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PrintDate Submitted: July 31, 2008
Article Type: Discourse
In 2002, the Drachen Foundation awarded me a grant to perform some basic explorations in the use of kites to generate useful electrical power. This grant was originally predicated on furthering explorations of the LadderMill invention of Professor (and one time astronaut) Wubbo Ockels.
The LadderMill was envisioned to have the potential to supply industrial levels of power. My grant proposal came about through simulation-related liaisons between myself and Professor Ockels. As my work proceeded on the grant, it became ever clearer that this was but one idea in a potentially vast subject extending well beyond our original focus, and a subject worth examining in a more general fashion. To this end, the grant effort was somewhat re-focused on surveying the entire field of kite power generation. This resulted in a report summarizing our examination of potential schemes for generating power, along with an attempt to categorize and evaluate the pros and cons of known schemes.
While this original report is now beginning to show signs of aging, it nevertheless has stimulated extensive dialog between the Drachen Foundation and numerous people around the world pursuing kite power generation; furthermore, Drachen upon finding itself as a point of contact between many individuals, has been able to function as a hub of connect amongst those of like-mind who seek liaisons to form larger and more consolidated efforts.
Page Number: 30
PDF Link: Discourse Issue