Chapter 1: The Generator 

Putting a Generator to Use 

Non-LEGO Generators 

Generator Wire Connections 

Chapter 2: The Gearbox 

Gearing Up 

Compound Gears 

Practical Considerations 

Chapter 3: The Vertical Axis Turbine 

The Generator Mount 

The Gearbox Frame 

The Rotor 

Final Assembly 

Mount for KidWind Generator 

Chapter 4: Airfoil Blades 

Wrapping in Duct Tape 

Design Ideas 

Chapter 5: The Horizontal Axis Turbine 

The Generator Mount 

Rotor and Blade Attachment 

Final Assembly 

Mount for KidWind Generator 

Chapter 6: Measuring Performance 

LEGO-Based Meter 

Assessing Turbine Performance 

Relationship Between Power and Energy 

Automated Energy Measurement 

Chapter 7: Steering into the Wind 

Final Assembly 

Outdoor Testing

Chapter 8: Powering Things 

Charging a Battery 

Chapter 9: A Dual-Rotor Turbine 

Electrical Connection 

Chapter 10: A Pneumatic Generator 

Pneumatic Connection 

Appendix: Parts Lists 

Grady Koch emphasizes building things from LEGO that can be applied to practical use in science, engineering, or security.  He is the author of LEGO Optics:  Projects in Optical and Laser Science with LEGO, High-Tech LEGO: Projects in Science, Engineering, and Spycraft with Technic and Mindstorms EV3, and Secrets of Eli’s LEGO Collection.  He also writes for and runs hightechlego.com, which features various LEGO technology projects. His day job since 1987 has been as a research engineer with NASA Langley Research Center. There he works with technology for remote sensing atmospheric phenomena.  He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering.  And he holds three patents in the field of wind measurements with lidar.

Build functioning wind turbines that generate electricity; we don’t mean LEGO models that look like miniature wind turbines. This book is for people who want to learn how real turbines work, and to build them using LEGO and Mindstorms EV3.