Simulation of the Transition Phase for an Optimally-Controlled Tethered VTOL Rigid Aircraft for AirborneWind Energy Generation

Mostafa Rushdi, Ahmed A. Hussein , Tarek Dief, Sheigeo Yoshida, Roland Schmehl

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
44 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Airborne wind energy (AWE) is an innovative renewable energy technology, with the potential to substantially reduce the cost of energy. This paper introduces a solution for one of the main challenges of AWE systems, which is the automated reliable launching of the airborne system component. Our launch system configuration consists of a rigid-wing flying object (aircraft) equipped with a VTOL subsystem and launched vertically, with the fuselage also directed vertically. We formulate the Transition phase as an optimal control problem, so as to determine the optimal control inputs which constitute the control surface deflections and the thrust force; which steers the aircraft from hovering with its nose upwards to forward flight. Subsequently, we simulate the trajectory for two cases of optimality; (a) minimizing the power consumption and (b) minimizing the endurance, during this phase. Choosing the case of minimizing power is more reasonable for our application, as the time interval difference between the two cases is almost 3 seconds only, but with a huge difference in the power consumed. We present a detailed mathematical analysis of the system followed by extensive simulation results.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAIAA Scitech 2020 Forum
Subtitle of host publication6-10 January 2020, Orlando, FL
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. (AIAA)
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-62410-595-1
ISBN (Print)9781624105951
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
EventAIAA Scitech 2020 Forum - Orlando, United States
Duration: 6 Jan 202010 Jan 2020

Publication series

NameAIAA Scitech 2020 Forum
Volume1 PartF

Conference

ConferenceAIAA Scitech 2020 Forum
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period6/01/2010/01/20

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

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