The present invention is broadly directed to an unmanned surface vessel (USV) 10 broadly comprising: 1. a vessel body (12) adapted to contain a payload (14); 2. a front fin (16) and a rear fin (18) connected to and protruding from the vessel body (12); 3. a forward foil (20) and a rearward foil (22) connected to a distal end region of the respective front and rear fins (16) and (18); 4. propulsion means (24) operatively coupled to the rear fin (18) for propulsion of the fin (18) and the foil (22) through the water.

The present invention relates generally to underwater wings for providing lift to boats. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a pair of underwater wings that attach to the hulls of a pontoon. The purpose of the wings is to provide a designated amount of lift to reduce drag and improve performance of the watercraft. This is different from a traditional hydrofoil, which is designed to lift a boat completely out of the water. Ideally, the wings are connected to the deck of the pontoon boat via adjustable mounts that allow the wings to be raised or lowered in the water to adjust the amount of drag.

A personal watercraft comprising a body having a seat and a hull, the seat configured to support a user with the body floating in water, a plurality of hydrofoils extending outwards from the body and coupled to a positioning system, the plurality of hydrofoils being configured, in combination, to raise the hull of the personal watercraft above a waterline in the water when the personal watercraft is in use and under the influence of a propulsion force, one or more sensors that provide sensor data of the watercraft during use, a computer-readable medium having a processor and a memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor read the sensor data, and based on the read sensor data, send a signal to the positioning system to adjust the position for at least one of the plurality of hydrofoils.

An active stabilizing device for a primary damping of rolling movements of a ship or other watercraft including a hull including at least one positioning device having a drive journal and a stabilizing fin with a stabilizing surface and a root, the drive journal being attached to the stabilizing fin at the root, the stabilizing surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge and being configured to be disposed underwater. The positioning device is configured to set an angle of attack of the stabilizing fin by rotating the drive journal about a first axis of rotation and to pivot the drive journal about a second axis of rotation to move the stabilizing fin between a forward position and a rearward position relative to a bow of the watercraft.

A marine array having various embodiments of a modular foil system is disclosed. The modular foil system may be configured to generate lift when towed in a marine environment, and thus used to move, position, and/or depress instrument of the array. The modular foil system may include multiple groups of foil sections, each having an angle of attack that is adjustable relative to other groups of foil sections. For example, each group may be supported by a pair of through cables, and an actuator may adjust a tension in one or both of through cables, thereby alerting the angle of attack. The pair of through cables may converge toward one another at connection points adjacent opposing ends of a given group of foil sections of the modular system. The connection points thus establishing a modular framework to couple the given group to other groups of foils of the system.

Systems, apparatus, and methods for hydrofoil assemblies with planing blades that may be adjusted, and securely maintained in varying tilts with respect to a support member, using a curved indexing system with a curved ridge and a counterpart groove that utilize interacting position retaining elements to retain a desired tilt in different adjustable positions. In one illustrative system, a planing blade may have a convexly curved ridge disposed on a surface thereof with a series of transverse grooves disposed in the curved ridge. A support member may have a counterpart concavely curved receiver with a series of counterpart transverse grooves formed therein. When a user places the planing blade in position with the convex ridge contacting the concave receiver, the blade may be tilted to a desired position. The counterpart transverse grooves interconnect to provide an indexed positive interlock, securely maintaining the blade in the desired position.

A linear drive system adapted for repetitive driving using a linear motor. Linkages are used to maintain the driven portion in linear motion. A coupled dual drive system in which two driven portions are coupled such that their coupled motions travel at the same velocity in opposed directions. A linear drive system with a return spring portion which is adapted to facilitate linear direction changeover. A coupled linear drive system which may be used as a mechanical power source for drive systems used in transportation and industry.

A linear drive system adapted for repetitive driving using a linear motor. The drive system may be used to power pumping hydrofoils which drive a boat or ship. Linkages are used to maintain the driven portion in linear motion. A coupled dual drive system in which two driven portions are coupled such that their coupled motions travel at the same velocity in opposed directions. The coupled linear drive system which may be used as a mechanical power source for drive systems used in transportation and industry. A boat with dual pumping hydrofoils adapted for propel a boat using the hydrofoils for both lift and propulsion.

The vessels weight is wholly or partially supported by one or more fully or partially submerged hydrofoil(s). The amount of lift provided by said hydrofoil(s) is regulated as a function of that lift itself. External variables such as trim angle and vessel velocity affect total lift, and this system compensates for those variables to provide a regulated lift without the need to directly sense any of the external variables. A typical control system comprises one or more sensory inputs, a method to translate the input into a control output, and an actuator that turns the outputs into actual movements. The only sensory input for this system is the same lifting force that is being regulated. The mechanical arrangement translates that lifting force into movements that produce negative feedback by varying the angle of attack of the hydrofoil, which in turn regulates the lift produced.

A foil displacement system includes one or more foils that can be deployed and stowed. When deployed, each foil can exert downforce or uplift depending on its orientation. For example, each foil may be positioned to have an angle of attack that creates a downward force effectively transmitted to the hull to pull the hull deeper within the water to, for example, create a larger wake. Use of the foil displacement system can enhance or replace the use of a ballast tank system, can be integrated into a new boat or retrofitted to existing boats, can be electronically or manually positioned, can enhance activities such as wake surfing, wake boarding, water skiing or other similar or related water sports.