Concept for Tethered Unsersea Kite (IMAGE)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Concept for Tethered Unsersea Kite

Caption

This shows one concept for a power-generating underwater kite developed by David Olinger, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The kite (3) is connected by a tether (2) to a platform (1) that floats at the ocean surface (6) and is anchored to the ocean floor with mooring lines (7). The kite will have a wing (4), a rudder and control surfaces (8), and ballast tanks (10). A turbine generator inside the kite (5) would generate power as the kite moved in a figure-eight motion (9).

Credit

David Olinger, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

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