A method for constrained energy-maximising control of heaving wave-energy converters via a nonlinear frequency response

A theoretical grounding is presented for justifying how frequency domain methods may be applied in the determination of constrained extracted-energy maximising controls in wave-energy conversion applications subject to nonlinear models. A computational method is subsequently outlined. The theory applies to forced Lur'e systems, an important class of nonlinear control systems, including nonlinear models of simple heaving point-absorber wave-energy converters, and which facilitates a well-defined and tractable frequency response for such systems.