Kite

Crosswind Kite Control - A Benchmark Problem for Advanced Control and Dynamic Optimization

Dominique Bonvin, Grégory François, Sean Costello

This article presents a kite control and optimization problem intended as a benchmark problem for advanced control and optimization. We provide an entry point to this exciting renewable energy system for researchers in control and optimization methods look ...

Wiley-Blackwell2017

A Directional Modifier-Adaptation Algorithm for Real-Time Optimization

Dominique Bonvin, Grégory François, Sean Costello

The steady advances of computational methods make model-based optimization an increasingly attractive method for process improvement. Unfortunately, the available models are often inaccurate. The traditional remedy is to update the model parameters, but th ...

Elsevier2016

Analysis of the Maximum Efficiency of Kite-Power Systems

Dominique Bonvin, Grégory François, Sean Costello

This paper analyzes the maximum power that a kite, or system of kites, can extract from the wind. Firstly, a number of existing results on kite system efficiency are reviewed. The results that are generally applicable require significant simplifying assump ...

2015

Improved path following for kites with input delay compensation

Colin Neil Jones, Ioannis Lymperopoulos, Sean Costello

In kite power systems, substantial input delay between the actuator and the tethered kite can severely hinder the performance of the control algorithm, limiting the capability of the system to track power-optimal loops. We propose a method that deals with ...

IEEE2015

A Betz-Inspired Principle for Kite-Power Generation Using Tethered Wings

Dominique Bonvin, Grégory François, Sean Costello

This paper’s main contribution is a theoretical result that can be used to evaluate the maximum powergenerating potential of any kite-power system. An upper bound is derived for the power a wing can generate in a given wind speed. It is proven that the ang ...

Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd2014

Real-Time Optimization for Kites

Dominique Bonvin, Grégory François, Sean Costello

Over the past decade, a large number of academics and start-ups have devoted them- selves to developing kites, or airplanes on tethers, as a renewable energy source. Determining the trajectories the kite should follow is a modeling and optimization challen ...

2013