Facilities
Our facilities support the full development cycle of airborne wind energy systems, from subsystem development and laboratory validation to outdoor flight testing and field deployment.
01 / Aerospace development
Aerospace Laboratory – UC3M Scientific Park
The Aerospace Laboratory is the main development space for the aeronautical and mechanical side of the AW3 group. It provides the room, tools, and technical environment needed to build, adapt, assemble, and prepare an AWE system.
What it has
- Large working space for prototype assembly and subsystem integration.
- Resources for mechanical, aeronautical, mechatronic, and flight hardware development.
- A flexible environment for preparing experimental configurations before field deployment.
What it allows
- Fast iteration of aircraft, tether, ground-station, and control hardware.
- Pre-flight inspection, integration, and configuration of test-ready systems.
- Close collaboration between researchers, students, and engineering partners.
02 / Electrical validation
Electrical Laboratory
The Electrical Laboratory enables the testing and validation of electrical subsystems before they are integrated into the full AWE demonstrator. It supports power conversion, instrumentation, monitoring, embedded control, and electrical integration activities.
What it has
- Electrical benches for subsystem testing and hardware-in-the-loop development.
- Instrumentation, data acquisition, monitoring, and embedded control resources.
- Experimental capacity for power electronics, electric machines, and grid-related interfaces.
What it allows
- Safe testing of electrical architectures before outdoor operation.
- Validation of power conversion, control logic, and measurement chains.
- Reduction of technical risk before system-level experiments.
03 / Field validation
Area 33 Test Site Agreement
UC3M signed and agreement with Area 33 (Aeromodelling association) to use the test site for performing outdoor testing of our AWE prototype in a controlled and flexible environment.
What it has
- An open-air field suitable for aeromodelling and prototype flight activities.
- A collaboration framework between the test field and UC3M.
- Space for deployment preparation, launch procedures, and operational testing.
What it allows
- Frequent flight tests with freedom to iterate on real hardware.
- Validation of control, sensing, tether operation, and field procedures.
- Transition from laboratory readiness to outdoor AWE system experimentation.
04 / Integrated capability
From subsystem development to field-ready AWES experiments
Together, the laboratories and test site provide the experimental foundation for developing AWE systems, from early subsystem validation to integrated hardware testing and outdoor operation.
01
Aerospace build-up
Aircraft, tether, mechanical, and mechatronic elements can be assembled and prepared with the space and tools needed
02
Electrical validation
Electrical subsystems can be tested independently, instrumented, monitored, and improved before being exposed to field-test conditions.
System integration
Control, sensing, power conversion, and mechanical interfaces can be brought together into a complete experimental platform.
Field operation
The Villaconejos site enables outdoor trials, repeated testing, operational learning, and the progression toward robust AWES demonstrations.
Contact us for a visit
Purpose-built facilities, integrated testbeds, and multidisciplinary expertise enable us to turn research into working airborne wind energy technology.