METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRANSITIONING AN AERIAL VEHICLE BETWEEN CROSSWIND FLIGHT AND HOVER FLIGHT

摘要

A method may involve operating an aerial vehicle (130) to travel along a first closed path (450A) while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether (120) may be connected to the aerial vehicle (130) on a first end and may be connected to a ground station on a second end. The method may further involve while the aerial vehicle (130) is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle (130) to travel along a second closed path (450B) , such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method may involve after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle (130) is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle (130) from traveling along the second closed path (450B) while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.