Hydrofoil Watercraft Roll Stabilization Using Rudder Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrofoil watercraft systems require significant user experience to stabilize and control, particularly in yaw, pitch, and roll, and rely on mechanically dependent or power-intensive control surfaces, limiting their usability for inexperienced riders.
Innovation Solution
A controller with software-based stabilization using PID control, LQR, fuzzy logic, or machine learning algorithms, combined with sensors for roll, yaw, and pitch compensation, and movable control surfaces, allowing automatic or manual control of speed, direction, and flight height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If large horizontal control surfaces are used for pitch and roll control, then stabilization capability is improved, but power consumption increases and drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces large mechanical control surfaces with a software-based stabilization system using sensors (gyroscopes, accelerometers) and control algorithms (PID, LQR, fuzzy logic, machine learning) to achieve pitch and roll stabilization without requiring large physical surfaces that consume power and create drag
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control approach from mechanical surface area-based control to software-based parameter control, where stabilization is achieved through algorithmic processing of sensor data rather than physical surface manipulation, thereby reducing power consumption and drag
2Stability of the object's composition
If large horizontal control surfaces are used for pitch and roll control, then stabilization capability is improved, but maximum speed and maneuverability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical control surfaces with an electronic software-based system, eliminating the drag created by large surfaces and thereby preserving maximum speed and maneuverability while achieving stabilization through sensor feedback and control algorithms
3Device complexity
If fixed control surfaces are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service stabilization where the control system automatically adjusts pitch, roll, and yaw using sensor feedback and control algorithms without requiring user intervention or experience, making the craft easy to operate while maintaining manageable complexity through integrated software control
4Device complexity
If mechanical sensing and actuation are used for height control, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensing and actuation with software-based control using electronic sensors and algorithms, achieving automatic height control that does not require user experience while maintaining reasonable system complexity through integrated electronic control
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
Provides dynamic stability and ease of use for hydrofoil watercraft, enabling inexperienced riders to operate with natural control methods, reducing power consumption, and maintaining maneuverability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrofoil configured such that, the speed of the watercraft being sufficient, the base of the watercraft rises at least partially out of the water
Implementation Method 2
one or more sensing units disposed on predetermined locations on a first support unit to operatively communicate to the second hydrofoil to automatically generate corrective responses to various destabilizing hydrodynamic effects
Data Source
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AI summary
A stabilized a hydrofoil water craft comprising: a water-craft base member, a hydrofoil mast having proximal and distal portions; said proximal portion mechanically connected to said bottom side of said water-craft base member, a fuselage mechanically connected to said distal portion of said at least one hydrofoil mast, a rudder configured for controlling a yaw angle of said water craft, an elevator rotatable around an axis lying in a plane parallel to water-craft base member and a stabilization arrangement further comprising at least one sensor configured for detecting a 3D orientation of said water-craft base member, an estimator configured for estimating the 3D orientation, actuators for manipulating the rudder and elevator and a controller for analyzing the estimated 3D orientation and controlling the actuators. In response to a disturb roll inclination of the water craft, the controller generates a command to a rudder actuator to compensate the detected inclination.