Modeling, identification, estimation and adaptation for the control of power-generating kites

Wood, T. A., Hesse, H. , Polzin, M., Ahbe, E. and Smith, R. S. (2018) Modeling, identification, estimation and adaptation for the control of power-generating kites. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 51(15), pp. 981-989. (doi: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.09.066)

Abstract

Large-scale kites, flying high-force crosswind trajectories, have been proposed for wind power generation. A two phase operational cycle generates net positive power using a ground-based motor/generator. In the traction phase the kite flies a high-force trajectory while reeling out the generator-connected tethers. A low-force retraction phase reels in the tethers and returns the kite to the start of the cycle. Highly variable conditions and significant uncertainty in the dynamics pose challenges to autonomous, well-controlled flight. The control task is divided into trajectory generation and tracking components and the most uncertain parameters in the model are identified online. The control structure uses these parameters in a robust framework resulting in an experimentally verified adaptive control scheme.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (141836), the Swiss Commission for Technology & Innovation (15844.1 & 18212.1), the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research & Innovation (15.0065), and the EU Marie Curie-Skllodowska (642682).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hesse, Dr Henrik
• Authors: Wood, T. A., Hesse, H., Polzin, M., Ahbe, E., and Smith, R. S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
• Journal Name: IFAC-PapersOnLine
• Publisher: IFAC
• ISSN: 2405-8963
• Published Online: 08 October 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control)
• First Published: First published in IFAC-PapersOnLine 51(15):981-989
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher