He sought to produce wind power using drones

The AWES system will collect wind energy at a higher altitude than a conventional turbine by using a drone connected to the ground station, using wind power to push the drone to run a generator.

An AWES Kitemill drone prototype flying for testing. (Photo: Kitemill).

British researchers plan to upgrade wind energy collection using flying drones, helping to increase efficiency and get closer to the goal of zero emissions. The technology, called the Airborne Wind Energy System (AWES), collects wind energy at a higher altitude than traditional turbines by attaching a drone to a ground station. When the drone flies high from the station, strong winds help run the generator to produce electricity. The research team at the University of Bristol, headed by Dr. Duc H. Nguyen, lecturer in aerodynamics and flight control, received funding of 477,300 from the British Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to find Gain a deeper understanding of AWES, Interesting Engineering reported on May 22.

The team said the technology could benefit the UK energy sector by reducing carbon emissions, providing flexibility for both onshore and offshore operations, and improving power generation in remote areas. avoid. Along with funding from EPSRC, the project also includes participation from Norwegian clean energy startup Kitemill and Carlos III University in Madrid.

To collect wind energy, an unmanned aerial vehicle connected to a ground station via a tether will fly high when the wind is strong, powering a generator and producing electricity. In the version that Kitemill developed, the drone flies in a circle in the direction of the wind, while creating lift by pulling on the tether. To produce the bulk of its electricity, AWES must fly in complex patterns while experiencing strong aerodynamic forces. This layout results in a sophisticated system with extremely sensitive control characteristics, where even a small mistake can cause the drone to crash into the ground.

Funding from EPSRC will help Nguyen and his colleagues solve this difficulty. He predicts the research will help increase the technology's effectiveness and safety, paving the way to commercialize AWES. According to the research team, currently the AWES development community does not have a method to quickly test complex models. This gap prevented many prototypes from becoming fully operational, causing early project cancellations and hindering commercialization. The new project led by Nguyen will make it possible to rapidly prototype and test the reliability of AWES models with complex control systems, thereby creating new designs that maximize energy production. while minimizing development time.