Patent ID: 7816800

Claim:
An electric generating system comprising: a frame configured to couple to a tether system; at least one power generation module mounted to the frame comprising: a holding structure attached to the frame; a rotating structure, including a rotor shaft, configured to rotate relative to the holding structure; a rotor attached to the rotor shaft; and a plurality of motor/generators attached to the holding structure, each including a drive shaft configured to engage with the rotor shaft, wherein the electric generating system is configured to operate in: a first mode wherein the motor/generators are configured to receive electrical energy from the tether system and drive the drive shafts to create a torque on the rotor shaft to thereby rotate the rotor and create lift to fly the electric generating system to an operating position within an air stream; and a second mode wherein the rotor is configured to be rotated by the air stream to provide lift to maintain the electric generating system within the air stream and to create a torque on the rotor shaft to thereby rotate the rotor shaft and the rotating structure so that the torque from the rotor is transmitted to the motor/generators via the drive shafts to generate electrical energy which is provided to the tether system.