PowerLine Unmanned Surfer (PLUS): Shape Adaptive Dynamics Development and Control Design

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Patel, Ujjval, Phillips, Francis, Henry, Todd, Faruque, Imraan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Patel, Ujjval
Phillips, Francis
Henry, Todd
Faruque, Imraan
author_facet Patel, Ujjval
Phillips, Francis
Henry, Todd
Faruque, Imraan
contents This paper introduces the powerline unmanned surfer (PLUS) concept to extend the limited endurance of fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via in-flight energy harvesting from overhead electrical distribution power lines, and develops the flight dynamics and control framework to support centimeter-scale longitudinal powerline frequency tracking. The dynamics framework models the UAV's shape adaptive structure, aerodynamic forces, and control inputs, and applies the coupled flight mechanics framework to low clearance tracking of powerline contours. This study develops a "trajectory to shape-adaptive UAV" controller design approach for longitudinal powerline tracking through local spatial frequency matching. The frequency-matching approach dynamically regulates the aircraft modes' frequency to the powerline catenary spatial frequency using a generalized parameter linearization approach. Performance is assessed on an example UAV implementing camber and thickness morphing by quantifying clearance distance from neighborhood to high voltage powerline environments and across span and chord combinations. This approach achieves alternating periods of low-clearance tracking and antiphase oscillation, with 34% of the powerline having tracking error less than 1m. Airfoil thickness increase has a stronger effect over Phugoid mode wavelength than thickness decrease. Wingspan, chord, and powerline parameter sensitivities are quantified, providing a foundation for near-field long-distance powerline tracking and energy harvesting.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_06006
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle PowerLine Unmanned Surfer (PLUS): Shape Adaptive Dynamics Development and Control Design
Patel, Ujjval
Phillips, Francis
Henry, Todd
Faruque, Imraan
Systems and Control
This paper introduces the powerline unmanned surfer (PLUS) concept to extend the limited endurance of fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via in-flight energy harvesting from overhead electrical distribution power lines, and develops the flight dynamics and control framework to support centimeter-scale longitudinal powerline frequency tracking. The dynamics framework models the UAV's shape adaptive structure, aerodynamic forces, and control inputs, and applies the coupled flight mechanics framework to low clearance tracking of powerline contours. This study develops a "trajectory to shape-adaptive UAV" controller design approach for longitudinal powerline tracking through local spatial frequency matching. The frequency-matching approach dynamically regulates the aircraft modes' frequency to the powerline catenary spatial frequency using a generalized parameter linearization approach. Performance is assessed on an example UAV implementing camber and thickness morphing by quantifying clearance distance from neighborhood to high voltage powerline environments and across span and chord combinations. This approach achieves alternating periods of low-clearance tracking and antiphase oscillation, with 34% of the powerline having tracking error less than 1m. Airfoil thickness increase has a stronger effect over Phugoid mode wavelength than thickness decrease. Wingspan, chord, and powerline parameter sensitivities are quantified, providing a foundation for near-field long-distance powerline tracking and energy harvesting.
title PowerLine Unmanned Surfer (PLUS): Shape Adaptive Dynamics Development and Control Design
topic Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.06006