Author: Decimo

Bridle System Algorithm

2/8/12

Dudu has been working on the bridle system algorithm for the last 3 weeks, and he finally got it working.

It has the same tools as the current software with many improvements. The algorithm finds the perfect path from the bar through all the bifurcating points along the “tree” to finally end on each kite attachment point. Attached are some screen grabs of one bridle model, and below is the XML file that contains bridle data and the C++ code that is the “engine” of the bridle system.

This was designed to be flexible and allow the use on many types of objects other than conventional kites. Dudu is now working now on the UI (User Interface) to facilitate the flexible design and […more]

China trip December 2011 – ROK kites

12/19/11

On this trip we made many ROK kites with the latest updates. We took the prototypes to fly at our usual test site and based on the results, designed some more with the new ideas and new software results.

On the materials side, we made 3 ROKs (3 different sizes) using Cubic Tech CT3.5, with Tapeglue along the intersegment panels and dacron reinforced stitch closing seam. The result was good, but after keeping the kites inflated for 3 days, the bottom of the main intersection started to fail, proving that we can’t use tape at that spot. We are fixing that by making the intersection with dacron, after a transition from the CT3.5

The other tests were 2 new sizes:
[…more]

China trip December 2011 – Gas Kite Model

12/19/11

The Gas Kite is a lifting device that mixes the use of lighter-than-air gas lift with lift from a kite. Perfect for missions when the wind is too light to use our ROK kites to lift cameras, we take advantage that it will go up with almost no wind, then it will catch the light breeze that will help to stay even higher and stable.

Our main development this time in the factory was to study the 3D inflated shape of the lifting balloon. The original Gas Kite is made by welding 2 flat circles. The resulting inflated shape is not a sphere, but a “flattened sphere”, more like a pancake… or a burger. Because the balloon is made with […more]