An example wing-in-ground effect vehicle includes (i) a main wing having main wing control surfaces; (ii) a tail having tail control surfaces; (iii) a blown-wing propulsion system arranged along the main wing or the tail; (iv) a retractable hydrofoil configured to operate in: (a) an extended configuration in which the retractable hydrofoil extends below a hull of the vehicle for submersion below a water surface and (b) a retracted configuration in which the retractable hydrofoil is retracted at least partially into the hull of the vehicle; and (v) a control system configured to maneuver the vehicle by (i) causing a change in orientation of the retractable hydrofoil when the retractable hydrofoil is operating in the extended configuration, and (ii) causing a change in orientation of the main wing control surfaces and tail control surfaces when the retractable hydrofoil is operating in the retracted configuration.

A lift control device actively controls the lift force on a lifting surface. The device has a protuberance near a trailing edge of its lifting surface, which causes flow to separate from the lifting surface, generating regions of low pressure and high pressure which combine to increase the lift force on the lifting surface. The device further includes a means to keep the flow attached around the protuberance or to modify the position of the protuberance in response to a command from a central controller, so as to provide an active control of the lift between a maximum value and a minimum value.

A watercraft (10) including a board (12), a mast (16) extending below the board, (12) the mast (16) carrying a foil (20) and a propeller (30) that is driven by a motor (32), the motor (32) being carried in a tube (18) connected to or extending from the mast (16), wherein a motor controller (34) is also positioned within the tube (18). In this manner, heat generated by the motor controller during use is dissipated into the water through which the watercraft is travelling. The watercraft (10) may also have a receptacle for holding lubricant, the receptacle being located above the motor, wherein the mast has a conduit that provides fluid communication between the receptacle and the lubricant lubricating the motor and/or driveshaft such that lubricant in the receptacle provides a hydrostatic head of pressure to prevent or minimise water ingress around a propeller seal or a driveshaft seal located adjacent a region where the driveshaft exits into the water.

The human powered hydrofoil bicycle includes multiple subsystems integrated together including a structural frame subsystem with associated steering and tiller module, a hydrofoil subsystem to provide vehicle lift, and a powertrain subsystem. The structural frame subsystem may be fitted with buoyancy modules to provide the overall vehicle with a near neutrally buoyant character. The structural frame subsystem also supports a seat for an operator and provides structural support for the steering and tiller module for the hydrofoil subsystem and the drivetrain subsystem. The hydrofoil subsystem includes multiple hydrofoil elements at lowermost portions of the vehicle. These hydrofoil elements generally include in a preferred embodiment a larger rear foil and a smaller front foil. The powertrain subsystem generally includes pedals rotatably supported on the vehicle at a convenient location for engagement and driving by feet of an operator. Power transmission elements extend from the pedals down to a prime mover such as a propeller.

A watercraft comprising: a chassis; a drive means; a hydrofoil; and a drive transfer arm, wherein the drive means is operatively connected to a first end of the drive transfer arm, and the hydrofoil is pivotably connected to a second end of the drive transfer arm, the watercraft configured such that operation of the drive means causes the hydrofoil to oscillate, to provide thrust.

A self-propelled hydrofoil surfboard includes a surfboard having a mast mounted to the lower surface of the surfboard, a selectively controllable thruster mounted at a lower end of the mast, a controller and a battery to supply power to the controller and thruster, the controller cooperating with a remote controller adapted to give control inputs to the controller and to be carried when in use by a rider, navigation lights mounted around at least a portion of the circumferential edge of the surfboard, and wherein the mast may have an adjustable length.

A multihull sailing vessel includes at least two buoyant hulls extending along their longitudinal axes, with the hulls being connected to each other and a first hydrofoil connected to the hulls and oriented transverse to the hulls. The first hydrofoil is movably coupled to the hulls between a first position above a resting waterline of the hulls and a second position below a lowest extent of the hulls. When the first hydrofoil is in the second position, a configuration of the first hydrofoil is adjustable to vary an amount of lifting force generated by the first hydrofoil when the hulls move forward through water when the first hydrofoil is in the second position.

Hull with variable geometry for a vessel (11), comprising a completely immersed part (12), configured to provide part of the buoyancy thrust and integral with an emerged part (13) of the hull by means of one or more uprights (14), and one or more immersed wing surfaces (15) which, in a situation in which the vessel travels at a sufficiently high speed, are configured to provide the remaining part of the vertical thrust required to keep the vessel (11) above the surface of the water at a predetermined height; the hull comprises one or more supports (16a, 16b, 16c) connected to the wing surfaces (15) and associated with floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) which are mobile with respect to the completely immersed part (12); the floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are fixed to the supports (16a, 16b, 16c) or mobile with respect to the supports (16a, 16b, 16c), therefore the floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are substantially cooperating with the completely immersed part (12) and with the wing surfaces (15); the wing surfaces (15) are configured to move with respect to the completely immersed part (12) or to remain fixed with respect thereto and the floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are configured to increase their immersion as the speed of the vessel decreases, and therefore provide the vertical thrust to maintain or adjust the distance of the vessel from the water in a manner that is optimal and functional for the use of the vessel, even at reduced speeds or when the vessel is stationary.

Hydrofoil assemblies that can be attached to a board used for watersports are disclosed herein. A hydrofoil assembly may include, for example, a mast a coupleable to a fuselage at a lower portion of the mast and coupleable to a board at an upper portion of the mast, and front and rear wings coupleable to the fuselage. A hydrofoil mast may include, for example, first and second composite sections bonded together to form a hollow load-bearing mast structure. Leading and trailing elements made of a material that is softer than the composite mast structure may be adhered to the mast structure to complete a hydrodynamic profile of the mast.

A swimming propulsion device. The swimming propulsion device includes a fuselage at least one propulsor pivotally connected to the fuselage, and in some embodiments, at least one stabilizer affixed to the fuselage. The device also includes a swimmer connection mechanism removably attached to the fuselage by a locking mechanism whereby the swimmer connection mechanism connects a swimmer to the device, and a control mechanism installed within the propulsor. A method for efficient swimming is also disclosed.