Tethered UnderSea Kites (TUSK) are a novel solution to produce renewable energy from ocean currents. This project’s goal was to design a rigid-wing underwater kite with an attached turbine that extracts power from an ocean current, and to test a viable scale model of the system. A detailed CAD model of the proposed design was created which includes an aluminum nacelle and 3D printed ABS plastic propeller, wing, pylon and rudders. Off-the-shelf power components such as the generator, and servo were purchased, and a previously created gimbal for kites in air was modified for an underwater application. The system will be tested in a water flume at Alden Research Laboratory.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Perez, Randy
• O'Connor, James Michael
• Aye-Addo, Papa Aye

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050114-105311

Advisor

• Linn, Anthony B.
• Olinger, David J.

Year

• 2014

Date created

• 2014-05-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright