Maximizing average power output of an airborne wind energy generator under parametric uncertainties

Michelle A. Kehs, Chris Vermillion, Hosam K. Fathy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents a controller for maximizing the timeaveraged power output from an airborne wind energy generator in uncertain wind conditions. This system's optimal energy output often involves flying in periodic figure-8 trajectories, but the precise optimal figure-8 shape is sensitive to environmental conditions, including wind speed. The literature presents controllers that are able to adapt to uncertainties, and this work expands on the current literature by using an extremum seeking based method. Extremum seeking is particularly well-suited for this application because of its well understood stability properties. In this work, extremum seeking is used to search through a family of optimal trajectories (computed offline) that correspond to discrete wind speeds. The controller is efficient in that it only searches for the optimum trajectory over the uncertain parameter (in this paper, wind speed). Results show that the controller converges to the optimal trajectory, provided it is initialized to a stable figure-8. The speed of convergence is dependent on the difference between the initial average power output and the optimal average power output.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationDiagnostics and Detection; Drilling; Dynamics and Control of Wind Energy Systems; Energy Harvesting; Estimation and Identification; Flexible and Smart Structure Control; Fuels Cells/Energy Storage; Human Robot Interaction; HVAC Building Energy Management; Industrial Applications; Intelligent Transportation Systems; Manufacturing; Mechatronics; Modelling and Validation; Motion and Vibration Control Applications
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
ISBN (Electronic)9780791857250
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2015
EventASME 2015 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, DSCC 2015 - Columbus, United States
Duration: Oct 28 2015Oct 30 2015

Publication series

NameASME 2015 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, DSCC 2015
Volume2

Other

OtherASME 2015 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, DSCC 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityColumbus
Period10/28/1510/30/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Maximizing average power output of an airborne wind energy generator under parametric uncertainties'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this