Wake Surf Control With Movable Modifiers for Side Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wake surfing systems require significant additional weight to create larger wakes, which occupy space, unbalance the watercraft, and are cumbersome to switch sides, making them inefficient and difficult to control.
Innovation Solution
A wake surf system with movable wake modifiers, actuators, and a rider control device that allows surfers to switch between port-side and starboard-side surf configurations wirelessly, adjusting wake height and speed, and includes a wireless communication interface for seamless control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If additional weight or ballast is added to the watercraft to create larger wakes, then wake size is improved, but passenger capacity and space are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ballast tanks from the traditional fixed location and makes them movable, allowing the ballast to be repositioned dynamically. This enables wake size adjustment without permanently occupying space that would otherwise be available for passengers, as the ballast can be moved to different locations or consolidated when not needed for wake generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic ballast positioning where the ballast tanks can be moved between different locations on the watercraft. This dynamic capability allows the system to adjust wake characteristics on-demand while maintaining passenger capacity when wake generation is not required, resolving the contradiction between wake size and space utilization.
2Shape
If additional weight or ballast is added to the watercraft to create larger wakes, then wake size is improved, but watercraft control and balance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The movable ballast system allows dynamic adjustment of weight distribution to maintain optimal watercraft balance and control while generating wakes of various sizes. The ballast can be repositioned to counteract the effects of added weight, preventing control difficulties and maintaining ease of operation throughout wake generation processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional weight or ballast is added to the watercraft to create wakes on one side, then wake generation capability is improved, but ease of switching sides is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic ballast system where weights can be automatically repositioned between sides of the watercraft. This eliminates the time-consuming manual process of moving ballast tanks or passengers, allowing rapid switching between left and right wake generation modes while maintaining full wake generation capability on both sides.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical ballast shifting with an automated system that can rapidly reposition ballast weights. This substitution of automated control for manual operation dramatically reduces the time required to switch between different wake configurations and sides.
4Shape
If traditional ballast systems are used to create wakes, then wake size is improved, but device complexity and operational effort are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a multi-functional ballast system that can serve both wake generation and watercraft stabilization functions. The same movable ballast tanks used to create wakes can also be positioned to maintain watercraft balance during various operations, reducing the need for separate stabilization systems and overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable surf wake system can enhance a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. A rider control device can enable a rider to control the wake of the watercraft while riding the wake, such as for wake surfing. The rider can adjust the speed of the watercraft, can adjust the height of the wake, and/or can change the watercraft between a surf-left configuration and a surf-right configuration. The rider control device can include a position sensor. A drone can position a camera based on the position sensor of the rider control device for filming the rider.