Makani Power, Autonomous Power Generation, July 8, 2011

The Makani team has achieved a significant milestone in the pursuit of inexpensive renewable energy during a recent flight of its latest prototype, Wing 7. Wing 7 has a wing span of 8 meters, weighs 58.4 kg and has a rated power of 20 kW. This was the first flight of its kind to demonstrate both power generation and the autonomous flight modes needed for launching, landing and crosswind flight. The milestone flight was one of the first crosswind flights of Wing 7. As the controls are refined and planned aerodynamic improvements are added, power generation will increase to the wing's full capacity of 20 kW.

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