Dynamic soaring is a method used by seabirds or small aircraft to harvest energy from a wind gradient. This work shows an adaptive dynamic soaring controller algorithm, implemented in a software-in-the-loop simulation of a common autopilot flight stack, commanding only the pitch rate, roll rate, and throttle setpoints. The algorithm smoothly transitions from low-wind to high-wind velocity gradients, using the aircraft propulsion system only as necessary, up to the point that the propulsion system is not employed, given sufficient wind. Using this algorithm, a set of four unique fixed-wing UAVs are demonstrated to perform dynamic soaring in an oceanic environment simulation, showing the potential for energy-augmentation and unlimited cross-ocean flight in small fixed-wing UAVs.


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    Title :

    A Dynamic Soaring Algorithm for Powered Fixed-Wing UAVs in Marine Environments


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2025-05-14


    Size :

    2810682 byte





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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