This paper examines the control of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with a deployable energy-harvesting kite for oceanographic observation and surveillance. The proposed design and control strategies specifically address objectives of achieving high-payload, long-endurance AUV operation through the deployment of an energy-harvesting kite while the AUV is anchored to the seabed, followed by the retraction of the kite for continued operation of the AUV. While deployed, the kite executes power-augmenting cross-current flight motions, using a hierarchical controller. When the AUV is in motion and the kite is retracted, a dynamic programming-based controller is used to select charging locations that minimize total charging time when traversing a prescribed mission path. Focusing on oceanographic observation along a Gulf Stream transect, using a hindcast model of the Gulf Stream current resource, the paper demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed control approach, as compared to several non-optimized alternatives.

Two papers submitted (and accepted) to the 2021 American Control Conference (ACC), both focused on different attributes of kite control in variable flow environments. Siddiqui et. al. focuses on tether elevation angle control in a spatiotemporally varying environment, and Reed et. al. focuses on spooling control in such an environment. The abstracts of each accepted paper are included below: Siddiqui - Gaussian Process-Based Receding Horizon Adaptive Control.pdf This work focuses on the development of an adaptive control strategy that fuses Gaussian process modeling and receding horizon control to ideally manage the tradeoff between exploration (i.e., maintaining an adequate map of the resource) and exploitation (i.e., carrying out a mission, which consists in this work of harvesting the resource). The use of a receding horizon formulation aids in the consideration of limited mobility, which is characteristic of dynamical systems. In this work, we focus on an airborne wind energy (AWE) system as a case study, where the system can vary its elevation angle (tether angle relative to the ground, which trades off higher efficiency with higher-altitude operation) and flight path parameters in order to maximize power output in a wind environment that is changing in space and time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach through a data-driven study on a rigid wing-based AWE system. Reed - Optimal Cyclic Control of an Ocean Kite System in a Spatiotemporally Varying Flow Environment.pdf This paper presents a technique for maximizing the power production of a tethered marine energy-harvesting kite performing cross-current figure-eight flight in a 3D spatiotemporally varying flow environment. To generate a net positive power output, the kite employs a cyclic spooling method, where the kite is spooled out while flying in high-tension crosscurrent figure-eight flight, then spooled in radially towards the base-station under low tension.

Two papers submitted (and accepted) to the 2021 American Control Conference (ACC), both focused on different attributes of kite control in variable flow environments. Siddiqui et. al. focuses on tether elevation angle control in a spatiotemporally varying environment, and Reed et. al. focuses on spooling control in such an environment. The abstracts of each accepted paper are included below: Siddiqui - Gaussian Process-Based Receding Horizon Adaptive Control.pdf This work focuses on the development of an adaptive control strategy that fuses Gaussian process modeling and receding horizon control to ideally manage the tradeoff between exploration (i.e., maintaining an adequate map of the resource) and exploitation (i.e., carrying out a mission, which consists in this work of harvesting the resource). The use of a receding horizon formulation aids in the consideration of limited mobility, which is characteristic of dynamical systems. In this work, we focus on an airborne wind energy (AWE) system as a case study, where the system can vary its elevation angle (tether angle relative to the ground, which trades off higher efficiency with higher-altitude operation) and flight path parameters in order to maximize power output in a wind environment that is changing in space and time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach through a data-driven study on a rigid wing-based AWE system. Reed - Optimal Cyclic Control of an Ocean Kite System in a Spatiotemporally Varying Flow Environment.pdf This paper presents a technique for maximizing the power production of a tethered marine energy-harvesting kite performing cross-current figure-eight flight in a 3D spatiotemporally varying flow environment. To generate a net positive power output, the kite employs a cyclic spooling method, where the kite is spooled out while flying in high-tension crosscurrent figure-eight flight, then spooled in radially towards the base-station under low tension.

Focusing on a marine hydrokinetic energy application, this paper presents a combined geometric, structural, and control co-design framework for optimizing the performance of energy-harvesting kites subject to structural constraints. While energy-harvesting kites can offer more than an order of magnitude more power per unit of mass than traditional fixed turbines, they represent complex flying devices that demand robust, efficient flight controllers and are presented with significant structural loads that are larger with more efficient flight.

This submission includes two peer-reviewed papers from researchers at North Carolina State University presenting the modeling and lab-scale experimentation of the dynamics and control of a tethered tidal ocean kite. Below are the abstracts of each file included in the submission. Alvarez ECC: Flight and Tether Dynamics This paper models the dynamics of a marine tethered energy harvesting system focusing on exploring the sensitivity of the kite dynamics to tether parameters. These systems repetitively reels a kite out at high tension, then reels it in at low tension, in order to harvest energy. The kite?s high lift-to-drag ratio makes it possible to maximize net energy output through periodic cross-current flight. Significant modeling efforts exist in the literature supporting such energy maximization. The goal of this paper is to address the need for a simple model capturing the interplay between the system?s kite and tether dynamics. The authors pursue this goal by coupling a partial differential equation (PDE) model of tether dynamics with a point mass model of translational kite motion. Siddiqui JDSMC: Lab-scale closed-loop model and validation This paper presents a study wherein we experimentally characterize the dynamics and control system of a lab-scale ocean kite, and then refine, validate, and extrapolate this model for use in a full-scale system. Ocean kite systems, which harvest tidal and ocean current resources through high-efficiency cross-current motion, enable energy extraction with an order of magnitude less material (and cost) than stationary systems with the same rated power output. However, an ocean kite represents a nascent technology that is characterized by relatively complex dynamics and requires sophisticated control algorithms. In order to characterize the dynamics and control of ocean kite systems rapidly, at a relatively low cost, the authors have developed a lab-scale, closed-loop prototyping environment for characterizing tethered systems, whereby 3D printed systems are tethered and flown in a water channel environment.

This report outlines marine field demonstrations for manipulation tasks with a semi-Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (sAUV). The vehicle is built off a Seabotix vLBV300 platform with custom software interfacing it with the Robot Operating System (ROS). The vehicle utilizes an inertial navigation system available from Greensea Systems, Inc. based on a Gladiator Landmark 40 IMU coupled with a Teledyne Explorer Doppler Velocity Log to perform station keeping at a desired location and orientation. We performed two marine trials with the vehicle: a near-shore shared autonomy manipulation trial and an offshore attempted intervention trial. These demonstrations were designed to show the capabilities of our sAUV system for inspection and basic manipulation tasks in real marine environments.

This submission includes three peer-reviewed (under review) papers from the researchers at North Carolina State University presenting different control-based techniques to maximize the efficiency and robustness of a tethered energy-harvesting kite. Below are the abstracts of each file included in the submission. Naik ACC - Geometric Structural Control Co-Design.pdf Focusing on a marine hydrokinetic energy application, this paper presents a combined geometric, structural, and control co-design framework for optimizing the performance of energy-harvesting kites subject to structural constraints. While energy-harvesting kites can offer more than an order of magnitude more power per unit of mass than traditional fixed turbines, they represent complex flying devices that demand robust, efficient flight controllers and are presented with significant structural loads that are larger with more efficient flight. Daniels IFAC - Optimal Cyclic Spooling Control.pdf This paper presents a control strategy for optimizing the the spooling speeds of tethered energy harvesting systems that generate energy through cyclic spooling motions which consist of high-tension spool-out and low-tension spool-in. Specifically, we fuse continuous-time optimal control tools, including Pontryagin?s Maximum Principle, with an iteration domain costate correction, to develop an optimal spooling controller for energy extraction. In this work, we focus our simulation results specifically on an ocean kite system where the goal is to optimize the spooling profile while remaining at a consistent operating depth and corresponding average tether length. Reed IFAC - Kite Control in Turbulence.pdf This paper presents a hierarchical control framework for a kite-based MHK system that executes power-augmenting cross-current flight, along with simulation results based on a high-fidelity turbulent flow model that is representative of flow conditions in the Gulf Stream. The hierarchical controller is used to robustly regulate both the kite?s flight path and the intra-cycle spooling behavior, which is ultimately used to realize net positive energy production at a base station motor/generator system. Two configurations are examined in this paper: one in which the kite is suspended from a surface-mounted platform, and another in which the kite is deployed from the seabed.

Software and testing data from the OH Hinsdale Wave lab for DOE-funded project on Co-Design of Marine Energy Converters for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Docking and Recharging. This project will perform foundational research and testing to accelerate the sector-wide development and deployment of marine energy converters to provide Power-At-Sea. Specifically, we seek to overcome known challenges and knowledge gaps for the successful co-design of coupled Wave Energy Converter (WEC)-Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) systems; systems designed and tested for WEC array system health and environmental monitoring applications. This project brings together an experienced, multi-institution, and multi-disciplinary team to focus on the co-design of marine energy (ME) technologies and AUV docking systems, including multi-body hydrodynamic modeling, active control, autonomy, and hardware interfaces necessary to enable new WEC-focused understanding, and allow for robust and ubiquitous AUV docking and recharging in real-world conditions.

Software and testing data from the OH Hinsdale Wave lab for DOE-funded project on Co-Design of Marine Energy Converters for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Docking and Recharging. This project will perform foundational research and testing to accelerate the sector-wide development and deployment of marine energy converters to provide Power-At-Sea. Specifically, we seek to overcome known challenges and knowledge gaps for the successful co-design of coupled Wave Energy Converter (WEC)-Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) systems; systems designed and tested for WEC array system health and environmental monitoring applications. This project brings together an experienced, multi-institution, and multi-disciplinary team to focus on the co-design of marine energy (ME) technologies and AUV docking systems, including multi-body hydrodynamic modeling, active control, autonomy, and hardware interfaces necessary to enable new WEC-focused understanding, and allow for robust and ubiquitous AUV docking and recharging in real-world conditions.

This TEAMER RFTS 1 (Request for Technical Support) project supported the flume tank testing of a long range, high endurance unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to monitor maritime space. Today, battery-powered remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) lack the duration to make persistent, wide-area data collection possible.The proposed solution, an Electrically Engaged UnduLation (EEL) drone, can sustain missions for longer duration through hydrodynamic energy harvesting. Power is provisioned via the piezoelectric effect, a material-led phenomenon that converts applied stress into electricity. The EEL subsystems include power, propulsion, navigation, ballast, telemetry, and instrumentation. By mimicking the gait of aquatic eels, EEL can counter currents during maneuvering and level-flight. The identified opportunity is in the future capability of extreme endurance UUVs in swarms. The specific goal for the EEL development is to expand the spatio-temporal coverage of the existing ocean observation mission by overcoming significant challenges of autonomous robotics. Some of the challenges presented include novel compliant mechanism for robust actuation, bio-inspired design to emulate efficient locomotion, smart material-based energy harvesting for sustained power, and swarming architecture through enabled autonomy.