# US 2024/0200532 A1 · Control system for wind energy harvester arrays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200532 A1 - Document ID: US20240200532A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/068,324 - Filed: 2022-12-19 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-19 - Assignees: X Development LLC - Applicants: X Development LLC - Inventors: Ulrich Niemann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200532A1 ## CPC - F03D 5/06: the wind-engaging parts swinging to-and-fro and not rotating - H02N 1/04: Friction generators - F05B 2220/709: Piezoelectric means - F05B 2270/32: Wind speeds - F03D: WIND MOTORS - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G ## Abstract A power generation system includes: a frame; a plurality of units supported by the frame and configured to convert fluid-induced mechanical energy to electrical energy; a member that is moveable relative to the frame; an actuator operable to move the member; and a controller communicably coupled to the actuator and configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, by the controller, flow data indicating a characteristic of fluid flow over the plurality of units; receiving, by the controller, power data indicating a parameter of electrical power output by the plurality of units; and based on the flow data and the power data, transmitting a control signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the member relative to the frame. A first unit of the plurality of units comprises: a first element; and a second element, wherein relative motion between the first element and the second element generates electrical energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power generation system comprising: a frame; a plurality of units supported by the frame and configured to convert fluid-induced mechanical energy to electrical energy; a member that is moveable relative to the frame; an actuator operable to move the member; and a controller communicably coupled to the actuator and configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, by the controller, flow data indicating a characteristic of fluid flow over the plurality of units; receiving, by the controller, power data indicating a parameter of electrical power output by the plurality of units; and based on the flow data and the power data, transmitting, by the controller, a control signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the member relative to the frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power data indicates a measured voltage of electrical energy output by the plurality of units, the operations comprising: determining, by the controller, a target voltage; and iteratively transmitting, by the controller, control signals to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the member relative to the frame until the measured voltage matches the target voltage within a threshold error. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power data indicates a measured current of electrical energy output by the plurality of units, the operations comprising: determining, by the controller, a target current; and iteratively transmitting, by the controller, control signals to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the member relative to the frame until the measured current matches the target current within a threshold error. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of fluid flow is a speed of fluid flow, the operations comprising: determining, by the controller, a target speed of fluid flow over the plurality of units; and iteratively transmitting, by the controller, control signals to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the member relative to the frame until the speed of fluid flow indicated by the flow data matches the target speed of fluid flow within a threshold error. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein moving the member comprises extending or retracting the member relative to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein moving the member comprises increasing or decreasing an angle formed between the member and the frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of units are arranged in a planar array. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, comprising a separator between adjacent units of the plurality of units in the planar array, wherein the member is mounted to the separator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the member comprises a separator that is located between adjacent units of the plurality of units in the planar array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the member is one of a plurality of members, each member of the plurality of members being located between adjacent units of the plurality of units in the planar array. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow comprises air flow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first unit of the plurality of units comprises: a first element; and a second element, wherein relative motion between the first element and the second element generates electrical energy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the member comprises the first element or the second element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first element is planar and wherein the second element is planar and parallel to the first element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first element and the second element are configured to remain spaced apart when the first unit is in a resting state and to come into contact with each other when a force is applied to the first unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the first element and the second element are enclosed in a housing that is permeable to air; the first element is moveable relative to the housing; and the second element is rigid relative to the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: each unit has a surface area of ten square centimeters or less; and the plurality of units comprises at least one hundred units. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each unit of the plurality of units comprises a triboelectric nanogenerator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein movement of the member relative to the frame changes the characteristic of fluid flow over the units. ### Claim 20 A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a controller, flow data indicating a characteristic of fluid flow over a plurality of units configured to convert fluid-induced mechanical energy to electrical energy, the plurality of units being supported by a frame; receiving, by the controller, power data indicating a parameter of electrical power output by the plurality of units; and based on the flow data and the power data, transmitting, by the controller and to an actuator that is operable to move a member relative to the frame, a control signal to cause the actuator to move the member.