Other

Grant Howard Calverley

Gregory Howard Hastings

David Dell Lang

Scott Webster

A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.

Gyroglider power-generation, control apparatus and method

A flight control system for at least one tethered gyroglider along a flight path consistent with at least one flight mission is configured to fly the gyroglider within a portfolio of winds, managing an interaction between portfolios of at least four envelopes including wind, gyroglider performance, flight and base station. Every flight mission corresponds to at least one flight path associated with a set containing at least one first value and at least one second value. The control system is provided with a learning and library manager comprising a repository having stored sets of first values and associated second values for each flight path. The current first values associated with a current mission are corrected based on predicted or experienced flight paths and measurable outputs to attain the desired flight path. The corrected, experienced values, flight path and measurable output are further stored in the repository for further learning.

Tethered gyroglider control systems

A power system comprises a tension harnessing arrangement to harness tension in a tether connected between a tensioning arrangement and storage means. The tension harnessing arrangement of the system comprises at least one first capstan roller arranged in a predetermined configuration. The tether tensioningly abuts at least a portion of the periphery of the first capstan rollers such that there is substantial contact between the tether and the first capstan rollers, thereby engaging the first capstan rollers to generate rotational energy. Alternatively, second capstan rollers engage with the first capstan rollers. At least one converter functionally co-operates with the first capstan rollers, either directly or via the second capstan rollers, for converting the rotational energy to energy in a transmissible form, storage form dissipative form, or a combination thereof.

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Friday Harbor, WA, United States of America

Grant Howard Calverley