The requirements and potential for the use of control in lift-based Wave Energy Converters consisting of a series of rotating hydrofoils will be investigated and involves consideration of the possible goals of control through the development of a Performance Function for the LiftWEC system.

The parametric structure of the Performance Function for potential LiftWEC systems is presented in Deliverable D5.1 “Determination of Performance Function Parametric Structure”. The parametric structure outlines the components that make up the idealised LiftWEC Performance Function and examines the extent to which such components can be represented as functions of the control inputs for the LiftWEC system.

Control System Design work is currently focused on the development of the control strategy for potential LiftWEC systems using a control-orientated numerical model. These tools will then be used as the basis for control design as outlined in the figure below.