Wind Car Driven by the Magnus Force

摘要

A mathematical model of a wind car is introduced. The car is equipped by the Magnus-type horizontal axis wind rotor. The shaft of the rotor is connected by a reduction gear with driving wheels of a vehicle. The wheels move without slipping along the line that is parallel to the wind flow. Steady motions of the vehicle are studied. It is shown that the vehicle can move upwind, as well as downwind faster than the wind. The speed of the vehicle is estimated depending on the transmission gear ratio. The maximal speed is compared with that obtained for different types of wind powered vehicles.