The advancing energy kite systems is including aerotecture where kited hang gliding platforms are part of the visions. Also, human exits for fun as well as safety may use hang gliding for exits from kite-flown platforms, flown villages, large kite-based flying domes, etc.
Here is a Safe-Splat progress note by Dave Santos, a leading engineer visionary in the field: Jan. 14, 2014 [[included in our stream is the option of ready hang gliders either of the framed or unframed canopy sorts (PG).]]
Human safety is the true top issue in AWE R&D, as our machines begin to process monster power. Too many people lost their life developing HGs. Aerotecture, in particular, needs to be particularly safe, given its intended output of high passenger-hours.
Recent kPower aerotecture experiments made do with simple dummie loads like sandbags and luggage. A more realistic test would be to use humanoid test dummies. Industrial dummies are expensive and over-specialized, and we don't need to precisely measure the devastating effect of falling from a great height. Rescue-dummies are far simpler humanoids that approximate the mass and handling of an unconscious victim. Many rescue teams make DIY dummies by stuffing a coverall suit with "stick skeletons" and soft weights (sand or water) wrapped in rags like a mummy, to save money. Some DIY dummies have even reproduced human bone-breaking realistically (wood dowels, bamboo, or plastic pipe)
That is the stage we are at here in Texas, at the Encampment. Last year we flew a crate of small sandbags under Mothra. Now the plan is fly as best a dummy we can, and even make a small collection of dummies, to validate over time human safety under a modern kite system. We can perturb and stress the system at an accelerated pace, to identify and resolve every failure mode discovered. Expert human test-pilots would only ascend once the dummy has survived multiple long sessions in the same conditions without any mishap or near-mishap. The test-pilots would then eventually validate human safety for a wider passenger experience.
Current design-load safety-factors is 8-1, with minimum triple-redundant fall-safety systems (surface fall-tent, body harness and safety line, emergency descent rappel, payload apex chute, payload fall-net stage, multiple lifter units, etc.). Planned tests use a variety of kites and rigs to validate various details, to lead to an airborne village made of Tentsile units on a triangular loadpath net, under a larger Mothra(2).
Few of my notes recently:
Canopy hang gliders for urgent exits from tall buildings? [[A "tall building" may be a construction that is lofted in the sky my any number of means, including kite system, gliding systems, powered-flight systems, balloon system, as well as compressional conventional towers and skyscrapers, etc.]]
History? Ways and means to serve hundreds and thousands of people?
Patents? Experiments? Challenges? Pros and Cons? Costs? Alternatives?
Situations? Causes for the emergencies? Modifications of building design for rapid exit by canopy hang gliders?
Else? Balcony exits? Window exits? Rooftop exits? Involved robotics? Sense and avoid in Next Gen … systems
stay away from each other .. Faster openers for low floors? Tandems? Triples? Quick doning? Training or not?
Launch alternatives; slide, jump, catapult, push, … There has been some vanilla suggestions and marketing
of product for similar exiting, but this topic thread invites out-of-box discussion (pun intended).
"Tall buildings" encompasses:
1. Skyscrapers
2. Antennas
3. Bridges
4. Spires
5. Wind-turbine towers
6. Energy kite systems
7. Balloon constellations
8. Kite system platforms and habitats
9. ? (open to add by anyone)
Notice that the creative effort here is open:
1. Consider that the CHGs might be worn always by people in high places.
2. Consider that the CHGs might be available immediate in chairs or on most walls or reachable from the ceilings or just under floor or wall tiles.
3. Consider that CHGs might be large and automated with holders that people slip into by just entering chutes provided at windows that morph.
4. Consider that with high-tech simulators millions of people might be trained for minimal procedures involved in CHG exits.
5. Consider that this consideration does not have to be limited by our early experiment with BASE jumping or speed gliding with CHGs.
6. Consider that sense-and-avoid and smart CHGs could relieve the users from any control responsibilities.
7. Consider that flight paths could be programmed per site and per building and per story of the tall building.
8. Consider that smart CHGs for these purposes might be controlled by an over-ride system in the hands of remote rescue people or algorithms.
9. In this discussion we need not be limited to the ideas found in the contemporary parachute industry sector that is selling similar ideas to building owners.
10. Notice that we need not be limited to the limitations mentioned by some early naysayers; each idea may spawn some new idea that would solve.
11. Consider smart CHGs that read the scene's parameters and morphs and auto-guides accordingly.
12. Consider that the CHGs might have bubble rooms for pods.
13. Consider whole lateral room spaces as capsules that could be triggered away with explosive opening of the CHG's wing(s).
14.
n#. Consider _____________________ (go for it, …)
Notice that there are many different kinds of reasons why an upper exit might be the thing to do:
1. Fire is one, but not the only one.
2. A terrorist overtake of lower floors or parts of building or tower might be underway.
3. Contamination of lower sectors of the building might make it wise to just stay fully away from the lower floors.
4. The scene might be during a fight or military action.
5. Flooding might be involved with stranding and isolation to be overcome.
6. Persons in top sector need to get fast to some other exterior point in a hurry. Hundreds of reasons might be listed for such need.
7. Pure joy of flight. Recall BASE jumping. Recall hang gliding. Recall sky diving.
8. ? (add… ? )
Some teasing lateral references:
== Parachutes for high-rise safety
== Heavy demand for skyscraper-escape parachutes
== Lifesaving parachute for escape from high-rise building CN 202715141 U
== Escape parachute for emergency WO 2004082765 A1
== Escape crew capsule
Not sure yet what image is about:
Home
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by Bob Kuczewski » Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:04 am 
Sorry for the power in the vid, guys and gals, but the focus is on the landing gear system for possible gift to hang gliding: 
Free-flying human couples with lines ...