Hi,
Having a self launching kite adds cost, weight, liability and chews into low wind resource.
The question is whether a robotic lifter drone can pick a landed (resting) kite from its platform, raise it to an optimal height & downwind position then release it.
Maybe technology isn’t quite there but it isn’t too far either. A heavy agricultural drone has enough lift pick a full size hang glider or even bigger parakite.
If launching procedures takes 3 minutes, a single lifter drone could launch a dozen kites or more within an hour
It would work for both launching dynamic yoyo generators and for raising of the lifter kite for drag/parachutes or flying turbines.
Advantages:
- Most of the time the drone would stay charging on ground, in its protected cage/tent/trailer so its exposure to elements is minimal.
- Lifter drones are already a thing, mass produced at reasonable prices
- They can be remotely operated if autonomous launch is yet too complex.
- A single lifter drone might service a dozen kites spread a couple km apart
Potential problems:
- the robotic hook/crane isn’t there yet.
- some type of kites might still be difficult to launch - rigid or semi rigid gliders/chutes should work. Lots of bridles (soft paragliders, parachutes) are inviting for frequent human intervention.