The novel bladder systems and tie down systems set forth herein provide systems and apparatuses that mitigate or prevent damage, such as tipping over/capsizing, of a watercraft stored on shore or an aircraft secured to a ground surface during adverse wind, rising water, or storm events. Further, novel apparatuses and methods for storing a watercraft using the bladders as cushioning or holding devices when installed within a cavity, whether the cavity is created by digging a hole or building an enclosing berm, provides additional stability and security for the watercraft during adverse wind, rising water, or storm events.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

A maritime vehicle includes a surface for contacting a fluid medium through which the maritime vehicle is propelled. The maritime vehicle also includes an array of transducers and a controller. The transducers in the array are arranged across the maritime vehicle's surface for generating pressure waves in the fluid medium. Each transducer in the array is arranged to vibrate for generating a respective pressure wave, which propagates away from the surface in the fluid medium. The controller vibrates the transducers in the array so that the pressure waves control the drag of the maritime vehicle from the fluid medium.

A maritime vehicle includes a surface for contacting a fluid medium through which the maritime vehicle is propelled. The maritime vehicle also includes an array of transducers and a controller. The transducers in the array are arranged across the maritime vehicle's surface for generating pressure waves in the fluid medium. Each transducer in the array is arranged to vibrate for generating a respective pressure wave, which propagates away from the surface in the fluid medium. The controller vibrates the transducers in the array so that the pressure waves control the drag of the maritime vehicle from the fluid medium.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the around effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

A vehicle includes a surface for contacting a fluid medium through which the vehicle is propelled. The vehicle also includes an array of transducers and a controller. The transducers in the array are arranged across the vehicle's surface for generating pressure waves in the fluid medium. Each transducer in the array is arranged to vibrate for generating a respective pressure wave, which propagates away from the surface in the fluid medium. The controller vibrates the transducers in the array so that the pressure waves control the drag of the vehicle from the fluid medium.

A fluid control system includes a deformable surface that covers a body in at least a first and second direction. The first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. The deformable surface includes a bottom side that faces the body and a top side that is opposite the bottom side. The fluid control system also includes at least one deformer between the deformable surface and the body. The at least one deformer is configured to modify a boundary layer of a fluid that is flowing over the deformable surface by selectively deforming the top side of the surface.

The novel bladder systems and tie down systems set forth herein provide systems and apparatuses that mitigate or prevent damage, such as tipping over/capsizing, of a watercraft stored on shore or an aircraft secured to a ground surface during adverse wind, rising water, or storm events. Further, novel apparatuses and methods for storing a watercraft using the bladders as cushioning or holding devices when installed within a cavity, whether the cavity is created by digging a hole or building an enclosing berm, provides additional stability and security for the watercraft during adverse wind, rising water, or storm events.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.