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Looking forward to the beta results! I wish I had a boat to help test. I’m interested in max wind allowed, angle of wind? All the normal sailing things. Donate for a Dream
Wish I had a boat for this - I've been watching the solar powered yachts and this is on my list to add. Not looking for full sail rigging, but a kite sail looks like the perfect in-between. Donate for a Dream
For tracking the kite, use color coded retroreflective tape on the corners of the Kite. Have your camera system equipped with a light to beam at the reflectors. Then use something like OpenCV to locate the reflectors in the camera image and solve the Kite’s orientation and relative velocity.
How do you solve the issue with night sailing. The Wingit kite system works at night. You have solved the issue of line twist but how is the ai camera going to work at night or if the camera is blinded by the sun.
Wingit appears to be using an aloft unit. We may go with this option in the future, but as it stands, it requires batteries, telecom, involves latencey, needs waterproofing, adds extra weight aloft... The system will work but there is a lot in the chain to go wrong. We plan on using another system that I legally can't reveal quite yet publicly (patents). We have a few participants in the Test Pilot Beta program that will give their testimonials in the coming months.
@@Ocean_Kite_Energy Maybe you can go with some type of hybrid system. Either way your system looks promising. What is the max boat you can put your kite engine on. Wingit can tow a 60 foot plus 40 metric ton cat. if you can price the whole system when completed for about 20K that would be good. Looking to buy a unit when my boat is completed in a few years.
@@carlospereira9838 I think eventually the industry will have to come up with a convention. Of course they can say they can pull a boat that big, but how fast? 2 knots? We are considering just indicating the maximum line tension. This means people know they can keep increasing the kite size until they find something that works for them. Generally speaking, the smaller the boat and larger the keel the more dynamic the sailing, this means downwind, upwind and cross wind. The larger the boat, the better suited it is as an energy generating platform, as we've specifically designed regen in our system. Best of luck on your boat project!
@@Ocean_Kite_Energy Rating by line tension would be a better option. Will you design specific kites optimized for towing. Either way I look forward to your developments and your kite engine is a final contender in my choice when my 15m boat is built.
@@carlospereira9838 Absolutely the plan. Just like sailboats have purpose-designed sails for different conditions, we'll do the same with kites. Some will specialize in downwind pull and energy regeneration, while others will have high aspect ratios for upwind sailing.
The problem I see is getting the kite to lift if it is in the sea . The other problem is heavy squalls hitting the kite. To get a natural lift, you could have an inflatable edge to the kite, filled with helium to keep it in the air
A lot of kiteboarding style kites have inflatable intertubes for this very reason, but we've also been dabbling with the idea of using a pilot kite as a sort of "mast" for those without
A large ship would already have plenty of power. Small boats 0-150' plus would experience surges as the kite circled its cone and visually crazy over a long period of time. It seems like it would generate less power than it requires to function overall. I understand this is a beta thing... It's a cool concept that technically should work but against these issues not that anyone asked, ha.
This is a tradeoff, but there are a few ways we can reduce surges. Thanks to the gearing, we can either retract the line faster or generate more torque at a slower speed, depending on the situation. We also actively monitor the tension. If it exceeds a certain limit, the system automatically releases more line to reduce the strain. Alternatively, we can use a kite specifically designed for wind energy generation. These kites don’t rotate and have a smaller aspect ratio, meaning they produce more pull than lift. They sit lower in the sky, pull like a truck, and can be depowered using the backline. I really like your question-it shows a solid understanding of the dynamics at play .. Do you want a job?
Congrats on the Beta launch. This is a super program for early adopters and fantastic way to collect real world data from different boat types. What are the baseline requirements my boat needs to meet for a proto OKE system? (power, mounting, stanchion/deck clearance, etc...)
We are looking at all different types of boats, the largest requirement is deck space and clearance for mounting. There is a spectrum of use cases: the smaller the boat the more it can be used for propulsion, the larger the boat the more it can be used to generate power, but boats with keels can really enjoy both along with cross wind and soon upwind capability. I think you'll really get a kick out of the website and research pages, If you're more interested in the program just drop a line! www.oceankiteenergy.com/
Great question. The short answer is not entirely, but we’re actively working on adding more redundancies. Redundancies are crucial in the system because they provide extra layers of safety and reliability. With kites operating at high altitudes and pulling significant loads, it's important to have multiple systems in place to ensure accurate control and performance, even if one sensor or mechanism fails. Currently, the Kite Engine is equipped with pressure sensors. When both sensors detect the same tension, you can be about 90% confident that the kite is flying at 12 o'clock or at least in a straight line. However, we see the need for additional redundancies to further enhance system confidence and safety. We’re intentionally avoiding electronics aloft for many reasons. Wireless systems would require power, which introduces the question of whether to use batteries, generate power at the kite, or run a wire up. Any of these options add weight aloft, which significantly reduces power output and can cause negative oscillations in the kite's flight. These issues are exactly why we’re being cautious and looking for the best solutions. We’re making progress and have several promising ideas, but the goal is always to make the system as safe and reliable as possible. Sorry for the long response!
@@Ocean_Kite_Energy Would it not be possible to extrapolate the position of the kite by measuring the angle of the line? assuming it is always tense.. but there is probably a quite direct correlation between tension and "lag"
@@beepboop1569 Absolutely! This is one of our ideas. The line follows a standard catenary curve. There would be many calculations involved, but it's definitely possible.
Yes, the video could have explained this better. This is especially true for multihulls, as there’s a direct line of tension between the keel and the kite, with no mast in between. This eliminates any fear of heeling or capsizing, as the power is transferred through the tension of the line. The line is intentionally designed to be the weakest point in the system. If it breaks, you simply reel in the kite, swap the spool, and relaunch-perhaps with a smaller kite.
Because it prevents twisting of the line, the kite rotates 270° in one direction and then 270° in the other for 0° of total twist. He’s claiming his winch’s coaxial design allows it to twist indefinitely in one direction, which allows it to stay in a tighter downwind cone.
@@EUC-lid Seems from the graphics that this system can do both .... i know previous kites have been flown as figure 8 ..to both stop the twisting and by flying the kite at a greater/wider angle to the wind you generate greater lift . I've flown steerable stunt kites both parrawing and delta forms and the figure of eight generates greater kite speeds and power in the dive and then the rise stages. A lot depends on the trim and aerofoil section of a parra kite.
This is mostly about downwind speed. When I learned that kites and wind speed have a cubic relationship, especially downwind, I got really excited. Essentially, this means that when the windspeed doubles, the power output increases by a factor of 8! Foils like kites and wings only "care" about the wind passing over it's own surface area. So when the kite actively moves, it increases the "apparent wind," generating much more power. Our system was also designed to solve line management issues, particularly line twist. This not only improves the user experience but also enables the kite to perform figure eights or power loops downwind without worrying about the lines twisting. No need to fly the kite in reverse to untangle the lines. So what youre left with is basically an easier to manage downwind powerhouse for either speed or renewable energy.
Great video, Fantastic engineering and awesome explanation. I've been a big fan of this project for a long time. Not sure if I like the AI voice-over though. considering that many scams and such are using AI voiceovers, it may have negative connotation with many people. That being said, I'm SO very excited to see how this project goes.
Agreed, I share the same hesitation, but younger folks are more used to it. Since we’re a small team, we decided it’s better to get the word out quickly after a lot of discussion. You’ll see my partners and me on camera again during the test pilot beta program! The main goal of this video was to familiarize beta program participants with the different components they’ll be working with. Thanks for following our progress, and stay tuned for exciting updates in the coming months
Thank you. This is the kind of invention that has such broad utility that it’s bound to be developed, whether by me or someone else. Its potential applications across different areas-renewable energy, sailing, and emergency propulsion-make it inevitable. I’m just happy to be a part of its development.
This is the kind of thing that many many many sailors, kite surfers, engineers, and clean energy enthusiasts have thought about for sure. I'm not going to lie, Googling "Kite Generator prototype" is what brought me first to your channel. but ideas don't count for anything, You're out there doing the work; Creating prototypes, testing theories, getting a team of people together to actually turn it from a dream to a reality. It's very easy to come up with the idea, It's SUPER easy to criticise the work and ideas of others. But you're doing the hard thing: Which is doing it. Super exciting stuff.
Depends on the cost if its cheaper than a mast and sail, because i would view it as a secondary to replace mast and sail if solar fails. Is there a production product showing amount of recharge to battery banks?
I'm glad you brought that up! The Kite Engine is specifically designed to replace the rigging on average-sized boats. Replacing the mast on a 30-foot sailboat can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000, so a kite engine is worth considering. It requires minimal rigging and can also function as a wind generator. We use electric bike motor controllers with regenerative capabilities, producing anywhere from 400 to 2,000 watts at 12 volts, with the current version averaging about 500 watts
That’s exactly what this program is designed to show. We’ve done a lot of land testing so far. It might seem counterintuitive, but on land, the lines experience more tension since it's anchored to the ground. This helped us really test the system’s durability. Honestly, the Kite Engine is overbuilt right now. On a boat though, the dynamics change - there’s some give as the boat moves in the water, so it’s a different type of environment that will test the system's responsiveness and agility. We’re about to start trials on actual boats to test how responsive the system is in real-world conditions. I’m also making sure we don’t overextend our small team, so we’ve got five spots for early adopters who’ll get the engine at 50% off and a bunch of perks for helping us fine-tune the beta. There’s been more interest than I expected, so right now we’re working through selecting the best test platforms. I’m really excited for the next few months - we’re taking our time to do this right, and I think by the time it’s ready, the market will be too.
There are different tiers, we have DIY, Manual, Electric and Autopilot. The prices are just for the beta program. They will be helping test the beta and in exchange they will get 50% off the production version
This is not really such a great offer, you are asking people to buy two units which means that your backers are not getting a good deal they are getting a rather hurtful deal. If you have a product that you are going to put into the field for testing with the intention of replacing it your early adopters should get a discount overall not a penalty, which is essentially what you are offering at the moment. If you can cash strapped I suggest go for a more traditional backer plan but you still need to offer advantages for your backers and what I see in this plan is penalties for backers not benefits.
What the early adopters are really buying is 50% off the production version to help us test the Beta version! Along with free installation, lessons and a 5 year warranty! (30 second mark of the video)
@@Ocean_Kite_Energy This is not clear in your pitch, it sounds like you but the beta then you buy the production one, which is basically paying twice, if you want to say that the total cost will be the cost of buying the production model then you need to either show it with numbers of make it clearer in your description. At the moment people will feel that it is better to wait then they only pay for the production model. I beleive that you need to rethink your fund raising model, you have an interesting product for someone who can see the advantages becasue they are tech junkies but I am struggling to see how it is worth the cost and risk. You need a marketing guy to help you come up with a more sellable story.
Right now it's just the beta program, all the details are on the website. So no commercial product yet! The hope is this testing will teach us how to produce the kite engine the most economically while refining the whole system. Economy of scale.
@@christopherd.winnan8701 Absolutely. It's important to me that this product is accessible to everyone. The V9 designs are fully modular, allowing users to start with the DIY version and upgrade to the Manual, Electric, or Auto versions as needed. The DIY option for this program is priced at $6,000, and it's tailored for makers with a 3D printer and plenty of time. We may be able to lower the cost further, but this kit includes a kite, one-on-one support, a video series, and all the non-3D-printed parts you'll need.
@@Ocean_Kite_Energy Thank you, I already have access to lots of kites but I am a bit far away for one-2one support. Fortunately, I am much better placed to source all the non 3d printed parts. Will any of this affect the price?
@@christopherd.winnan8701 For sure, the DIY models will take a bit longer to compile since there’s more room for error. I want to make sure the building experience is as positive as possible. The DIY-oriented people tend to follow the Patreon, and they’ll get first access to the models and how-to videos. I’ll have more details on this soon but here's the link! www.patreon.com/_KiteEngine
I have already submit my email but you didn't respond ... Thank You for Your Application! We sincerely appreciate your interest in joining the Kite Engine Pilot Program. Your application has been received, and we’re excited to review your submission. As a potential test pilot, you have the opportunity to help shape the future of sustainable sailing technology, and we’re thrilled that you want to be part of this journey. Our team will carefully review your application, and we’ll be in touch soon to let you know if you’ve been selected to join the program. If approved, you’ll be taking an active role in refining the Ocean Kite Engine, contributing valuable feedback, and experiencing the cutting-edge of wind-powered propulsion. Thank you again for your enthusiasm and commitment to innovation. We look forward to potentially working with you! Sincerely, The OKE Team
We received more applications than I thought, but in an effort to maintain quality we're only accepting 10, which makes this very hard. We're going over the applications and will get back to you by Monday evening!
Collaborate in helping us test the prototype, give us feedback, and we give you 50% off and give you a brand new kite engine improved with your suggestions, along with free installation and a 5 year warranty.
Lol, the "keel" my wharram is a couple inches. It's basically just a spine the ply attaches to at the bottom. How do you collapse it to heave to? Just reel it in?
In one of my videos I show a "dome" that represents the wind window, anyway you just move the kite to the outer edge of the wind window and it will depower, then you just press the throttle and reel it in!
I was stoked when this was a DIY project, I know you've gotta make bread so I understand that you're obviously marketing now to the more wealthy folks. I'm a shoe-string sailor who has always loved the idea of Kite Sailing, Hope that you keep the little guys in mind.
Woah, Woah hold on, I am doing a DIY version right now (it's still pretty expensive for now, but still cheaper than alternatives), you will need a good 3D printer and a hell of a lot of time. I am also committed to making the older model open source once the product gets up and running. www.oceankiteenergy.com/
Hey thanks for commenting. monohulls are self righting, but if you consider the center of mass, there is a torque force exerted through the hull, spanning from the bottom of the keel to the top of the mast, that is why boats heel when sailing crosswind. You are right, monohulls are self-righting, so in a storm they can recover from a capsize, but monohulls and multi hulls can always benefit from an additional sail, especially if it requires minimal deck space. I was thinking this setup would work nicely on a solar catamaran or maybe a sailboat without a mast
Might be good to call out what specifically you're balancing with the kite. My first thought from the video is that you had two kites flying opposed to one another and spinning in a circle, with the connection being a line to the boat. But when you show the diagram with some sort of smaller foil in the water and a kite balancing it makes sense (similar to kite-foiling or what the SP80 folks are doing). But at the end the video it appears that the balance is just the existing boat? Anyhow, liked the build up but the conclusion felt a touch rushed.
Showing that would have been a good idea Christian. The balancing forces are between the keel and the kite, the tethers transmit force through tension, the sailboat balances forces between the sail and the keel; transmitting power through torque/lever arm
