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US 9,630,711 B2Granted
Bridles for stability of a powered kite and a system and method for use of same
AssigneeX Development LLC
InventorDamon Vander Lind
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system may include a ground station, a tether attached to a ground station on a first end and to two or more bridles on a second, and a kite. The kite may include a main wing. Each bridle of the two or more bridles may be attached to the main wing, and the two or more bridles may be adapted to provide a torque on the kite to control a roll of the kite.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- causing a kite to lift off the ground in a hover mode of flight, wherein the kite comprises a main wing comprising an axis that is perpendicular to a roll axis of the kite, and wherein the kite is oriented vertically in the hover mode of flight;
- and
- controlling a roll of the kite during the hover mode of flight at least in part with use of two or more bridles between the kite and a tether, wherein each bridle of the two or more bridles is attached to the main wing, the two or more bridles being adapted to provide a torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite, and the two or more bridles comprising:
- a first bridle attached to a first side of the main wing, the first bridle comprising a first portion that is attached to the first side of the main wing along the axis, and
- a second bridle attached to a second side of the main wing opposite the first side of the main wing, the second bridle comprising a second portion that is attached to the second side of the main wing at a location offset from the axis.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- causing a kite to lift off the ground in a hover mode of flight, wherein the kite comprises a main wing comprising an axis that is perpendicular to a roll axis of the kite, and wherein the kite is oriented vertically in the hover mode of flight;
- transitioning the kite from the hover mode of flight to a crosswind mode of flight, wherein the kite is oriented horizontally in the crosswind mode of flight;
- and
- controlling a roll of the kite during the crosswind mode of flight at least in part with use of two or more bridles between the kite and a tether, wherein each bridle of the two or more bridles is attached to the main wing, the two or more bridles being adapted to provide a torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite, and the two or more bridles comprising:
- a first bridle attached to a first side of the main wing, the first bridle comprising a first portion that is attached to the first side of the main wing along the axis, and
- a second bridle attached to a second side of the main wing opposite the first side of the main wing, the second bridle comprising a second portion that is attached to the second side of the main wing at a location offset from the axis.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- causing a kite to lift off the ground in a hover mode of flight, wherein the kite comprises a main wing comprising an axis that is perpendicular to a roll axis of the kite, and wherein the kite is oriented vertically in the hover mode of flight;
- controlling a roll of the kite during the hover mode of flight at least in part with use of the two or more bridles, wherein each bridle of the two or more bridles is attached to the main wing, the two or more bridles being adapted to provide a torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite, and the two or more bridles comprising:
- a first bridle attached to a first side of the main wing, the first bridle comprising a first portion that is attached to the first side of the main wing along the axis, and
- a second bridle attached to a second side of the main wing opposite the first side of the main wing, the second bridle comprising a second portion that is attached to the second side of the main wing at a location offset from the axis;
- transitioning the kite from the hover mode of flight to a crosswind mode of flight, wherein the kite is oriented horizontally in the crosswind mode of flight;
- controlling the roll of the kite during the crosswind mode of flight at least in part with use of the two or more bridles;
- and
- landing the kite in the hover mode of flight, wherein the landing comprises controlling the roll of the kite at least in part with the use of the two or more bridles.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.