Segmented Rotary Drives for Water Ski Freedom of Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized water skis restrict the skier's freedom of movement due to backpack-mounted drive systems, which can lead to dangerous driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
The water skis feature a pair of rotary drive units with sensors, energy storage, and a communication system that balances drive power between the two skis, allowing for controlled movements and preventing uncontrollable conditions through wireless communication and adjustable jet drives, along with safety sensors and emergency stop mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a backpack-mounted drive system is used to propel the water skis, then the skier can be propelled without a towing boat or lift, but the skier's freedom of movement is considerably restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented from the skier's body and integrated into the water ski structure itself. Each water ski contains its own rotary drive unit with motor, propeller, and control components, eliminating the need for a backpack-mounted engine and freeing the skier from movement restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
A wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the skier's control device and the rotary drive units in both water skis. The control device transmits control signals wirelessly to synchronize the operation of both skis, enabling coordinated propulsion without physical connection to the skier.
2Ease of operation
If each water ski is equipped with an independent rotary drive unit and communication system, then the skier's freedom of movement is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary drive units in both water skis use identical, standardized components including motors, propellers, batteries, and communication modules. This universal design allows the complex functionality to be replicated through standardized units rather than requiring custom complex systems, and enables one ski to potentially compensate for the other if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rotary drive unit includes drive sensors that monitor operational parameters and communicate status back to the control device. This feedback system enables automated synchronization and safety functions, reducing the complexity of manual control while maintaining coordinated operation of both skis.
3Reliability
If the rotary drives of both water skis are balanced using communication devices and sensors, then uncontrollable driving conditions are prevented, but the loss of time for signal processing and coordination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication devices maintain continuous wireless communication between the control device and both rotary drive units, constantly transmitting control signals and receiving status feedback. This continuous operation eliminates the need for periodic synchronization adjustments, maintaining driving stability without intermittent time losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary synchronization of the rotary drives during the startup phase before the skier begins moving. Once synchronized, the continuous communication maintains coordination, reducing the time required for stabilization and allowing the skier to quickly reach operational speed without prolonged coordination delays.
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
This design enhances the skier's freedom of movement while minimizing accident risks by enabling controlled and stable riding, with the ability to adjust for turns and speed, and includes safety features like emergency stops and unauthorized use prevention.
Implementation Method 1
The outlet nozzle of the jet drive can be mounted on a jet drive body so as to be pivotable about at least one axis by means of an actuator
Implementation Method 2
As a result of the buoyancy of the water skis, which increases with speed, they float up to the water surface
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to water ski (1) having a buoyant ski body (2), to which, in addition to a binding (3), a propelling drive is assigned, which comprises a rotary drive unit with a rotary drive (4) and a screw drive which can be driven thereby, and having a control device (6) for presetting a drive power. In order to create advantageous drive conditions, it is proposed that the water skis (1) of a pair of water skis each comprise a rotary drive unit with at least one drive sensor (7) each, an associated energy storage device and a communication device, which adjusts the rotary drives (4) of both water skis (1) as a function of drive sensor data and preset data of the control device (6).