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Quasi-Planar Isotropism with Square TarpKites
(Kixels)
It is proposed that megascale kite arrays need not
rotate to accept wind from any direction, but can merely tilt away from
the wind direction for a suitable overall AoA. If such a megascale array
is made up of a rope loadpath latticework with many "tarp-like" squares of
untailored fabric, then each square can be passively manipulated to
present the optimal minimal surface geometry, for best power, and to
resist flapping and luff. Squares are of course a standard COTS tarp
format, here preferred for a higher rotational symmetry over rectangles.
These pixel-like squares of fabric are hereby dubbed "Kixels", as a
specific kite method.
Each Kixel needs to gather its downwind corner or corners so as to
pressurize the lower surface. There are two characteristic phases for our
square sails. The first was recently demonstrated; the tarp is "square" to
the wind, and the two trailing corners curl down. The second
characteristic phase is where the square is diagonal (as a diamond) to the
wind, and only its single rear corner curls down. Its not hard to see that
there are many ways to rig Kixels to passively tune into the right
geometry as the entire "metakite" tilts round the compass. Another passive
function available is self-furling in high winds, much as a leaf does.
Kixels might be an ultimate basis for filling the sky with cheap kite
structure.
CoolIP*
~Dave Santos 20Feb2012 AWES5662
Comment and development of this topic will be occurring here.
All, send notes, drawings, and photographs!
Terms and aspects:
- kixel, kixels
an identical addressable kite unit, one of many strung along rope
loadpaths in matrix-arrays, in order to make up a "metakite"
Related links and concepts:
Commentary is welcome:
-
kixel, kixels
Unit element kite in kite array (like a pixel of an image display)
.. originated by Dave Santos of KiteLab Group
used in a bit more narrow sense:
AWES5662
Article
development.
Meditation:
PixelOnWayToKixelForKiting [
]
Discuss
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polygonal cableway (approximates
circular cableway)
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