Fully Submerged Hydrofoil Control for Roll Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrofoil watercraft lack effective stabilization systems that are not passive and are mechanically dependent on speed, making them difficult for inexperienced riders to control and reducing maneuverability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors, actuators, and a controller with algorithms like PID control, LQR, fuzzy logic, or machine learning to automatically stabilize the hydrofoil watercraft by adjusting the rudder and elevator, allowing for manual or automatic control of roll, yaw, pitch, speed, and direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If adjustable 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 extracts the vertical control surface (rudder) as a separate, independent component from the horizontal control surfaces. This allows the rudder to be adjusted independently for yaw control without requiring power consumption for its operation, as it relies on passive hydrodynamic forces rather than active mechanical actuation like the horizontal surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The control surface system is segmented into distinct functional components: horizontal control surfaces for pitch and roll, and a separate vertical rudder for yaw control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the rudder designed for passive operation to reduce overall power consumption while maintaining comprehensive stabilization capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adjustable horizontal control surfaces are used for pitch and roll control, then stabilization capability is improved, but drag increases reducing maximum speed and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The rudder is extracted as a separate vertical control surface that operates passively, eliminating the need for powered adjustment mechanisms. This reduces drag by removing motors, gearboxes, and associated mechanical components from the control surface actuation system, thereby improving maximum speed and maneuverability while maintaining stabilization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the control system into powered horizontal surfaces and a passive vertical rudder, the patent minimizes the total mechanical complexity and drag-generating components. The passive rudder relies on hydrodynamic forces for operation, reducing overall system drag compared to a fully powered control surface system.
3Device complexity
If fixed control surfaces are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring experienced riders only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable control surfaces that can be dynamically reconfigured based on riding conditions and rider skill level. This allows the system to transition from a simple fixed configuration to an adaptive configuration, making the watercraft accessible to inexperienced riders while maintaining low overall complexity through sensor-based automatic adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensor units detect the watercraft's orientation and position, providing feedback to automatically adjust control surface angles. This feedback mechanism enables inexperienced riders to operate the watercraft easily, as the system self-corrects for proper stabilization without requiring rider expertise, while maintaining relatively simple hardware architecture.
4Ease of operation
If sensor-based automatic control is implemented, then ease of operation is improved for inexperienced riders, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control surface adjustment system operates autonomously using sensors that automatically detect watercraft orientation and position, eliminating the need for manual input from the rider. This self-service capability improves ease of operation for inexperienced riders while keeping the control architecture relatively simple by relying on direct sensor-actuator coupling without complex processing layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor units serve multiple functions: detecting orientation, position, and potentially rider input intentions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity. The same sensor data base supports both automatic control and potential manual override modes.
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 system provides dynamic stability and improved control for hydrofoil watercraft, enhancing user experience by allowing inexperienced riders to operate the craft safely and efficiently while maintaining the benefits of hydrofoiling such as efficiency and a sense of flying.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrofoil, wherein the hull is above the water, enable a water craft to make way more efficiently
Implementation Method 2
a rudder configured for controlling a yaw angle of the water craft
Implementation Method 3
an elevator configured for controlling a pitch angle of the water craft
Data Source
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.