After the Google Car comes the Google Ship with news the internet giant has patented a new form of ship propulsion.
The kite-based propellers is being developed by Makani, a company Google acquired three years ago. The airborne wind turbine could ultimately be used to move data centers, something Google has been looking at shipping-wise for many years.
The patent is specifically for an “airborne rigid kite with on-board power plant for ship propulsion”.
Makani Power stated that the “energy kite” has the potential to generate 50% more energy while eliminating 90% of the materials used and for half the cost of a conventional wind turbine.
“Conventional wind turbines typically include large turbine blades positioned atop a tower,” reads the patent.
“An alternative to the costly conventional wind turbine towers that may be used to harness wind energy is to use an aerial vehicle attached to a ground station with an electrically conductive tether.”
