Work/Description
Abstract/
Engineer the Windlift kite engine, the passion of inventor Rob Creighton. The engine is designed to create power to pump water, compress air or charge batteries for individuals in rural areas of developing countries. The affordable wind powered system is designed to replace increasingly expensive diesel fuel currently used to run power generators.
Challenge/
Develop a simple design that can be manually operated and repositioned to capture variable winds. Demonstrate that the system can generate electricity.
Solution/
Engineers translated Creighton’s ideas and rough models into a functioning, measureable system capable of producing power to run a small generator. Through a truck-mounted, revolving system of pulleys and steering mechanisms, the operator maneuvers the kite back and forth catching gusts of wind and keeping the kite airborne. A laptop measures the speed of the wind and gauges the systems performance.
Results/
Creighton continues to encourage investors and refine his concepts working toward a prototype of an automated system. Windlift, LLC is assembling a collaborative team to continue to refine the model and hopes to have kite engines available by summer 2010.
More about Windlift
Interview and Video
Test Flight Video
