I forget what it’s called but I think you talked about this often and there were or are even some companies pursuing something like this:
You can build a miniature version of it and pull it around with your fingers to see how it behaves and how you should pull on the string to minimize rope wear and maximize efficiency. Maybe put chalk on the tether and see how you can reduce the fouling of the pulleys with the chalk.
You can of course also make a miniature version of any system you are interested in. I think it’s one of the best ways to learn.