The present disclosure is directed to a method for optimizing control of a wind turbine that includes receiving, via a control system, a condition of the wind turbine. The method also includes estimating a current state of the wind turbine using the condition. The method also includes calculating, via a model implemented by the control system, a linearized representation of an operation of the wind turbine for a future time interval following the current state. The method also includes defining an optimization problem to be solved. The method also includes determining a pitch adjustment factor for modifying the current state of the wind turbine. The method also includes calculating, via the optimization solver, an optimized pitch parameter for a rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method also includes adjusting a pitch parameter of the rotor blade to the optimized pitch parameter to improve control.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for optimizing control of a wind turbine that includes receiving, via a control system, a condition of the wind turbine. The method also includes estimating a current state of the wind turbine using the condition. The method also includes calculating, via a model implemented by the control system, a linearized representation of an operation of the wind turbine for a future time interval following the current state. The method also includes defining an optimization problem to be solved. The method also includes determining a pitch adjustment factor for modifying the current state of the wind turbine. The method also includes calculating, via the optimization solver, an optimized pitch parameter for a rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method also includes adjusting a pitch parameter of the rotor blade to the optimized pitch parameter to improve control.

A method of disengaging a rotor-lock of a wind turbine, the rotor comprising one or more blades, which due to the gravitational pull, generates a rotor torque which is opposed by a rotor-lock counter-torque from the rotor-lock, the method comprising: a) determining a direction of the rotor torque with a sensor system; b) applying a rotor-drive counter-torque to the rotor with a rotor-drive system, wherein the rotor-drive counter-torque acts to oppose the determined rotor torque and causes the rotor-lock counter-torque to reduce; c) during or after the application of the rotor-drive counter-torque, disengaging the rotor-lock mechanism; wherein the step of determining a direction of the rotor torque comprises applying a torque restriction to the rotor-drive based on the determined direction of the rotor torque, the torque restriction preventing the application of torque to the rotor by the rotor-drive system in the same direction as the rotor torque.