross-spar segment.

A kite system having a kite (14) and a hauling rope (15) which extends between the kite (14) and a tow point (16). A marking holder (25) is disposed between the tow point (16) and the kite (14). The marking holder (25) is conceived for changing between an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15). A fitting installation (31) initiates a changeover between the entrained state and the free-running state of the marking holder (25). The invention moreover relates to a method for operating a kite system.

Methods and systems described herein relate to power generation control for an aerial vehicle. An example method may involve determining an asynchronous flight pattern for two or more aerial vehicles, where the asynchronous flight pattern includes a respective flight path for each of the two or more aerial vehicles; and operating each of the aerial vehicles in a crosswind flight substantially along its respective flight path, where each aerial vehicle generates electrical power over time in a periodic profile, and where the power profile of each aerial vehicle is out of phase with respect to the power profile generated by each of the other aerial vehicles.

Methods and systems described herein relate to power generation control for an aerial vehicle. An example method may involve determining an asynchronous flight pattern for two or more aerial vehicles, where the asynchronous flight pattern includes a respective flight path for each of the two or more aerial vehicles; and operating each of the aerial vehicles in a crosswind flight substantially along its respective flight path, where each aerial vehicle generates electrical power over time in a periodic profile, and where the power profile of each aerial vehicle is out of phase with respect to the power profile generated by each of the other aerial vehicles.

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.

Various examples are provided related to kite energy generation. In one example, a method for kite-based energy generation includes deploying a kite in a flow of fluid; controlling movement of the kite along a continuous pattern across the flow, where the kite applies tension greater than a threshold during at least a first portion of the pattern and applies tension less than the threshold during at least a second portion of the pattern; and generating power during the first portion of the continuous pattern. In another example, a system includes a kite including control surfaces that control movement of the kite along a continuous pattern across the flow of fluid; a winch connected to the kite by a tether, and a generator of the winch that can generate power during a portion of the pattern; and a spool controller that can control spooling of the tether during the pattern.