Optimal Control of a Duck

Abstract

Experimental values have been obtained for optimal (complex-conjugate) control of an Edinburgh Duck model in the presence of unidirectional monochromatic incident waves, in a one-dimensional test tank of intermediate depth. These results are used to predict values at full-scale in the presence of unidirectional Pierson-Moscowitz wave spectra in deep water. Four full-scale configurations are considered. Control matrices are presented for complex-conjugate control in each case, as are the forces, velocities, accelerations and displacements associated with that control. Two sub-optimal control strategies are presented, as are the coefficients required to achieve them. Estimates of efficiency are made for the implementation of these strategies in each case.