DDWFTTW - Directly Downwind Faster Than The Wind

Thanks.

Done. I could use $20,000. What do I have to demonstrate to collect?

 

i think he had only 20$ planned to be invested:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/pr...ind-faster-than-wind-25527-14.html#post348631

 

Darn! Well, I recently won a $100 bet from one of our hang gliding buddies. With this $20, I'm inching slowly toward the $100K bet I proposed.

 

Hmmmm..... I don't think I should spend that $20 just yet.

 

I guess that was just a figure of speech.

 

??

As far as "What do I have to demonstrate to collect?", you're a lot closer than Joby Energy, whose "airborne wind turbines produce energy more consistently, require lower capitol costs and deliver the most cost-effective renewable energy" but are still two years away from even a prototype.

You're going to have to have more than some blurry video and your say so.

 

That really didn't answer anything SamSam. Why don't you just verbalize what you need as a proof.

 

Will a record, ratified by NALSA (nalsa.org) count?

No one has more experience with the competition and record side of wind powered vehicles than NALSA.

JB

 

No worries. We have hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in this thing. Trying to squeeze 20 bucks out of a guy that has no intention of admitting he's wrong under any circumstances has pretty much lost its charm.

 

I have to say that looking at the three Vimeo videos it seems I am out $20. I don't understand your big hurry to collect before it is officially ratified by a third party. If your endeavor is strapped for cash, I could probably loan you some money.

 

Nope. I don't need your last $20 for my "blurry videos". Thanks.

 

beating the old horse but wanted to post this video I made here too.
It shows how similar the wing/sail in downwind tack boat is to the propeller in a downwind cart.

Reversely it actually nicely visualizes how the sail creates "thrust".

 

The Discovery Channel segment on the Blackbird:

http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/may-2010/daily-planet---may-04-2010/#clip298008

And even after a full day of discussion, even the Discovery Channel got it wrong ... the blades do *not* turn the wheels.

JB

 

We finally have the downwind cart more or less completed. New aerodynamic fairings, strengthened transmission, variable pitch prop, logging of GPS and wind speed and direction, and even it's own trailer (finally).

We took it out for some testing yesterday, and had reasonably good luck with the wind conditions. We got about 2.85X wind speed in 12 to 15 mph winds.

Hopefully we'll be making a run for the record in the next few weeks.

We were also invited to give a talk on the topic at the St. Francis Yacht Club next month.

One thing we'd love to find is a small external monitor to put in front of the driver. If anyone has something old to loan or sell cheap, I'd love to hear from you.

 

It's looking good for you and not so good for me.

How are you going to document the windspeed to show the wind is reasonably constant?

As I said before, something visual, independent of the cart, that drifted with the wind would seem to be pretty convincing, physically showing both the speed and the direction of the wind. Something like a colored smoke bomb or some small helium kids balloons. Lawrence Welks bubble machine.

Good luck!