Flying hub with Sharp rotors
These experiments towards a flying hub around which the blades of an airborne wind turbine would rotate. The hub is intended to be very large and produce lift enough to allow the airborne wind turbine to fly in variously tilted positions but also in vertical position to maximize its efficiency. The wind speed was 6 to 11 m/s. Some lift was produced although the ring-Sharp rotors could be lighter, and the stability was not good during the brief periods of lift. Perhaps the stability can be better with helium inflated Sharp rotors, or with a lighter set, or by adding stabilizers.
Below is a sketch for a vertical AWES:
