Abstract: There is disclosed a flight control system, the flight control system including a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and a ground-based control centre, wherein the RPA and the ground-based control centre are configured to communicate using a plurality of different communication systems, wherein the RPA includes a computer system configured to determine operation risk, wherein the computer system receives input from the ground-based control centre for use in the determination of operation risk, wherein the computer system is configured to select a communication system from the plurality of different communication systems, and to use the selected communication system for communication between the RPA and the ground-based control centre, based on the determined operation risk.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for moving a body along a path with respect to first and second media guides, the first media guide conveying a medium at a first velocity along the path and the second media guide conveying the medium at a second velocity different to the first velocity along the path, the drive arrangement being configured to (a) interact with the medium of the first media guide so as to extract energy therefrom and thereby develop a reaction force against the first media guide for driving the body to move along the path, and (b) interact with the medium of the second media guide by means of energy extracted from the medium of the first media guide so as to develop a reaction force against the second media guide for driving the body to move along the path.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for preventing power dips associated with power ramping in wind turbines. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for stabilizing power output in a wind turbine, which includes tracking a rate of change in an external reference, such as an external power reference or external torque reference, computing a feed-forward pitch angle adjustment according to the rate of change in the external power reference, and sending the feed-forward pitch angle adjustment to the wind turbine to adjust a pitch angle of rotor blades simultaneously with adjusting power output according to the external reference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a wind turbine in a manner that takes into account the degree of loading of and damage to one or more components of the turbine are provided. An operational load on a wind turbine part is determined, and is used to compute a damage signal. The damage signal is indicative of the potential damage to the component or to the turbine as a whole that will result if action is not taken to reduce or mitigate the determined load. When the damage signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold, load-reducing wind turbine control means are activated to obviate the estimated damage.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe varying the rotor speed based on the current wind speed when operating in a low power mode. Generally, as the wind speed increases above the rated wind speed (i.e., the wind speed at which the turbine is capable of producing its rated or maximum output power), the rotor speed can be reduced thereby minimizing the risk that the turbine experiences smearing or torque reversals. In one embodiment, as the rotor speed decreases, the turbine maintains the ability to ramp to the rated power of the turbine only by pitching in the blades to an optimal blade pitch angle. Thus, upon receiving a request to cease operating in the low power mode, the turbine can increase the output power to the rated power without first increasing the rotor speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle comprising a frame component having an adjustable physical property; and a controller configured to receive data relating to the vehicle in use and, based on received data, determine a value of the physical property of the frame component. A method, a computer program and a control system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controller configured to determine one or more future values of blade control references and/or a generator control references for a wind turbine generator. The first of the future values of the control references are used for control purposes. The future control references are determined from a physical model of a system of the wind turbine generator by solving an optimization problem which includes at least one cost function and at least one constraint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and computer program products for coordinating the control of a floating wind turbine (101) between a wind turbine controller (111) and a platform controller (110). One or more wind turbine control systems and/or one or more platform control systems may be altered based on said coordinated control of said floating wind turbine (101).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing or substantially reducing negative damping effects on a floating wind turbine. An operating point signal is received and a gain scheduling parameter is determined based on the received operating point signal. An input signal is then gain scheduled by the gain scheduling parameter and based on at least the gain scheduled input signal the negative damping effects on a floating wind turbine can be removed or substantially reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe varying the rotor speed based on the current wind speed when operating in a low power mode. Generally, as the wind speed increases above the rated wind speed (i.e., the wind speed at which the turbine is capable of producing its rated or maximum output power), the rotor speed can be reduced thereby minimizing the risk that the turbine experiences smearing or torque reversals. In one embodiment, as the rotor speed decreases, the turbine maintains the ability to ramp to the rated power of the turbine only by pitching in the blades to an optimal blade pitch angle. Thus, upon receiving a request to cease operating in the low power mode, the turbine can increase the output power to the rated power without first increasing the rotor speed.

Abstract: A motion system operable on a substantially flat stage for imposing motion on a motion platform, the motion device comprising a plurality of feet coupled to the motion platform and capable of moving freely in two dimensions across the stage so as to impose substantially arbitrary three-dimensional motion on the motion platform relative to the stage.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme change in wind direction. The detection is performed by differentiating the rate of change of wind direction and filtering for a period of time. On detection of extreme change the system controller takes the necessary evasive action which may include shutting down the turbine, commencing an immediate yawing action, and de-rating the turbine until the yawing action is complete.

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a plurality of control systems. The wind turbine further includes a reflective memory system. The plurality of control systems is coupled with the reflective memory system. Each of the plurality of control systems may include a respective memory of the reflective memory system. In response to data being written into one of the respective memories, the reflective memory system may automatically replicate the data to other respective memories.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Wind speed signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme operating gust. The detection is performed by differentiating the axial wind velocity and filtering for a period of time. On detection of extreme operating gust the system controller takes necessary evasive action which may include shutting down the turbine or varying the blade pitch angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for operating a safety system in a floating wind turbine. The floating wind turbine comprises one or more sensors 202, 203, and receives a fore-aft inclination signal from the sensor 202, wherein the fore-aft inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a fore-aft direction. A side-to-side inclination signal is also received from the sensor 203, wherein the side-to-side inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a side-to-side direction. An operational parameter of the floating wind turbine is altered based on either or both of said fore-aft inclination signal and said side-to-side inclination signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, controllers and computer program products for determining an optimal tilt angle for a wind turbine. One or more signals indicating site conditions at and/or near a wind turbine are received 402 and an optimal tilt angle for said wind turbine based on said received one or more signals indicating site conditions is determined 403. The optimal tilt angle is then transmitted 404 to a platform controller such that said wind turbine can be inclined said optimal tilt angle.

Abstract: A wind turbine power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbines, each having a rated output and under the control of a power plant controller. The power plant also has a rated output which may be over-rated in response to one or more of electricity pricing data, power plant age and operator demand. The power plant controller can send over-rating demand signals to individual turbines. The controllers at the turbines include a fatigue life usage estimator which estimates a measure of the fatigue life consumed by key components of the turbine. If this measure exceeds a target value for any component, over-rating is prevented at that turbine.

Abstract: A wind turbine power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbines, each having a rated output and under the control of a power plant controller. The power plant also has a rated output which may be over-rated in response to one or more electricity pricing data, power plant age and operator demand. This may comprise a schedule of output set point changes which effect seasonal or intraday changes in electricity prices or which reflect aging of the power plant. It may also reflect the price of electricity on spot or futures markets. Once the over-rating of the power plant has been set, the output may be increased by over-rating individual turbines or operating turbines at rated power if the sum of the rated outputs of the turbines exceeds or is equal to the new power plant output set point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to using remote sensing equipment such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device to detect wind characteristics for use by wind turbines of a wind park. A wind park controller may received raw wind data from the remote sensing device and determine one or more turbines that can use the raw wind data. The raw wind data may be converted to customized data for each of the one or more wind turbines. Upon being provided the customized wind data, the one or more wind turbines may adjust one or more operational characteristics to improve power production or avoid damage to turbine components.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for preventing power dips associated with power ramping in wind turbines. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for stabilizing power output in a wind turbine, which includes tracking a rate of change in an external reference, such as an external power reference or external torque reference, computing a feed-forward pitch angle adjustment according to the rate of change in the external power reference, and sending the feed-forward pitch angle adjustment to the wind turbine to adjust a pitch angle of rotor blades simultaneously with adjusting power output according to the external reference.