Active Stabilization via Internal Reaction Wheel for Underwater Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater floating devices with thrusters are prone to damage and biofouling, leading to premature failure of stabilization mechanisms, rendering them unusable or requiring maintenance despite internal components still having lifespan remaining.
Innovation Solution
A floating device with an internal active stabilization system comprising a sensor assembly to measure angular velocity and a counter-rotation assembly using a flywheel to generate torque opposing measured rotation, minimizing axial rotation without exposing moving parts to the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If thrusters are used to actively control and stabilize underwater floating devices, then stabilization performance is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to exposure to environmental damage and biofouling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the moving parts (flywheel and motor) from direct exposure to the external underwater environment by placing them inside a sealed housing. The housing acts as a protective barrier that isolates the stabilization mechanism from water, biofouling, and other environmental hazards while still allowing the mechanism to function effectively for stabilizing the floating device
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed housing serves as an intermediary between the stabilization mechanism and the external environment. It allows the mechanism to operate in a protected internal environment while still achieving the external stabilization effect through the connection between the flywheel and the floating device body
2Stability of the object's composition
If thrusters are used for active stabilization, then stabilization performance is improved, but maintenance requirements increase due to premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The moving parts are extracted from direct environmental exposure by placing them in a sealed housing, which protects them from water, debris, and biofouling. This extension of service life allows the internal components to operate for longer periods without maintenance, as they are shielded from the harsh external environment
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed housing provides beforehand protection against environmental damage and biofouling that would otherwise prematurely degrade the stabilization mechanism. This protective barrier is established in advance to prevent damage before it occurs, extending the operational lifespan of the internal components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively stabilizes the floating device with minimal rotation, increasing its longevity by shielding internal components from environmental damage and maintaining functionality in harsh underwater conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a counter-rotation assembly disposed in the device body integral with said sensor assembly, wherein said counter-rotation assembly is adapted to generate in real time mechanical energy in a form of rotation
Implementation Method 2
uses feedback from a rotation sensing mechanism to calculate a desired torque to minimize rotation. The floating device imparts the desired torque on itself by accelerating a flywheel as a reaction wheel in the opposite direction of the desired torque
Data Source
AI summary
A floating device having active stabilization and a method for actively stabilizing a floating device employs a floating device that operates underwater and which may be tethered to the floor of the body of water. The floating device having active stabilization includes an internal sensor assembly which measures angular velocity and generates a real time output corresponding to a measured angular velocity and a counter-rotation assembly which generates in real time mechanical energy in the form of rotation in response to the real time output of the sensor assembly that causes a counter-rotation torque on the device body that opposes the measured angular velocity. The counter-rotation torque may be imparted by accelerating a flywheel as a reaction wheel in the opposite direction of the desired counter-rotation torque, thereby achieving stability of the device body in the form of minimizing rotation.