An interesting article covering some emerging tech to use kites and drone/aircraft things for electrical generation - www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/06/08/an-innovative-approach-to-making-electricity-from-the-wind
The examples discussed still look a little clunky, but exciting to see novel approaches to harnessing wind power, e.g. SkySails a German fully automated kite system - skysails-power.com/ "A single unit will produce 200 kilowatts-enough to run about 100 homes"! Even Google is getting into it - makanipower.com

Nice find and interesting viewing. Thanks for posting!

Awesome! Been a fan of the kite assist powered ships and the fuel savings they can produce despite the high initial cost to install. I never realised the cost of fuelling a cargo ship, but 3/4 to a million a trip the 10 percent or more saved by using a kite makes sense. I wonder how long it will take to roll out this tech?

makanipower.com/
Makani was founded in 2006 by Corwin Hardham, Don Montague and Saul Griffith with the goal of developing a low-cost renewable energy solution using kite technology. Initial funding came from Google.org as part of its RE


makanipower.com/technology/

,and was pretty much given up on because with all that google money they couldn't get an AI to control a kite for more than about a minute. They developed a drone style kite to compensate. The next issue is how much room these systems would take up -think how much room you need to be a kitesurfer, them multiply this by the scale factor and then the numbers required to be viable.
Kite drawn ships is another interesting idea, but how viable is it really. The first thing it would really need to do is go upwind. Admittedly a lot of trade routes are broad reach or downwind but there is going to be an upwind component in there which with the windage and tonnage of large ships makes upwind pie in the sky. The next thing is a system with enough power to drag a ship around would have some serious risks involved. The shear size of them in a storm or in the water as a sea anchor or their prop fouling ability makes them a considerable risk.

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Robbo2099 said..
makanipower.com/
Makani was founded in 2006 by Corwin Hardham, Don Montague and Saul Griffith with the goal of developing a low-cost renewable energy solution using kite technology. Initial funding came from Google.org as part of its RE



makanipower.com/technology/

That would be the same Saul Griffith who started Griffin kites many years ago.

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makanipower.com/
Makani was founded in 2006 by Corwin Hardham, Don Montague and Saul Griffith

That would be the same Saul Griffith who started Griffin kites many years ago.

And Don Montague from Naish kites / sails

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the truth said..
,and was pretty much given up on because with all that google money they couldn't get an AI to control a kite for more than about a minute.

that is telling, and a pox on this whole AI BS that is going to replace all manner of human intelligence and judgement, but if AI learns from mistakes surely the kite robot just needs to keep practicing?

Vestas have been making electricity windmills since 1945. They are so refined and efficient and strong. They sit on massive steel poles and have protection against ice on the blades and all sorts of other self protecting goodies built in.

Saying you are going to produce reliable electricity using a kite is about as sensible as trying to cure an infection by strapping a banana skin to your forehead at midnight.

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wishy said..

Saying you are going to produce reliable electricity using a kite is about as sensible as trying to cure an infection by strapping a banana skin to your forehead at midnight.

Hahahaha i know what im making my next 419 scammer do :D