Passive Hydrofoil Board via Weight Shift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal watercraft, such as electrically powered hydrofoil surfboards, face challenges in achieving efficient control and performance while mimicking the surfing experience, requiring significant power and relying on movable surfaces for stability and steering, which complicates the design and increases the likelihood of mechanical failure.
Innovation Solution
A hydrofoil surfboard design that achieves passive stability through airfoil design, planform design, and span-wise twist distribution, allowing control via weight shift without movable surfaces, powered by a battery-powered electric motor for reduced noise and environmental impact, with speed control through throttle and weight shift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional powered surfboards use significant power (up to ten horsepower) to achieve surfing speeds, then speed performance is improved, but battery life and operational duration are severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stabilizing function from the propulsion system by incorporating a passive hydrofoil that provides automatic stability without requiring active control surfaces or additional power. This separation allows the motor to be smaller and more efficient, extending battery life while maintaining surfing speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrofoil is designed to provide self-stabilizing characteristics that automatically maintain board stability and depth control without requiring active intervention from moveable surfaces or complex control systems. This passive stability reduces the power needed for stabilization, allowing more efficient use of battery power for propulsion.
2Ease of operation
If moveable surfaces and stabilizing components are added to control hydrofoil depth and direction, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and likelihood of mechanical failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes moveable stabilizing surfaces and active control components from the hydrofoil system. Instead, stability and control are achieved through the rider's weight shift, eliminating complex mechanical systems while maintaining precise control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical stabilizing surfaces and active control systems with a passive hydrofoil design that relies on hydrodynamic principles and rider weight distribution for stability and control. This substitution eliminates moving parts while preserving control precision.
3Power
If internal combustion engines are used to provide sufficient power for surfing speeds, then power output is improved, but noise and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces internal combustion engines with electric motors that drive the hydrofoil system. This substitution eliminates exhaust emissions and significantly reduces noise while providing sufficient power for surfing speeds through the efficient passive hydrofoil design.
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 design reduces power requirements, noise, and vibration, providing a surfing-like experience with improved control and stability, making the craft lighter, simpler, and easier to maintain, while allowing for tailored performance based on user skill levels.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrofoil has been designed to provide passive stability in the longitudinal direction
Implementation Method 2
a battery-powered electric motor (rather than an internal combustion engine) can be used to power the propulsion system
Data Source
AI summary
A passively stable personal hydrofoil watercraft that has a flotation device, wherein a user can ride in a prone, kneeling, or standing position. The watercraft includes a strut having an upper end interconnected with the flotation device and lower end connected with a hydrofoil. The hydrofoil greatly reduces the power required to travel at higher speed. The watercraft also includes a propulsion system connected to the hydrofoil. Both longitudinal and directional control of the watercraft is via weight shift, eliminating the need of any movable surfaces. The flotation device, strut, and hydrofoil may be permanently interconnected or may be detachable.