The intuition of the MacCready setting

Taub, B. (2020) The intuition of the MacCready setting. Technical Soaring, 43(2), pp. 14-21.

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Publisher's URL: https://journals.sfu.ca/ts/index.php/ts/article/view/2119

Abstract

I develop intuition for the MacCready setting without elaborate stochastic control or numerical analysis. I express the speed to fly problem as a constrained optimization using a Lagrangian formulation; the Lagrange multiplier associated with the constraint then has an interpretation as a shadow price. I then consider the effects of two types of uncertainty on the optimal speed to fly: thermals of random strength in known locations, and thermals of fixed strength in random locations. Finally, I analyze the consequences of boundaries for the optimal speed to fly: the finite height of cloudbase, the ground, and the distance to the objective.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Taub, Professor Bart
Authors: Taub, B.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
Journal Name:Technical Soaring
Publisher:Technical Soaring Society of America, Inc.
ISSN:0744-8996
ISSN (Online):0744-8996
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 Technical Soaring Society of America, Inc.
First Published:First published in Technical Soaring 43(2):14-21
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher
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