Projekt w szczegółach
Uwaga: ten formularz jest wypełniany w całości przez osoby proponujące innowację.
Jaki problem został rozwiązany?
The shipping transport sector is a major contributor to fossil fuel consumption and air pollution. Current solutions are often insufficient, leading to environmental damage and high operational costs. This innovation addresses the problem of excessive fuel usage and harmful emissions in shipping transportation.
W jaki sposób został rozwiązany?
Windtracx's unique value proposition is a high-efficiency, autonomously operated wind-assisted propulsion system that delivers superior economic and environmental returns with minimal operational disruption. Its competitive advantage is rooted in a patented rigid-wing "Aero Kite Drone" that uniquely merges the high-altitude performance of kites with the durability and control of aviation-grade systems. Key differentiators include a 30% higher thrust and 10% fuel/CO₂ savings versus conventional systems, achieved through optimized box-wing aerodynamics and operation in stronger, consistent winds at 300m altitude. Unlike deck-mounted competitors (rotors, rigid sails), it requires no hull modifications, has a 40% lighter deck structure, and features foldable wings that eliminate port interference. Versus soft kites, it offers full autonomy, reliable operation in lower winds, and far greater durability. This combination guarantees EEXI/CII compliance, maximizes vessel uptime, and delivers an outstanding IRR of 21-28% with a rapid payback period.
Czym różni się to rozwiązanie?
Technical superiority over soft kites. Windtracx's rigid-wing Aero Kite Drone directly solves the core weakness of soft-kite systems: structural fragility and collapse risk in turbulence. Our internal weighted scoring analysis confirms AKD outscores soft kites 494 vs 361 points (+37%), driven by full control redundancy, autonomous all-weather take-off, and superior durability.
High-altitude wind advantage. Flying at ~300m versus ~30m for deck-mounted systems captures 32% higher wind speed, translating to 2.3× more available power (power scales with V³). Combined with a much higher apparent wind speed achieved through dynamic figure-8 flight, this allows a dramatically smaller wing/sail area than competitors — our system generates 143 kN of thrust with just 50m² of wing area, versus 175-216m² for comparable rotor sail or suction wing systems.
Full autonomy. The system operates without manual intervention for take-off, flight, and landing — including autonomous, safe landing even under fault conditions — reducing crew burden and operational risk versus systems requiring manual rigging or deployment.
Proven material durability. The wings use the same composite materials as wind turbine blades, a technology with a well-established 20+ year track record of reliable offshore performance, directly de-risking the durability question for a maritime deployment.
Superior tailwind performance. Unlike deck-based systems, which drop toward near-zero efficiency in tailwind, AKD maintains near-maximum thrust across the full wind envelope via dynamic figure-8 flight — a decisive advantage across real-world routing conditions.
Zero deck structural impact. The system is installed at a location already structurally reinforced for anchor points, requiring no additional deck reinforcement. Unlike deck-mounted masts and sails, which generate a heeling moment (force × arm/mast height), our tethered system creates minimal heel, and it produces no interference with crane operations during cargo loading/unloading or docking.
Multi-functional value beyond propulsion. Operating at 300m altitude, the drone doubles as an aerial surveillance platform (anti-piracy, safety monitoring — LOI with Abintel) and a localized weather-data collection point (LOI discussions with Vaisala), creating additional revenue and ROI angles beyond fuel savings alone, and already attracting partner interest from Helvetia (insurance) and Helbling Technik (industrialization).
