Transformable Sail Gybing for Surface-Underwater Navigation Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface platforms for marine monitoring and exploration face limitations in harsh environmental conditions due to reliance on wind or solar energy, with limited emergency response capabilities and single navigation form, affecting reliability and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A wind-powered water-air interface vehicle equipped with a gybing box, transformable sail, and reefing mechanism, allowing for both surface and underwater navigation modes, utilizing a gybing motor, gear train, worm wheel, and worm mechanism to adapt to different environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If existing surface platforms rely on wind or solar energy for power, then autonomous navigation and long-term cruising are achieved, but performance in harsh environmental conditions is limited and reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The platform employs a transformable sail that can dynamically change its configuration between extended and retracted states. The sail transformation mechanism allows the platform to adapt to varying environmental conditions - extending the sail for optimal wind capture in favorable conditions, and retracting it to reduce wind resistance and structural stress in harsh conditions, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling long-term operation
Solution Approach 2:
The platform changes its physical parameters by transforming the sail configuration and switching between surface and underwater navigation modes. This parameter change allows the platform to optimize its performance characteristics for different environmental conditions, maintaining both long-term cruising capability and reliability in harsh environments
2Ease of operation
If existing surface platforms use single navigation form, then autonomous navigation is achieved, but ability to respond to emergencies and urgent tasks is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both surface navigation capabilities and underwater navigation capabilities. The transformable sail and ballast system enable the platform to switch between navigation modes, making it universally applicable for both routine autonomous navigation tasks and emergency response missions, thereby enhancing adaptability while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The platform dynamically switches between surface and underwater navigation modes based on task requirements. The reefing mechanism and ballast system enable rapid transformation of the platform's operational state, allowing it to respond quickly to emergencies while maintaining autonomous navigation capability for routine operations
3Adaptability or versatility
If transformable sail is equipped with gybing box and reefing mechanism, then adaptability and emergency response capabilities are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gybing box integrates multiple functions including sail rotation control, reefing operation, and position locking mechanisms into a single unified structure. The reefing mechanism combines ballast water tanks, hydraulic actuators, and mechanical linkages to achieve sail transformation. By merging these functions into integrated systems rather than separate components, the platform achieves enhanced adaptability while managing device complexity
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
Enhances adaptability and emergency response capabilities by enabling flexible navigation modes, ensuring efficient task performance under varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a rack end of the rack piston is intermeshed with the drive shaft gear; the drive shaft gear is connected with the primary drive shaft
Implementation Method 2
the primary drive shaft and the reefing drive shaft are connected by a belt gear
Implementation Method 3
the worm wheel and worm mechanism are connected with a shaft of the gybing motor by the gear train
Data Source
AI summary
A water-air interface vehicle suitable for concealed navigation. A gybing box is arranged in a hull and includes a gybing motor, a gear train, a worm wheel and worm mechanism and a base; the worm wheel and worm mechanism are connected with a shaft of the gybing motor by the gear train; the base is connected with the worm wheel and worm mechanism; the transformable sail is fixed to the base; the gybing box is connected with a reefing mechanism; the gybing box operates the transformable sail in a set attack angle range or rotates 90 degrees according to a signal sent by a control system.