Powered Kite with Enhanced Aerial Position Control

Skyvator offers enhanced positional capabilities. Skyvator can perform maneuvers such as pointing into or perpendicular to the wind, maintaining level flight, climbing, descending, and station-keeping at desired altitudes. These movements are enabled by the power system, incorporated in the wing or other location on the kite, which are attached to the controller, and in turn is connected to one or more actuators, such as motors and drivers. These motors and drivers can be located in various portions of the kite to cause one part or another to move. Additionally, the controller can be connected to one or more instrument systems for data collection and measurement purposes. These include sensors for detecting windspeed, direction, pressure, GPS, temperature, humidity, imagers, atmospheric particle detectors, and gas detectors, among others. The improved positional control and information allows a user to collect data more effectively and accurately.Skyvator is designed to be used across a wide range of altitudes, from a few feet above the ground to over 18,000 feet above the surface. Additionally, Skyvator prototypes have demonstrated the ability to maintain stready, controllable flight exceeding 60 – 70 mph winds. Please note that NASA does not manufacturer products itself for commercial sale. Inventors at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center have developed Skyvator, a kite-based aerial observation tool that uses a single tether to effectively position the kite and adjust it to the required altitude. Currently, most kite systems require multiple tethers to support kite positioning adjustments, resulting in increased aerodynamic drag and presenting operational and handling challenges. The Skyvator can be effectively positioned with a single tether due to its airfoil rigid wing design that provides an efficient lifting surface as well as a power system that is located in the lifting surface. Skyvator, as part of NASA's Aeropod family of low-altitude custom remote sensing platform craft, also overcomes many of the challenges presented by drones for aerial observation including regulatory and training hurdles, limited times, and infrastructure costs.