An airboat rudder that results in increased turning force on the airboat while also being easily controlled by the airboat driver is disclosed. Airboats can be configured to run on both water and dry ground. Many times, somewhat dry mud and some types of grass are very difficult to run over and will cause an airboat to get stuck. One way of getting an airboat free is to oscillate the one or more airboat rudders from a hard right hand turn to a hard left hand turn. Doing so creates lateral forces on the airboat from both directions at different times causing the back of the airboat to move to the side and slightly forward as well. The airboat rudder disclosed herein increases the amount of lateral force generated on the airboat without increasing the horsepower of the airboat engine, which is highly desirable.

A search and rescue drone system includes a buoyant body member, a frame attached to the buoyant body member for carrying a motor and propeller, and an electronic array including a camera, GPS, an EPIRB radio distress beacon, and a transmitter/receiver for remote control flying the drone and communicating with an operator. A laser guidance system may provide coordinates for landing near a swimmer in distress. The search and rescue drone may also be programmed to simply fly to the location of an electronic wearable device, like a bracelet, that is worn by a man overboard. In another embodiment, the search and rescue drone includes pivoting motor mounts, so that it can take off and land vertically with propellers rotating in a horizontal plane, and then the propellers may pivot to rotate in a vertical plane for propulsion across water similar to a fan boat with rescued people aboard.

The present innovation relates generally to propulsion mechanisms for propeller-driven vehicles and vessels, and, more particularly, to gear-driven transmissions for airboats.

The present innovation relates generally to propulsion mechanisms for propeller-driven vehicles and vessels, and, more particularly, to gear-driven transmissions for airboats.

Thrust with the minimum ejection of propellant by a levitating mass blocking the exhaust stream within the propellant producing structure. The reaction of accumulated propellant pressure between the levitating mass the hollow passageway and the propellant producing engine create thrust thus propelling the propellant producing engine and the vehicle in which it is mounted. Fuel consumption is decrease because a significant amount of propellant is not allowed to escape and is trapped in the vehicle's structure. The levitating mass is not physically attached to the propellant producing engine or the vehicle's structure. The rated pounds of thrust can be significantly increase and is determine by the strength of the magnetic field holding the levitating mass in place the composition of the hollow passageway the mechanical and structural components of the propellant producing engine.

Thrust with the minimum ejection of propellant by a levitating mass blocking the exhaust stream within the propellant producing structure. The reaction of accumulated propellant pressure between the levitating mass the hollow passageway and the propellant producing engine create thrust thus propelling the propellant producing engine and the vehicle in which it is mounted. Fuel consumption is decrease because a significant amount of propellant is not allowed to escape and is trapped in the vehicle's structure. The levitating mass is not physically attached to the propellant producing engine or the vehicle's structure. The rated pounds of thrust can be significantly increase and is determine by the strength of the magnetic field holding the levitating mass in place the composition of the hollow passageway the mechanical and structural components of the propellant producing engine.

A search and rescue drone system includes a buoyant body member, a frame attached to the buoyant body member for carrying a motor and propeller, and an electronic array including a camera, GPS, an EPIRB radio distress beacon, and a transmitter/receiver for remote control flying the drone and communicating with an operator. A laser guidance system may provide coordinates for landing near a swimmer in distress. The search and rescue drone may also be programmed to simply fly to the location of an electronic wearable device, like a bracelet, that is worn by a man overboard. In another embodiment, the search and rescue drone includes pivoting motor mounts, so that it can take off and land vertically with propellers rotating in a horizontal plane, and then the propellers may pivot to rotate in a vertical plane for propulsion across water similar to a fan boat with rescued people aboard.

The invention relates to a control system for an air cushion vehicle (400) for the purpose of improving maneuverability of the air cushion vehicle. The system includes four propeller towers (401-404), propellers installed at the propeller towers, and mounting seats for mounting the propeller towers to the air cushion vehicle. In the system, an edge portion (442) located closest to a side wall N of the air cushion vehicle in the mounting seat is located closer to the ground than an opposite edge portion (446) in relation to a pivot point in the mounting seat, providing a tilt (450) of the propeller in response to rotation of the mounting seat at the pivot point, and in response to the rotation of the mounting seat, the propeller tower directs an air flow (452) produced with the propeller over the side wall of the air cushion vehicle and, due to the tilt of the propeller, partly downwardly relative to a horizontal plane defined by the ground, the air flow exerting a force (462) that lifts the side wall of the air cushion vehicle upwardly from the ground.

A propeller-powered propulsion system and method of remote-controlled waterway navigation is configured to navigate a waterway in a navigation route while being controlled remotely, and being tracked by a GPS system. The watercraft provides a watercraft body that carries a propeller subassembly having multiple propellers that operate independently of each other for variable propulsion and steering. A mobile communication device transmits a command signal to a receiver in the propeller subassembly. A microcontroller converts the command signal to a speed for each propeller, independently of the other. The propeller speeds create a disproportionate level of thrust from each propeller to enable remote controlled steering of the watercraft toward port and starboard directions, at variable speeds, and preprogrammed navigation routes. The mobile communication device also acquires location data of the watercraft body obtained by a GPS system. The microcontroller processes the location data to automate the navigation of the watercraft.

The invention relates to a control system for an air cushion vehicle (400) for the purpose of improving maneuverability of the air cushion vehicle. The system includes four propeller towers (401-404), propellers installed at the propeller towers, and mounting seats for mounting the propeller towers to the air cushion vehicle. In the system, an edge portion (442) located closest to a side wall N of the air cushion vehicle in the mounting seat is located closer to the ground than an opposite edge portion (446) in relation to a pivot point in the mounting seat, providing a tilt (450) of the propeller in response to rotation of the mounting seat at the pivot point, and in response to the rotation of the mounting seat, the propeller tower directs an air flow (452) produced with the propeller over the side wall of the air cushion vehicle and, due to the tilt of the propeller, partly downwardly relative to a horizontal plane defined by the ground, the air flow exerting a force (462) that lifts the side wall of the air cushion vehicle upwardly from the ground.