Simulated Annealing Applied to Optimise the Energy-usage Strategy for a Solar Racing Vehicle

The objective of this paper is to show how viable is the use of solar energy, which is accomplished by the optimal utilisation of energy in a solar racing vehicle, which is in turn achieved by optimising its energy management via racing strategy.

Simulated Annealing is an optimisation process that is suited for large, multivariable, combinatorial optimisation problems such as this one: finding an optimal racing strategy, using the best way possible the energy converted by the photovoltaic panel.

Based on instantaneous inputs, Simulated Annealing calculates the instantaneous velocity that allows the vehicle to proceed as fast as possible.