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Reminds me of the incredible engineering done by Makani, as told in this 2 hours long autodocumentary [1]. They shut down in 2020 because they didn't see a path

Reminds me of the incredible engineering done by Makani, as told in this 2 hours long autodocumentary [1]. They shut down in 2020 because they didn't see a path towards commercializing their airborne wind turbine. They made a non-assertion pledge on their patents, and open sourced much of their code (simulations, firmware) [2]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_hEja6bzE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_hEja6bzE [2] https://github.com/google/makani https://github.com/google/makani

latchkey 5y ago
You just beat me to this! I deleted my comment. I can't agree more. If you are at all curious about this topic, the documentary is well worth the viewing!
elliottkember 5y ago
A whole bunch of their equipment started showing up on auction sites recently - including a few fire engines. I was extremely tempted to pick up a $3,000 fire engine.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- eloff 5y ago
  Those sell for a quarter million used, I think that's worth it barring major mechanical issues.
  - elliottkember 5y ago
    Yes, that's what I thought too. The only wrinkle was the logistical problem of where to park it.
krisoft 5y ago
Spoilers follow! I usually don't cry at movies. I cried when Mufasa died in the Lion King, and I nearly cried when the last prototype of Makani crashed into the sea in the linked documentary. So much good engineering, and effort, and hopes and dreams and sweat went into the whole project. I really felt for the team there.
bserge 5y ago
What a great project and so incredibly nice of them to open source at least something. There was another airborne wind turbine project that was based on a blimp filled with hydrogen/helium, the name escapes me right now.
LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
Some motor biker drove around the big empty spaces in Alameda, put it on youtube, and this is where their HQ was: https://youtu.be/mfDNWkwWk9Y?t=3066 https://youtu.be/mfDNWkwWk9Y?t=3066

latchkey 5y ago

You just beat me to this! I deleted my comment. I can't agree more. If you are at all curious about this topic, the documentary is well worth the viewing!

elliottkember 5y ago

A whole bunch of their equipment started showing up on auction sites recently - including a few fire engines. I was extremely tempted to pick up a $3,000 fire engine.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
eloff 5y ago
Those sell for a quarter million used, I think that's worth it barring major mechanical issues.
- elliottkember 5y ago
  Yes, that's what I thought too. The only wrinkle was the logistical problem of where to park it.

krisoft 5y ago

Spoilers follow! I usually don't cry at movies. I cried when Mufasa died in the Lion King, and I nearly cried when the last prototype of Makani crashed into the sea in the linked documentary. So much good engineering, and effort, and hopes and dreams and sweat went into the whole project. I really felt for the team there.

bserge 5y ago

What a great project and so incredibly nice of them to open source at least something. There was another airborne wind turbine project that was based on a blimp filled with hydrogen/helium, the name escapes me right now.

LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago

Some motor biker drove around the big empty spaces in Alameda, put it on youtube, and this is where their HQ was: https://youtu.be/mfDNWkwWk9Y?t=3066 https://youtu.be/mfDNWkwWk9Y?t=3066