I would imagine that the same principle may be used in slightly fickle winds, so that it could throttle back or even go back into propeller mode during fickle winds.
But I do wonder what would happen if the tether did break. It says that there are no batteries on the device, so if the tether is gone, is there any means of providing a gentle landing other than gliding blindly?
I'd say they have something worked out, as this is one of the more obvious catastrophic modes of failure imaginable. Of course, the unexpected is more likely to do harm - possibly the tether turning into a giant 200m steel whip ready to sever anyone unfortunate to be within the vicinity...
That said, I wouldn't mind one - maybe just a couple of KW for a rural off-grid section...
But I do wonder what would happen if the tether did break. It says that there are no batteries on the device, so if the tether is gone, is there any means of providing a gentle landing other than gliding blindly?
I'd say they have something worked out, as this is one of the more obvious catastrophic modes of failure imaginable. Of course, the unexpected is more likely to do harm - possibly the tether turning into a giant 200m steel whip ready to sever anyone unfortunate to be within the vicinity...
That said, I wouldn't mind one - maybe just a couple of KW for a rural off-grid section...