How does a rotor kite use the Magnus effect to create lift?

A rotor kite generates lift by utilizing the Magnus effect, a phenomenon that occurs when a rotating cylindrical body is placed in a fluid flow, such as air.12

As the cylinder rotates, it drags the surrounding air with it. When this rotating body is positioned with its axis perpendicular to the oncoming wind, the rotation causes the airflow on one side of the cylinder to speed up, while the airflow on the opposite side is slowed down. According to Bernoulli’s theorem, fluid pressure decreases where the speed of the fluid increases. Consequently, the pressure difference between these two sides creates a net force—the Magnus force—that acts perpendicularly to both the axis of the cylinder and the direction of the airflow, providing the lift necessary for the kite to fly.13

This principle is distinct from the aerodynamic lift generated by traditional airfoils, though it is fundamentally related to the pressure differentials that enable flight. Unlike many other kite designs, the rotor kite is inherently stable and does not require a tail for balance.14