Rotatable Hull Vessel for Catching Descending Rocket Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rocket components descending via parachute pose challenges in predicting landing location and catching them due to ocean contact risks, which damage the components and increase refurbishment costs, necessitating a highly maneuverable vessel capable of quick lateral accelerations.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable hull vessel design with independently rotating hulls, propulsion systems, and hydrofoils for improved maneuverability and lift, allowing for precise positioning under the rocket components, and a system to control hydrofoil pitch for enhanced performance and catch efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a traditional vessel is used to catch rocket components, then the vessel structure is simple and stable, but the vessel cannot achieve quick lateral accelerations and precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is divided into multiple independent rotatable hulls (typically three) arranged in a triangular configuration, each capable of independent rotation and propulsion. This segmentation allows each hull to contribute to lateral acceleration independently, achieving rapid repositioning while maintaining overall structural stability through the triangular geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
Each hull is equipped with an independent propulsion system and can rotate dynamically around its vertical axis. This dynamic capability allows the vessel to rapidly change its configuration and achieve quick lateral accelerations by differentially propelling individual hulls, while the modular design keeps each component relatively simple.
2Ease of manufacture
If rocket components are caught over the ocean, then the catching operation is simpler, but the components are damaged and refurbishment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A large net is deployed as an intermediary catching mechanism that can be positioned directly over the ocean surface. The net serves as the primary interface for capturing rocket components, allowing the vessel to operate over water while the components are caught in a controlled manner that minimizes direct contact with the ocean, thereby reducing damage while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Force
If a parachute is used for rocket component descent, then the descent is controlled, but the landing location becomes unpredictable and difficult to catch
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is equipped with GPS and navigation systems that provide real-time feedback on component descent location. Combined with the rotatable hull capability, the vessel can continuously adjust its position based on feedback about the component's location, maintaining precise tracking and positioning throughout the descent to compensate for parachute drift and unpredictable landing zones.
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
Enables precise positioning and efficient catching of rocket components by providing rapid lateral accelerations and reducing drag, improving fuel efficiency and seakeeping, thus reducing damage and refurbishment costs.
Implementation Method 1
Hydrofoils may also be attached to a hull to provide lift, to improve maneuverability, or to improve performance in waves
Implementation Method 2
Vectoring thrust from a motor, which may be either inboard or outboard, may be used to rotate a hull
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of hulls may be used to control flotation height by providing varying amounts of displacement at different altitudes
Data Source
AI summary
A novel rotatable hull that generally includes a hull that is capable of rotating around an attachment point where it is connected to a vessel. In preferred embodiments, an outdoor motor mounted to the rotatable hull will turn to vector thrust and apply a moment to rotate the hull around a nominally vertical axis where the hull connects to the vessel. The invention also is directed to a vessel, which employs a plurality of rotatable hulls. A plurality of rotatable hulls can be arranged into a tripod, square or other stable geometric configuration and connected by a structure to form a vessel that can move in any direction along the plane of the surface of the water with or without changing the yaw axis orientation of the connecting structure. This may be useful in applications such as catching objects that are descending from the sky.