ABSTRACT
A few companies will emerge as airborne wind energy systems (AWES) become commercial. Some people in the wind industry doubt that AWESs will ever become commercial for wind farms; onshore or offshore. There are around fifty companies and research institutes pursuing airborne wind AWES. The main advantages are stronger and more consistent winds at higher altitudes, less structure aloft, and no tower. Drone technology for controlling flight and vertical takeoff and landing is combined with wing technology for some AWESs. A computer controlled the flight of the AWES by driving aerodynamic surfaces on the wings and by differentially controlling the speed of the rotors. In the generator-on-ground operation, the winch is attached to a motor/generator, so there is no need for a rotor on the kite or airframe. For models with the generator on the ground, the rising portion of the flight loop provides the power as there are no rotors.
