AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS TESTS AND FLIGHT SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT OF PARAFOIL KITES USED FOR THE AUTONOMOUS KITE-SAILING POWER GENERATION

Abstract

Wind tunnel tests are conducted to investigate aerodynamic characteristics of a parafoil kite used for the Autonomous Kite-Sailing Power Generation. Then a flight simulator of the kite is developed to estimate the energy harvesting performance of the Autonomous Kite-Sailing Power Generation. An example simulation based on the wind tunnel tests revealed the differences of the kite performance depending on the altitudes of flight trajectories.