The Flexible Linear Aeroelectrostatic Generator or FLAG was first envisioned in 1997, by Stuart MacKenzie while taking Chemical Engineering at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. After seeing a science demonstration of a Wimshurst machine, Stuart became curious if electrostatic generators could be redesigned to operate as extremely simple wind generators. What was originally expected to be a simple prototyping experiment of a few weeks turned into the construction of 200+ prototypes over a period of 20 years.
FLAG technology is pending USPTO Application 17/173283, filed 02/11/2021.