Autonomous Sail Depowering and Camber Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous sailing vessels face challenges in managing excessive wind forces, which can lead to overturning due to the lack of manual intervention to release wind from the sail, and require efficient control of sail position and camber angle to optimize propulsion.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a sail release device and camber control assembly that automatically adjust the sail's position and camber angle, respectively, to manage excess wind and optimize sail efficiency, featuring mechanical couplings, actuators, and sensors to control the sail's angular position and camber angle between sail elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual intervention is used to release wind from the sail, then excessive wind forces can be managed, but the system requires human presence and cannot operate autonomously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous operationVSAvoidmanual sail control

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sail release device is designed to automatically detect excessive wind forces and release the sail without human intervention. The device monitors wind conditions and autonomously depowers the sail when thresholds are exceeded, enabling the system to manage itself during critical situations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated system that uses sensors to detect wind forces and actuators to control the sail release mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for human operators while maintaining effective wind force management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the sail area is increased to optimize propulsion, then propulsion efficiency improves, but the risk of overturning from excessive wind forces increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepropulsion efficiencyVSAvoidoverturning risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sail system incorporates dynamic control capabilities where the sail area and camber angle can be adjusted in real-time based on wind conditions. This allows the system to maximize propulsion efficiency in moderate winds while automatically reducing exposure to harmful forces when wind exceeds safe thresholds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to continuously monitor wind forces and provides feedback to the control mechanism. When excessive forces are detected, the feedback loop triggers automatic sail depowering, creating a closed-loop control system that balances propulsion optimization with safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If automatic sail control systems are added to manage wind forces, then autonomous operation and safety improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety controlVSAvoidcontrol system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic control system is divided into separate functional modules: wind force sensors, control logic unit, and sail release/adjustment mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies maintenance while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables autonomous sailing vessels to automatically release excess wind and adjust sail camber, preventing overturning and enhancing propulsion efficiency by automatically managing wind forces and sail position without human intervention.

Implementation Method 1

The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWind spill: Wind

Implementation Method 2

The camber control assembly may be configured to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCamber control:

Data Source

PatentUS11498650B2Automatic sail depowering and camber control

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 SIGNAL VENTURES LTD

AI summary

An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.