Dynamic soaring mechanisms in the ocean boundary layer

Bonnin, Vincent; Benard, Emmanuel; Toomer, Chris; Moschetta, Jean-Marc

Abstract

Dynamic Soaring is a flying technique which extracts energy from an environment where wind gradients form, such as the air-sea interface above oceans that sees such gradients forming through multiple and combined phenomena. Models of wind-wave interactions are analyzed in terms of their influence on the induced wind field, before selecting a purely sinusoidal peak wave from the wave spectrum and developing the related wind field using stable laminar theory. Dynamic soaring trajectories are then derived by optimizing a non-linear constrained problem that models the evolution of a point mass vehicle. Characteristic phases of dynamic soaring flight are evidenced out of the overall trajectories and compared to the flat-ocean case in order to conclude on the influence of waves regarding dynamic soaring performances.

Citation

Bonnin, V., Benard, E., Toomer, C., & Moschetta, J. (2014, March). Dynamic soaring mechanisms in the ocean boundary layer. Paper presented at 3AF, 49th International Symposium of Applied Aerodynamics

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: 3AF, 49th International Symposium of Applied Aerodynamics
• Start Date: Mar 24, 2014
• End Date: Mar 26, 2014
• Acceptance Date: Jan 2, 2014
• Publication Date: Mar 24, 2014
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: dynamic soaring, ocean boundary layer
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : 49th International Symposium of Applied Aerodynamics