Today I experimented a lenticular balloon inflated with air, and with a drift as for Helikite ™ but the balloon being used like a kite as for SkyDoc ™. My lenticular balloon is much flatter in shape than the two balloons mentioned. Results with a low but sufficient wind speed: very unstable. Besides this, a stability problem was mentioned for the two balloons mentioned above.
Some photos:
Unstability:
At ground:
A convex surface like a balloon does not seem to make a good kite: it skids like a bar of soap unless you add a lot of devices. By the way my lenticular balloon flew better as a kite when deflated.
Maybe for AWE use, separating the kites from the balloons (and if required the energy conversion system) would be better, forming a train. Such a separation is shown on the video below:
