Uncertainty-aware H2 control of a wave energy converter prototype

This paper presents a data-driven robust control framework for wave energy converters. Unlike traditional model-based approaches that neglect uncertainties, the proposed method uses a data-driven model with polytopic uncertainty identified from experimental data of a Wavestar-type prototype. The control problem is cast as a convex semidefinite program with linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), enabling the synthesis of a robust H2 controller that maximises average energy capture. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed controller either outperforms or matches passive, reactive, and H-infinity strategies in energy absorption and control efficiency.