Spar buoy platform

#Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

#Power generation systems may convert chemical and/or mechanical energy (e.g., kinetic energy) to electrical energy for various applications, such as utility systems. As one example, a wind energy system may convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy.

#The use of wind turbines as a means for harnessing energy has been used for a number of years. Conventional wind turbines typically include large turbine blades positioned atop a tower. The cost of manufacturing, erecting, maintaining, and servicing such wind turbine towers, and wind turbines is significant.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an offshore airborne wind turbine 10 including aerial vehicle 20 attached to a spar buoy platform with an electrically conductive tether 30, according to an example embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of aerial vehicle 20 shown in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a side view of offshore airborne wind turbine 10 with an aerial vehicle 120 positioned on a perch 54, with an electrically conductive tether 30 attaching spar buoy platform 50 to aerial vehicle 120, according to an example embodiment.

#Example methods and systems are described herein. Any example embodiment or feature described herein is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or features. The example embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. It will be readily understood that certain aspects of the disclosed systems and methods can be arranged and combined in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.

#Furthermore, the particular arrangements shown in the Figures should not be viewed as limiting. It should be understood that other embodiments may include more or less of each element shown in a given Figure. Further, some of the illustrated elements may be combined or omitted. Yet further, an example embodiment may include elements that are not illustrated in the Figures.

#Example embodiments relate to aerial vehicles, which may be used in a wind energy system, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine or AWT. In particular, illustrative embodiments may relate to or take the form of methods and systems using an airborne vehicle that is attached to a ground station using an electrically conductive tether.