Bridles for Stability of a Powered Kite and a System and Method for Use of Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016236776-A1
Application number	US-201615136637-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 22, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2010
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
causing a kite to lift off the ground in a hover mode of flight, wherein the kite comprises a main wing, 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, and wherein the two or more bridles are adapted to provide a torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to a force on the kite provided by the tether, the two or more bridles are adapted to provide the torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite, such that the torque on the kite causes a change in the roll of the kite.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the kite to lift off the ground in the hover mode of flight comprises controlling the roll of the kite during the lift off at least in part with the use of the two or more bridles.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
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 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the main wing comprises an axis that is perpendicular to a roll axis of the kite, and wherein the two or more bridles comprise:
a first bridle attached to a first side of the main wing, wherein the first bridle comprises 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, wherein the second bridle comprises a second portion that is attached to the second side of the main wing at a location offset from the axis.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the main wing further comprises a center line, and wherein the two or more bridles further comprise:
a third bridle attached to a portion of the main wing, wherein the portion is located substantially on the center line of the main wing.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the kite further comprises one or more rotors attached to the main wing, wherein the one or more rotors are adapted to provide a second torque on the kite that is substantially opposite the torque on the kite along the roll axis of the kite, and wherein in response to a force on the kite provided by the tether and the second torque on the kite provided by the one or more rotors, the two or more bridles are adapted to provide the torque on the kite, such that the torque on the kite causes a change in the roll of the kite.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the kite further comprises one or more rotors attached to the main wing, wherein the one or more motors are adapted to provide a second torque on the kite that is substantially parallel to the torque on the kite along a roll axis of the kite, and wherein in response to a force on the kite provided by the tether, the two or more bridles are adapted to provide the torque on the kite, such that torque on the kite and the second torque on the kite cause a change in the roll of the kite.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the main wing further comprises one or more control surfaces, and wherein the one or more control surfaces are adapted to provide a second torque that is substantially parallel to the torque on the kite along a roll axis of the kite, and wherein in response to a force on the kite provided by the tether, the two or more bridles are adapted to provide the torque on the kite, such that the torque on the kite and the second torque on the kite cause a change in the roll of the kite.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the main wing is curved, such that the main wing is adapted to provide a second torque that is substantially parallel to the torque on the kite along a roll axis of the kite, and wherein in response to a force on the kite provided by the tether, the two or more bridles are adapted to provide the torque on the kite, such that the torque on the kite and the second torque on the kite cause a change in the roll of the kite.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tether is attached to a ground station on a first end and to the two or more bridles on a second end.

12 . A method comprising:
causing a kite to lift off the ground in a hover mode of flight, wherein the kite comprises a main wing, 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, and wherein the two or more bridles are adapted to provide a torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein in response to a force on the kite provided by the tether, the two or more bridles are adapted to provide the torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite, such that the torque on the kite causes a change in the roll of the kite.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein causing the kite to lift off the ground in the hover mode of flight comprises controlling the roll of the kite during the lift off at least in part with the use of the two or more bridles.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
controlling the roll of the kite during the hover mode of flight at least in part with use of the two or more bridles.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
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.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the main wing comprises an axis that is perpendicular to a roll axis of the kite, and wherein the two or more bridles comprise:
a first bridle attached to a first side of the main wing, wherein the first bridle comprises 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, wherein the second bridle comprises a second portion that is attached to the second side of the main wing at a location offset from the axis.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the main wing further comprises a center line, and wherein the two or more bridles further comprise:
a third bridle attached to a portion of the main wing, wherein the portion is located substantially on the center line of the main wing.

19 . A method comprising:
causing a kite to lift off the ground in a hover mode of flight, wherein the kite comprises a main wing, 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, and wherein the two or more bridles are adapted to provide a torque on the kite to control the roll of the kite; 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; contr

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Vander Lind Damon

Classifications

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• B64F3/02

  with means for supplying electricity to aircraft during flight · CPC title

• B64C29/02

  having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded · CPC title

• B64C39/022 Primary

  Tethered aircraft · CPC title