Optimal acceleration procedure from launch to maximum speed in high-speed dynamic soaring

Dynamic soaring is a flight mode for achieving extremely high speeds in wind scenarios in the leeward side of ridges where a thin shear layer separates a region of high wind speed above from a zone of still air below. The maximum speed achievable with a glider differs by an order of magnitude from the speed at launching the vehicle. Thus, a significant acceleration effort is necessary in order to increase the speed form the low-speed level after launch to approach the maximum speed. Flight mechanics and wind modellings are developed for describing the motion of a glider. Basically, the acceleration procedure shows a sequence of cycles each of which yields a speed increase. It is shown how the energy can be optimally extracted from the wind such that the energy gain for maximizing the acceleration can be achieved. Results of the maximum acceleration problem are obtained using an efficient optimization method.