Dynamic Soaring - Kinetic Energy and Inertial Speed

Kinetic energy plays an important role in the energy management of dynamic soaring which is a non-powered flight mode by which a flying object (aerial vehicle, bird) extracts energy from horizontally moving air. Therefore, it is important to use an appropriate kinetic energy concept. It is shown that kinetic energy based on inertial speed as speed relating to an inertial reference system is adequate for this purpose. The treatment of this kinetic energy form is conducted on a fundamental level involving the equations of motion as well as on a specific level dealing with the energy transfer between the wind and an aerial vehicle or a bird during the individual phases of dynamic soaring. Choosing an adequate kinetic energy concept is particularly important for problems such as optimizing dynamic soaring for maximizing the energy gain from the wind.     «

Kinetic energy plays an important role in the energy management of dynamic soaring which is a non-powered flight mode by which a flying object (aerial vehicle, bird) extracts energy from horizontally moving air. Therefore, it is important to use an appropriate kinetic energy concept. It is shown that kinetic energy based on inertial speed as speed relating to an inertial reference system is adequate for this purpose. The treatment of this kinetic energy form is conducted on a fundamental level i...     »