Multiple Hydrofoil Control for Stable Takeoff and Landing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrofoil-equipped crafts face challenges during takeoff and landing, particularly in transitioning from hydrofoil-borne to wing-borne operation due to insufficient lift generation and maneuverability near water surfaces, leading to unsuccessful takeoffs and uncomfortable landings.
Innovation Solution
A control system coordinates the extension and retraction of hydrofoils and control surfaces to manage lift forces, ensuring sufficient aero lift is generated before hydrofoils exit the water, and strategically deploys hydrofoils during landing to maintain control and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If hydrofoils are extended during takeoff to generate lift, then the craft can transition from water surface to flight, but the craft experiences difficulty in maintaining stable transition due to insufficient lift generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single hydrofoil system into multiple hydrofoils (front hydrofoil and rear hydrofoil) positioned at different locations on the craft. This segmentation allows each hydrofoil to contribute to lift generation independently, providing more stable and sufficient total lift during the transition from water to flight, resolving the insufficiency of lift generation in single hydrofoil systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the hydrofoils into the water surface before the craft fully transitions to flight. This preliminary action allows the hydrofoils to generate lift in advance during the transition phase, ensuring sufficient upward force is available to lift the craft from the water surface, thereby improving takeoff stability and reliability.
2Loss of energy
If hydrofoils are retracted during landing to reduce drag, then the craft can approach water surface efficiently, but the craft experiences uncomfortable landing due to poor maneuverability near water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the extension and retraction of multiple hydrofoils at different phases of landing. During approach, hydrofoils are retracted to reduce drag; during the critical landing phase near water surface, hydrofoils are extended to provide maneuverability and control. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between drag reduction and maneuverability by optimizing hydrofoil configuration for each specific phase of the landing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple hydrofoils (front and rear) that can be independently controlled during landing. This segmentation allows differential adjustment of hydrofoils to maintain maneuverability while reducing overall drag, enabling the craft to approach water efficiently while retaining control capability for comfortable landing.
3Device complexity
If single hydrofoil system is used to simplify structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the craft experiences unsuccessful takeoffs due to insufficient lift control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple hydrofoils (front hydrofoil and rear hydrofoil) instead of a single hydrofoil system. This segmentation provides better lift distribution and control during takeoff, allowing independent adjustment of each hydrofoil to optimize lift generation. The result is improved takeoff success rate and reliability while maintaining relatively simple overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends hydrofoils into the water surface in advance before full takeoff occurs. This preliminary action ensures that lift generation is established early in the takeoff sequence, providing sufficient upward force to reliably transition the craft from water to flight, thereby increasing takeoff success rate without requiring complex control systems.
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
Facilitates successful takeoffs by stabilizing the transition to wing-borne flight and comfortable landings by managing lift forces and hydrofoil deployment, enhancing maneuverability and passenger comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a front hydrofoil and a rear hydrofoil that generate upward lift as water flows past the hydrofoils to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through water
Implementation Method 2
at least one wing configured to generate upward aero lift as air flows past the at least one wing to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft
Data Source
AI summary
A craft comprises at least one hull, at least one wing configured to generate upwards acro lift as air flows past the at least one wing to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft, at least one retractable hydrofoil configured to generate upwards hydrofoil lift during a first mode of operation as water flows past the at least one hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water, and a control system that comprises data storage having instruction code stored thereon that causes the control system to during a takeoff operation when the craft is accelerating through the water and is supported by the at least one hydrofoil, control the at least one hydrofoil to generate downwards hydrofoil lift that maintains the at least one hydrofoil submerged at a predetermined hydrofoil depth threshold below the water surface; and when the craft reaches a takeoff condition, cause the least one retractable hydrofoil to release the craft from the water to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft.