BRE07 Shape-shifting airborne wind turbine: morphing the aerostat to cut drag in flight

Venturix develops an airborne wind turbine based on a tethered aerostat shaped as a DAWT (Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine) — a toroidal structure open at the rear like a bell, designed to concentrate airflow and boost wind energy capture. The challenge: this hull shape is optimised for energy production at cruising wind speed, but generates excessive drag during high wind conditions. We need a morphing mechanism that allows the hull to transition smoothly between its operational shape and a low-drag configuration — while airborne, tethered, and exposed to real marine wind loads. Over 48 hours, teams will work from the known existing shape (provided as CAO files + CFD data): the DAWT-type production shape and an estimated target low-drag profile. The goal is to design and prototype a morphing mechanism — structural, pneumatic, cable-actuated or other — that enables this transition. A physical scale model will be built using the CESI FabLab (3D printing, laser cutting) and tested with air blower or ventilator to validate the concept. This challenge sits at the intersection of fluid dynamics, structural engineering, and physical prototyping. No prior knowledge of wind energy is required — curiosity and hands-on problem-solving skills are enough to contribute.