Importance

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Abstract

A method and controller for autonomous control and station-keeping of an unmanned vehicle uses sensor data corresponding to at least geographical location and vertical position of the unmanned vehicle within a fluid environment and computes a gradient of the unmanned vehicle movement, uses the gradient to estimate a vertical profile of a feature of the fluid environment that affects the gradient of the unmanned vehicle, identifies a favourable position in the vertical profile where the feature of the fluid environment would transport the unmanned vehicle in a direction that minimizes a performance metric, and outputs a control signal based on the favourable position in the vertical profile. The control signal controls at least one actuator that causes the unmanned vehicle to ascend or descend to the favourable position in the vertical profile. The unmanned vehicle may be a high altitude platform (HAP).

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First Claim