We're sorry but this page doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Please enable it to continue.
Feedback

Failed mast-based launch attempt of the V3 kite

Formal Metadata

Title
Failed mast-based launch attempt of the V3 kite
Subtitle
Animated sequence of photos taken on 2 August 2012 from the ground
Title of Series
Number of Parts
15
Author
Contributors
License
CC Attribution 4.0 International:
You are free to use, adapt and copy, distribute and transmit the work or content in adapted or unchanged form for any legal purpose as long as the work is attributed to the author in the manner specified by the author or licensor.
Identifiers
Publisher
Release Date2020
LanguageOriginal sound, no spoken text
Producer
Production Year2012
Production PlaceFormer naval airfield Valkenburg, Leiden, Netherlands

Content Metadata

Subject Area
Genre
Abstract
The animated photo sequence shows a failed launch attempt of the TU Delft V3 kite from an upside-down hanging position on 2 August 2012 at the former airfield Valkenburg, Leiden, Netherlands. As for all previous mast-based launch attempts, the hanging kite is first steered into a pendulum motion, before taking off with a sideways upswing maneuver to the right. This upswing motion ends at the side of the wind window with a roughly horizontal tether and the kite subsequently falling back. A possible contribution is the sudden drop of the propulsive aerodynamic force, which is indicated by the observable loose membrane and partial collapse of the entire right half of the wing. While falling back, the kite again catches wind and regains power, and this time is steered into a sideways upswing maneuver to the left. The following events are not covered only fragmentarily by the photos: the kite is unable to assume a stable flight above the mast head and several times dives into downswing maneuvers, crashing into the line suspension system of the launch mast, where it eventually comes to a rest. This launch was also covered by data recording, and by two different GoPro video cameras, of which one was positioned on the ground, next to the launch mast, and the other one taped to the leading edge tube of the kite, looking down at the kite control unit. The photos capturing the unsuccessful launch attempt were shot with a Nikon D40X in irregular intervals. The photos were assembled into a video using the precise time information available for each photo from its metadata. Because the time duration between some photos is very long, the generated movie is of limited use for these periods. Also, the absolute time setting of the camera was incorrect. The time information from the data redording was used to determine the starting time of the video sequence as 20:32:01.
Keywords