| A specialized algorithm for the optimal control of unmanned, stationkeeping aircraft has been developed. Using intrinsically-adaptive logic for both vehicle control and flightpath management, the vehicle's energy usage in all aspects of flight is minimized. Optimized specifically for microwave-powered fixed-wing airplanes, the controller keeps the airplane within a zone over which the ground-based microwave power station can track it while maintaining the most efficient attitude with respect to the energy beam. The algorithm was developed and evaluated, under a variety of design and operating conditions, using a computer simulation that encompasses all aspects of hardware, software, and environment. It appears to be reliable and realizable, and can be implemented using low-cost, currently-available hardware. |
