In 2009 we set out to conclusively answer the following question... Can a vehicle be built which can go directly downwind, faster than the wind (DDWFTTW), powered only by the wind, steady state? On 3 July 2010 we established a world record by going directly downwind at 2.8 times the true wind speed with the Blackbird. Now we have begun to modify the Blackbird with the intention of going directly UP-wind faster than the wind - steady state.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Here's a rough rendering of the instrumented prop hub. The 4 large shaft collars in the center are the interface for our carbon prop spars. The bronze colored object is the thrust bearing which presses on three radial load cells. The two paddles on the back transfer the torque through two load cells to the hub itself.
