Energy Kite

[trapped_in_tx]

How I managed to just completely miss this whole thing is a mystery to me, especially since google is involved.

http://www.google.com/makani

A friend in OKC just sent me info on this. He works at a civil engineering company that is going to be working with these guys on field trials in west TX this summer.

I'm sure several posters on here are already aware of this tech. Thoughts? My experience as an engineer leaves me both geeked out and apprehensive at the same time; this tech is quite a violation of the KISS principle and I've seen endless ideas lose financially in the long term due to their complexity.

But it sure looks cool.

 

[Been Jammin]

That is really cool. Not sure I agree with this part of your post...

this tech is quite a violation of the KISS principle and I've seen endless ideas lose financially in the long term due to their complexity.

Seems like it might be possible that it would be less complex than traditional wind turbines and that replacement equipment would be less expensive if it were to break down. Of course, I am just guessing.

 

[long-duc-dong]

That thing will drive cats bat shit crazy.

 

[purkey]

not quite as simple as the wind turbine...more things to break it looks like. Anything moving around like that seems to have more potential for issues.

 

[long-duc-dong]

not quite as simple as the wind turbine...more things to break it looks like. Anything moving around like that seems to have more potential for issues.

This. And just as worthless as a wind turbine.

 

[long-duc-dong]

Put some of these in your yard. They're cool.

http://www.treehugger.com/wind-tech...generate-clean-energy-urban-environments.html

 

[trapped_in_tx]

That is really cool. Not sure I agree with this part of your post...



Seems like it might be possible that it would be less complex than traditional wind turbines and that replacement equipment would be less expensive if it were to break down. Of course, I am just guessing.

I think the mechanical aspect could easily be less expensive than a traditional turbine. But overall, it's definitely more complex.

Plus, the control software has to be fairly complex which means it will likely have bugs for a long time.

That doesn't mean that it can't be successful. I will be interested to watch how the concept progresses.