Propulsion apparatus for an aquatic vessel comprises an aerodynamic body which extends along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends and in a transverse direction between a leading edge and trailing edge. The aerodynamic body has one or more external wind-receiving surfaces which extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge, thereby defining an aerodynamic profile of the aerodynamic body in cross-section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The propulsion apparatus further comprises at least one air vent and at least one air flow generator configured to expel air through the at least one air vent. The at least one air vent and/or the at least one air flow generator are configured to direct expelled air across at least a portion of the one or more or more external wind-receiving surfaces.

A folding mechanism contains a rail which forms a guide for a series of runners which are slideable in relation to each other on the rail, whereby each runner or at least a part thereof is provided with a rib which is attached hingeably on the runner around a shaft largely perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail between an open position whereby the ribs are turned away from the rail and a closed position whereby the ribs are turned towards the rail and whereby at least some of the ribs lying on the same side of the rail are connected with each other using a transmission which, when sliding the runners towards or away from each other on the rail, makes the ribs hinge on the runners.

In order to provide a rigid sail or aerofoil sail which has a lower overall weight, is cost-effective to manufacture and does not affect the passing under bridges, power lines or similar structures arranged over busy waters, in the case of a rigid sail for vessels, in particular, for large ships, such as bulk carriers, tankers, car transporters or bulkers, comprising a mast and a first aerofoil wing body mounted on the mast with a base and a head, wherein the mast is inserted through the base into the first aerofoil wing body and is arranged within the first aerofoil wing body, it is proposed that the mast, starting from the base, does not extend beyond a maximum height of the first aerofoil wing body, in particular, less than 75% of the maximum height.

Techniques are provided for an unmanned surface vehicle including a vehicle body and a rigid square-rig wing coupled with the primary vehicle body. The rigid square-rig wing includes a first surface configured to interact with wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of drag, and a second surface configured to interact with the wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of lift. The unmanned surface vehicle further includes a rudder and a control system comprising a controller, the control system configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder to the rudder position.

Techniques are provided for an unmanned surface vehicle including a vehicle body and a rigid square-rig wing coupled with the primary vehicle body. The rigid square-rig wing includes a first surface configured to interact with wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of drag, and a second surface configured to interact with the wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of lift. The unmanned surface vehicle further includes a rudder and a control system comprising a controller, the control system configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder to the rudder position.

A five-device-in-one water-and-leaf-separating leaf-filtering water-collecting wind-blocking wind-redirecting marine-yacht-land-yacht-balcony-bumper-and-trailer-hitch-mountable sail comprises: a central-sail intersector; central-sail-supporting ribs; central-sail-rib-raising arms; an adjustable water-and-leaf-separating leaf-filtering central sail attached to the central-sail-supporting ribs for functioning as a water diverting device to predeterminately redirect the flow of water, functioning as a leaf filtering device to filter leaves from rain water when used upside down, functioning as a water collector to collect rain water when used upside down, functioning as a wind blocker to block wind, functioning as a privacy screen to provide privacy, functioning as an awning to angledly block rain and sun beams, functioning as a canopy to vertically block rain and sun beams, functioning as a wind redirector to redirect wind in and out of sail, and functioning as a sail-steering wind-powered device to steer the sail in multiple different directions; a ring-sail-rib intersector; primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs for resisting bending and warping due to heavy winds, providing reinforced infrastructure for a sail when used on a wind-powered land vehicle, providing reinforced infrastructure for an emergency rainwater collecting device on a marine vessel, and providing reinforced infrastructure for a shade canopy; secondary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs for resisting bending and warping due to heavy winds, providing reinforced infrastructure for a sail when used on a wind-powered land vehicle, providing reinforced infrastructure for an emergency rainwater collecting device on a marine vessel, and providing reinforced infrastructure for a shade canopy; multi-rib-connecting automatically-centered-and-reinforced adjustable cores inserted into and screwed to the primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs and the secondary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs, the multi-rib-connecting automatically-centered-and-reinforced adjustable cores for allowing manufacturers to shorten long ribs into the primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs and the secondary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs to reduce the length and volume of the shipping package of the five-device-in-one water-and-leaf-separating leaf-filtering water-collecting wind-blocking wind-redirecting marine-yacht-land-yacht-balcony-bumper-and-trailer-hitch-mountable sail in a shipping container to save money from expensive shipping costs, and securely and reinforcingly connecting the primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs to the secondary autom

A five-device-in-one water-and-leaf-separating leaf-filtering water-collecting wind-blocking wind-redirecting marine-yacht-land-yacht-balcony-bumper-and-trailer-hitch-mountable sail comprises: a central-sail intersector; central-sail-supporting ribs; central-sail-rib-raising arms; an adjustable water-and-leaf-separating leaf-filtering central sail attached to the central-sail-supporting ribs for functioning as a water diverting device to predeterminately redirect the flow of water, functioning as a leaf filtering device to filter leaves from rain water when used upside down, functioning as a water collector to collect rain water when used upside down, functioning as a wind blocker to block wind, functioning as a privacy screen to provide privacy, functioning as an awning to angledly block rain and sun beams, functioning as a canopy to vertically block rain and sun beams, functioning as a wind redirector to redirect wind in and out of sail, and functioning as a sail-steering wind-powered device to steer the sail in multiple different directions; a ring-sail-rib intersector; primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs for resisting bending and warping due to heavy winds, providing reinforced infrastructure for a sail when used on a wind-powered land vehicle, providing reinforced infrastructure for an emergency rainwater collecting device on a marine vessel, and providing reinforced infrastructure for a shade canopy; secondary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs for resisting bending and warping due to heavy winds, providing reinforced infrastructure for a sail when used on a wind-powered land vehicle, providing reinforced infrastructure for an emergency rainwater collecting device on a marine vessel, and providing reinforced infrastructure for a shade canopy; multi-rib-connecting automatically-centered-and-reinforced adjustable cores inserted into and screwed to the primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs and the secondary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs, the multi-rib-connecting automatically-centered-and-reinforced adjustable cores for allowing manufacturers to shorten long ribs into the primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs and the secondary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs to reduce the length and volume of the shipping package of the five-device-in-one water-and-leaf-separating leaf-filtering water-collecting wind-blocking wind-redirecting marine-yacht-land-yacht-balcony-bumper-and-trailer-hitch-mountable sail in a shipping container to save money from expensive shipping costs, and securely and reinforcingly connecting the primary automatically-centered-and-reinforced ribs to the secondary autom

A folding mechanism contains a rail which forms a guide for a series of runners which are slideable in relation to each other on the rail, whereby each runner or at least a part thereof is provided with a rib which is attached hingeably on the runner around a shaft largely perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail between an open position whereby the ribs are turned away from the rail and a closed position whereby the ribs are turned towards the rail and whereby at least some of the ribs lying on the same side of the rail are connected with each other using a transmission which, when sliding the runners towards or away from each other on the rail, makes the ribs hinge on the runners.

The instant invention describes devices and methods of measuring the differential air pressure at numerous representative points across the surface of the sail or sails and providing visual feedback of areas of ideal laminar flow and areas of less than optimal airflow with a calculation of thrust and providing an indication the maximal differential airflow and thrust. The invention utilizes an array of sensors that detect minute variations in barometric pressure and other data on each side of the sail surface. These sensors are connected together to form a network or net across the sail. This connection can be physical, using wires, or it may be wireless, using for example, but certainly not being limited to, Bluetooth LE 5.0 or other wireless topologies or technologies. This can be extended over multiple sails and monitor not only the sail but the interaction of the sails. Finally it can utilize a combination of wired and wireless connections to fit individual situations and can couple with existing terrestrial and satellite ship networks.

The instant invention describes devices and methods of measuring the differential air pressure at numerous representative points across the surface of the sail or sails and providing visual feedback of areas of ideal laminar flow and areas of less than optimal airflow with a calculation of thrust and providing an indication the maximal differential airflow and thrust. The invention utilizes an array of sensors that detect minute variations in barometric pressure and other data on each side of the sail surface. These sensors are connected together to form a network or net across the sail. This connection can be physical, using wires, or it may be wireless, using for example, but certainly not being limited to, Bluetooth LE 5.0 or other wireless topologies or technologies. This can be extended over multiple sails and monitor not only the sail but the interaction of the sails. Finally it can utilize a combination of wired and wireless connections to fit individual situations and can couple with existing terrestrial and satellite ship networks.