Cyber­Dual­Wing­Generator

Year

2014

The idea

The wing beat principle of the herring gull served as a model for energy generation in a wind power plant.

The objective

The DualWingGenerator reverses the flight principle implemented in SmartBird in 2011.

Technical data

• Overall system width: 250 cm
• Wing width: 110 cm
• Wing material: carbon

Operating principle

A seagull generates the power it needs to move through the air by flapping its wings. However, this process can be reversed: electricity can be generated by extracting kinetic energy from the wind. This is made possible by the intelligent coupling of the flapping and rotating movements of the wings in the DualWingGenerator.

Structure

The wing pairs are mounted to motor-driven rotary axes attached to sleds. They move in opposite directions in the air stream – away from each other and towards each other. This linear motion is transformed into torsion, which an electric generator then converts into electrical current. The system’s mechanical components, sensors and control and regulation technology are housed in its central column.

Efficiency

The wing positions are optimally adapted to prevailing wind conditions by means of active twisting. The DualWingGenerator thus has a high level of energy efficiency. The advantages of this system come to the fore at low wind speeds of four to eight metres per second.

Material

DualWingGenerator