Doug, It was duly conceded that Dr. Harrop’s short term timeframe was off, but the accuracy of his long-term timeframes remain to be seen. To err is human; even the best are not right every time. We keep track of both failed and successful AWES predictions, by any party.
Feedback
Letters and comments that appear here may have
been edited.
Physics World, Temple Circus, Temple Way, Bristol
BS1 6HG, UK
E-mail pwld@ioppublishing.org
Web physicsworld.com
Twitter @PhysicsWorld
Facebook facebook.com/physicsworld
====================================
An article just published in the paper edition and digital edition of Physics World titled A brief history of
kite physics in the February 2020 on page 20 in FEEDBACK may be studied; authors: Dave Santos and Joe Faust. In the section also were some suggestions by Jorge Quintanilla,
University of Kent, UK.
My recent reply to Jorge Quintanilla:
Jorge,
I appreciated your suggestion regarding zero-wind kites. We sometimes call the realm “calm kiting” and “calm kites.”
The upper wind is very rarely really calm.
AWE has step-towing and towing from the ground to address some of the calm challenges.
Also, we have the ground-powered source in a tri-tether system that may keep a wing set aloft during a calm period.
As you indicated also, gliding and soaring in horizontal calms by the use of vertical thermals remains a potential solution.
And the use of changing altitudes away from a calm layer is available.
Also, FFAWE (free-flight AWE) where there are no tethers to the ground uses the asset of two strata of winds where the winds at their respective layers are in different directions or at different speeds in the same direction.
Feel free to address AWE matters via posts into the open-public forum:
http://www.energykitesystems.net/AirborneWindEnergy/index.html
Fun to be in Physics World next to your contribution,
Best to you and yours,
Joe Faust
PS: =========== Physics World (PW) subscription paper and subscription (paywall ) digital edition holds the article. PW has not published open-free view of the PDF of their editions. I’ve no open Internet link to the contents.
PPS: ============ " Physics World is the world’s leading physics magazine. Every month it is sent to all members of the Institute of Physics, a leading scientific society that works to advance physics for the benefit of all. " _______ iOP or IOP: : Institute of Physics
PPPS: “The Institute of Physics (IOP) is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. We seek to raise the public awareness and understanding of physics and support the development of a diverse and inclusive physics community. As a charity, we’re here to ensure that physics delivers on its exceptional potential to benefit society.”
Yup, you guys like to fly kites.
How about the following viewpoint : Dr. Peter Harrop and his huge staff of highly-degreed and supposedly super-smart analysts’ combined opinion is as worthless as the opinion of any random bystander or person off the street. What do you think about that opinion? Same with almost any other supposed “analyst”. What about the idea that these bystander/pundits merely look up websites of AWE efforts and take what is presented as valid “future news”, without any background to know such pronouncements are almost always wrong? What about the idea that all you have to do is take virtually any statement of “future news” (is there any other kind?) from any AWE supposed-effort and say “no they’re not!” and you will be right as opposed to all those super-smart people who made the statements? You know, like the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”?
What about that opinion? Too factual for you?
“duly”… sure Dave…