Control of Circular Take-off in Tethered Aircraft Under Wind

This paper addresses the control problem of circular take-off of tethered aircraft under varying wind conditions, which is a problem arising in Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES). The study focuses on a less-explored CTOL configuration using kites with landing gear and propellers. A multivariable controller is developed to manage altitude control under steady fight, addressing the challenges of variable wind conditions. The proposed control architecture is validated through simulations under both constant and varying wind speeds. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed control strategy and contribute towards the autonomy and robustness of AWES.