Output
Our scientific output across journal articles, conference papers, theses, software, and reproducible research assets.
Research output
A complete record of scientific, technical, and software development
The group’s output combines peer-reviewed research, conference dissemination, doctoral and student theses, and in-house software built to support AWE modelling, control, and electrical conversion studies.
Visit our GitHub: UC3M-AWES
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Journal Articles
Peer-reviewed publications presenting the group’s core scientific advances.
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Conference Papers
Recent contributions linked to methods, demonstrators, and validation campaigns.
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Theses and Technical Reports
Graduate theses and technical outputs developed within the platform.
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Software, Datasets, and Tools
Open-source repositories, datasets, and reproducible research assets.
In-house developed software
Tools built by the AWE3 group
Simulation suite
LAKSA: UC3M’s open-source AWES simulator suite
LAKSA is the open-source simulation environment developed at UC3M to study the dynamics and control of AWE systems. Its suite brings together specialized modules that allow different kite architectures and tethered-flight configurations to be analysed.
- High fidelity environment analysed in a common analytical framework.
- Efficient numerical implementation for research and controller development
- Openly available on GitHub
Electrical conversion
Mechanical-to-Electrical Conversion Software
M2ES connects the aerodynamic and mechanical behaviour of an AWES with its electrical conversion chain in a single simulation environment. From the aerodynamic and mechanical model, the software generates the shaft torque and speed conditions that must be reproduced on the electrical side.
- Coordinates converter models, storage elements, and grid emulators.
- Supports reel-in and reel-out operation studies.
- Enables control strategy, bus topology, machine, converter, storage, and grid interaction analysis before hardware implementation.
Scientific output
Selected publications and documents
Journal articles
Selected publications
- A lagrangian flight simulator for airborne wind energy systemsG. Sánchez-Arriaga, A. Pastor-Rodríguez, M. Sanjurjo-Rivo, R. Schmehl. Applied Mathematical Modelling, Volume 69, 2019, Pages 665-684, ISSN 0307-904X. doi: 10.1016/j.apm.2018.12.016
- Airborne wind energy system test bench electrical emulatorNicolás-Martín, C., Santos-Martín, D., DeLosRíos-Navarrete, F., and González-García, J. Wind Energ. Sci., 10, 2279–2297, 2025. doi: 10.5194/wes-10-2279-2025
Conference papers
Selected publications
- An onboard control system based on bridle actuation for airborne wind energy systemsJ. González-García, F. de Los Ríos Navarrete, D. Santos-Martin, G. Sanchez-Arriaga. June 2025. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19550.96326
- Loss-Minimizing Model Predictive Control for the Power Conversion System of an Airborne Wind Energy SystemC. Nicolás-Martín, F. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, J. González-García, D. Santos-Martín, D. Piedrafita-Farras, G. Sánchez-Arriaga. 10th International Conference on Airborne Wind Energy (AWEC 2024), Madrid, Spain, (2024).
PhD theses
Selected documents
- Ground-Actuated Airborne Wind Energy System DemonstratorF. DeLosRíos-Navarrete. PhD Thesis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain. Completed Thesis.
- Design and Implementation of Electric Machine Control for Efficient Power Management in Airborne Wind Energy SystemsNicolás-Martín, C. PhD Thesis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain. Completed Thesis.
- Design, manufacturing and testing of a Fly-Actuated yo-yo Airborne Wind Energy DemonstratorJ. González-García. PhD Thesis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain. On-going Thesis.
Bachelor and Master theses
Selected documents
- Energy Management for Ground Generation Airborne Wind Energy SystemsP. Flores-Martín. Bachelor Thesis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain, June 2025.
- Development of a Hardware-Based Flight Dynamics Emulator of Airborne Wind Energy SystemsJ. Delgado Carrasco. Bachelor Thesis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain, June 2025.
- Takeoff and Landing Solutions for Airborne Wind Energy Systems Based on Semi-rigid WingsM. Gil-Garrido. Bachelor Thesis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain, June 2025.
Full archive
Publications by category and year
Journal archive
Journal Articles
Peer-reviewed work across modelling, aerodynamics, simulators, testing, and electrical emulation.
2024
- Unsteady Aerodynamics of Delta Kites for Airborne Wind Energy Under Dynamic Stall ConditionsI. Castro-Fernández, R. Cavallaro, R. Schmehl, G. Sánchez-Arriaga (2024).
- Dynamic analysis of the tensegrity structure of a rotary airborne wind energy machineG. Sánchez-Arriaga, A. Cerrillo-Vacas, D. Unterweger, C. Beaupoil (2024).
2025
- A small-scale and autonomous testbed for three-line delta kites applied to airborne wind energyF. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, J. González-García, I. Castro-Fernández, and G. Sánchez-Arriaga (2025).
- Airborne wind energy system test bench electrical emulatorNicolás-Martín Carolina, Santos-Martín David, DeLosRíos-Navarrete Francisco, González-García Jorge (2025).
- Energy Management System in an Electrical Microgrid with Hybrid Storage and a Multi-Objective ApproachPérez-Aballe Osmany Ramón, Nicolas-Martin Carolina, González García Jorge, Flores-Martín Pablo, Santos-Martin David (2025).
Earlier Work
- Automatic testbed with a visual motion tracking system for airborne wind energy applicationsI. Castro-Fernández, F. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, R. Borobia-Moreno, et al., Wind Energy (2023).
- Flight trajectory optimization of Fly-Gen airborne wind energy systems through a harmonic balance method.F. Trevisi, I. Castro-Fernández, G. Pasquinelli, C. Riboldi, A. Croce, Wind Energy Science, (2022).
- Three-Dimensional Unsteady Aerodynamic Analysis of a Rigid-Framed Delta Kite Applied to Airborne Wind EnergyI. Castro-Fernández, R. Borobia-Moreno, R. Cavallaro and G. Sánchez-Arriaga, Energies, (2021).
- Modeling and Natural Mode Analysis of Tethered Multi-Aircraft SystemsG. Sánchez-Arriaga, J. A. Serrano-Iglesias, R. Leuthold and M. Diehl, Guidance, Control and Dynamics, (2021).
- Identification of kite aerodynamics using the estimation before modeling techniqueR. Borobia-Moreno, D. Ramiro-Rebollo, R. Schmehl and G. Sánchez-Arriaga, Wind Energy, (2021).
- Activities and Roadmap on Airborne Wind Energy Systems at UC3MR. Borobia-Moreno, I. Castro, A. Pastor, H. Endo, C. Cobos, R. Cavallaro and G. Sánchez-Arriaga, Wind Energy (Japan Wind Energy Society), (2020).
- A lagrangian flight simulator for airborne wind energy systemsG. Sanchez-Arriaga, A. Pastor-Rodríguez, M. Sanjurjo-Rivo, R. Schmehl, Applied Mathematical Modelling, (2019).
- Flight Path Reconstruction and Flight Test of Four-line Power KitesR. Borobia-Moreno, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, A. Serino, R. Schmehl, Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics, (2018).
- A constraint-free flight simulator package for airborne wind energy systemsG. Sanchez-Arriaga, A. Pastror-Rodríguez, R. Borobia-Moreno, R. Schmehl, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, (2018).
- Modeling and stability analysis of tethered kites at high-altitudesA. Pastror-Rodríguez, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, M. Sanjurjo-Rivo, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, (2017).
- Modeling and dynamics of a two-line kiteG. Sanchez-Arriaga, M. García-Villalba, R. Schmehl, Applied Mathematical Modelling, (2017).
- A Kite model with bridle control for wind power generationJ. Alonso and G. Sanchez-Arriaga, Journal of Aircraft, (2015).
- Flight dynamics and stability of kites in steady and unsteady wind conditionsL. Salord and G. Sanchez-Arriaga, Journal of Aircraft, (2014).
- Dynamics and control of single-line kitesG. Sanchez-Arriaga, The Aeronautical Journal, (2006).
Conference archive
Conference Papers
Conference contributions documenting methods, demonstrators, validation campaigns, and AWES system design.
2024
- An Aircraft-Integrated Control System Based on Bridle Actuation for AWE MachinesJ. González-García, F. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, C. Nicolás-Martín, D. Santos-Martín and G. Sánchez-Arriaga. AWEC2024 (2024).
- A Small-Scale and Multipurpose Airborne Wind Energy PrototypeF. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, J. González-García, C. Nicolás-Martín, P. Egea-Hervás, D. Santos-Martín and G. Sánchez-Arriaga. AWEC2024 (2024).
- Loss-Minimizing Model Predictive Control for the Power Conversion System of an Airborne Wind Energy SystemNicolás-Martín Carolina, DeLosRíos-Navarrete Francisco, González-García Jorge, Santos-Martín David, Piedrafita-Farras David, Sánchez-Arriaga Gonzalo. AWEC2024 (2024).
2025
- An onboard control system based on bridle actuation for airborne wind energy systemsJ. González-García, F. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, D. Santos-Martín, and G. Sánchez-Arriaga. WESC2025 (2025).
- Testing of a ground-controlled airborne wind energy system prototypeF. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, J. González-García, C. Nicolás-Martín, D. Santos-Martín, and G. Sánchez-Arriaga. WESC2025 (2025).
- Energy Management for Ground-Generation Airborne Wind Energy SystemsFlores-Martín Pablo, Nicolás-Martín Carolina, Pérez-Aballe Osmany R., González-García Jorge, Santos-Martín David. ICREPQ’25 (2025).
Earlier Work
- Experimental validation of an airborne wind energy simulator based on a semi-empirical aerodynamic modelF. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, I. Castro-Fernández, R. Cavallaro and G. Sánchez-Arriaga. WESC2023 (2023).
- Multi-Fidelity Computational Aerodynamic Framework for the Static and Dynamic Behavior of Rigid-Framed Delta Kites for Airborne Wind EnergyI. Castro-Fernández, R. Cavallaro, R. Schmehl and G. Sánchez-Arriaga, WESC2023 (2023).
- Status of UC3M Testbed for the Aerodynamic Characterization of Kites Applied to Airborne Wind Energy SystemsF. DeLosRíos-Navarrete, I. Castro-Fernández, M. Fernández-Jiménez, M. Zas-Bustingorri, A. Tarek-Ghobaissi, C. Cobos-Pérez and G. Sánchez-Arriaga, AWEC2021 (2022).
- A Semi-Empirical Aerodynamic Model Based on Dynamic Stall for Rigid-Framed Delta Kites during Figure-of-Eight ManeuversI. Castro-Fernández, R. Cavallaro, R. Schmehl and G. Sánchez-Arriaga, AWEC2021 (2022).
- 3D Unsteady Aerodynamic Analysis of a Rigid-Framed Delta Kite applied to AWESI. Castro-Fernández, R. Borobia-Moreno, R. Cavallaro, G. Sánchez-Arriaga, Wind Energy Science Conference (WESC 2021), Hannover, (2021).
- Flight Testing, Aerodynamic Parameter Identification and Dynamic Simulation of Rigid and Flexible Kites Applied to Airborne Wind Energy SystemsR. Borobia-Moreno, D. Ramiro-Rebollo, G. Sánchez-Arriaga, R. Schmehl, Airborne Wind Energy Conference, Glasgow, (2019).
- A Small-Scale Experimental Setup aimed at the aerodynamic parameter identification of flexible and rigid kites applied to airborne wind energy systemsR. Borobia-Moreno, G. Sánchez-Arriaga, 7th European Conference on Renewable Energy Systems, Madrid, (2019).
- Lagrangian and classical multi-drone dynamic simulators with application to airborne wind energy systemsJ. A. Serrano-Iglesias, G. Sánchez-Arriaga, 7th European Conference on Renewable Energy Systems, Madrid, (2019).
- A constraint-free flight simulator package for airborne wind energy systemsG. Sanchez-Arriaga, A. Pastor-Rodríguez, R. Borobia-Moreno, R. Schmehl, Torque2018, Milan, (2018).
- Application of the Estimation Before Modelling (EBM) technique to the Aerodynamic Characterization of Power KitesR. Borobia-Moreno, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, R. Schmehl, Airborne Wind Energy Conference, Freiburg, (2017).
- Determination of Optimal Control Laws in Airborne Wind Energy Scenarios With a Self-Consistent Kite Dynamics ModelD. Expósito, M. Soler, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, Airborne Wind Energy Conference, Freiburg, (2017).
- Experimental setup to study airborne wind energy generation using a train of kitesH. Endo, K. Arakawa, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, H. Fujii, H. Okubo, Y. Takahashi, Airborne Wind Energy Conference, Freiburg, (2017).
- Kite Flight Simulators Based on Minimal Coordinate FormulationsG. Sanchez-Arriaga, A. Pastor-Rodríguez, M. García-Villalba, M. Sanjurjo-Rivo, R. Borobia-Moreno, R. Schmehl, Airborne Wind Energy Conference, Freiburg, (2017).
- A low-cost experimental platform for airborne wind energy generation using kitesH. Hendo, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, World Wind Energy Conference, Malmoe, (2017).
- Flight Testing Setup for the Aerodynamic Characterisation of Power Kites Applied to Airborne Wind Energy GenerationR. Borobia-Moreno, A. Serino, H. Hendo, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, World Wind Energy Conference, Malmoe, (2017).
- Kite Flight SimulatorG. Sanchez-Arriaga, AIAA Pegasus Student Conference, Toulouse, (2005).
Training output
Theses and technical documents
Doctoral training
PhD Theses
Doctoral work focused on demonstrators, electric machine control, kite aerodynamics, and power-kite characterization.
2024
- Unsteady Aerodynamics of Delta Kites applied to Airborne Wind Energy SystemsI. Castro-Fernández. Directors: R. Cavallaro and G. Sánchez-Arriaga. (2024).
2025
- Design and Implementation of Electric Machine Control for Efficient Power Management in Airborne Wind Energy SystemsC. Nicolás-Martín. Director: David Santos Martín. (2025).
2026
- Design, manufacturing and testing of a Fly-Actuated yo-yo Airborne Wind Energy DemonstratorJ. González-García. Directors: G. Sánchez-Arriaga and D. Santos-Martin. On-going Thesis.
- Ground-Actuated Airborne Wind Energy System DemonstratorF. DeLosRíos-Navarrete. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga. (2026).
Earlier Work
- Aplication of Flight Testing Techniques to the Aerodynamic Charaterization of Power KitesR. Borobia-Moreno. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga. (2021).
Student projects
Bachelor and Master Theses
Student work covering sensing, emulation, controls, prototype design, flight testing, telemetry, and simulation tools.
2024
- Development and Testing of a Small Scale Inuit Windsled PrototypeN. Baquero-Truyo. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2024).
- A Simulation Tool for the Dynamic and Stability of the Inuit WindsledA. García-Izquierdo. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2024).
- Simulink Implementation of an Airborne Wind Energy SimulatorJ. Ríos-Requena. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2024).
- Airfoil Design for a Rigid Wing Applied to Airborne Wind Energy ApplicationsC. Torlaschi Canalejo. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2024).
- A Sensor for the Determination of the Elevation and Azimuth Angles of Tethered Airborne Wind Energy SystemsS. Unidano-Echániz. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2024).
2025
- Characterization and Experimental Setup of a Pitot Tube Applied to Airborne Wind SystemsM. Arauz-Ciprés. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2025).
- Takeoff and Landing Solutions for Airborne Wind Energy Systems Based on Semi-rigid WingsM. Gil-Garrido. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2025).
- A Kalman Filter for Airborne Wind Energy SystemsR. Lupio-Guzmán. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2025).
- Energy Management for Ground Generation Airborne Wind Energy SystemsP. Flores Martín. Director: David Santos Martín, UC3M, (2025).
- Development of a Hardware-Based Flight Dynamics Emulator of Airborne Wind Energy SystemsJ. Delgado Carrasco. Director: David Santos Martín, UC3M, (2025).
Earlier Work
- Fluid-Structure Interaction Framework for a Rigid-Framed Delta Kite applied to Airborne Wind EnergyA. Iboleón-Azcona. Director: I. Castro-Fernández, UC3M, (2023).
- A Small-scale Prototype of an Automatic Control System Applied to the WindSledG. Bevilacqua-Giménez. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2023).
- Stereo Vision and Kalman Filter Implementation for the closed-loop control of Airborne Wind Energy Systems.H. García-Cousillas. Director: I. Castro-Fernández, UC3M, (2022).
- Control mechanical system and autopilot of an Airbone Wind Energy System.F. M. López-Vega. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2022).
- Design and Finite Element Analysis of a Rigid-Framed Delta Kite Applied to Airborne Wind Energy.M. Gisbert-Calvo. Director: I. Castro-Fernández, UC3M, (2022).
- Readiness of a Mechanical Control System for Dual-Line Kites Applied to Airborne Wind Energy SystemsM. Fernández-Jiménez. Director: I. Castro-Fernández, UC3M, (2021).
- Real-Time Visual Motion Tracker for Airborne Wind Energy Systems ControlM. Zas-Bustingorri. Director: I. Castro-Fernández, UC3M, (2021).
- A Telemetry System Applied to a Small-Scale Airborne Wind Energy SystemA. Tarek Ghobaissi-González. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2021).
- Robust Mechanical Control System for a Dual-Line Kite Applied to Airborne Wind Energy SystemsS. Rashwan. Director: I. Castro-Fernández, UC3M, (2020).
- Visual Motion Tracking for a Control System in an Airborne Wind Energy ApplicationK. Best. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2020).
- Flight Testing Rig for Airborne Wind Energy SystemsD. Ramiro-Rebollo. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2019).
- Design and Manufacturing of a Control System for a Dual-Line KiteM. Poole. Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2018).
- Design of a mechanical assembly for power kites automatic controlA. Huerta, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2018).
- Modeling and simulation of a train of kitesJ. A. Serrano, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2018).
- Path Controller Implementation for Airborne Wind Energy SystemsG. Escribano, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2018).
- Control System and Hardware-related Elements Applied to Flight Testing of Airborne Wind Energy SystemsA. Otero, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2018).
- Flight Testing of Power KitesI. Martín, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2017).
- Dynamics and control of acrobatic kitesP. Muñoz, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, UC3M, (2016).
- On-board instruments and flight tests of giant kites applied to wind power generationA. Serino, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, Politecnico de Torino, (2016).
- Dinámica y Control de Cometas con bridas de geometría variableJ. A. Pardo, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, Politécnica de Madrid, (2014).
- Dinámica y control de cometas de una líneaL. Salord, Director: G. Sánchez-Arriaga, Politécnica de Madrid, (2013).
Airborne Wind Energy Systems Group
Advancing airborne wind energy toward lower-cost, higher-utilization renewable power through publications, demonstrators, and in-house research tools.