A propulsion rudder for use with a water vessel, preferably an unmanned surface water vessel. The propulsion rudder includes a rotating base, a rudder assembly, and a thrust assembly. In one embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise two vertical mast rudders connected by an upper horizontal wing, with the thrust assembly mounted on the horizontal wing. In a second embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise an annular airfoil with the thrust assembly mounted on a mast and positioned in the center of the annular airfoil. The thrust assembly may be a propeller, a turbine, a ramjet, or a rocket.

Various aspects provide for a propulsion system (200) for a ship (100) comprising at least first and second thrusters (205, 206) and first and second directors (220, 720), wherein a computing platform (300) is coupled to the thrusters and directors being configured to receive desired longitudinal and lateral headings (750, 760) and determine a configuration of the propulsion system that is expected to propel the ship in the desired longitudinal and lateral headings.

This disclosure describes flanking rudders, including asymmetrically shaped flanking rudders and methods of manufacturing and using asymmetrically shaped flanking rudders. An exemplary asymmetrically shaped flanking rudder includes an exterior surface having a first shape and an exterior surface having second shape different from the first shape.

A maneuvering system for a ship provided with, in the stern, a port-side propulsion system, and a starboard-side propulsion system. For controlling the system, a forward or backward force of the ship 1 is obtained by the difference between the forward and backward propulsion forces of the propulsion systems and a first turning moment in a turning direction of the ship generated by the propulsion forces is offset by a second turning moment in the turning direction of the ship generated by steering a port-side rudder, whereby the ship moves in a transversal manner toward its starboard side while rotation of the ship is avoided. A high degree of maneuverability is thereby achieved with a relatively simple maneuvering operation.

One or more propulsion arrangements for water vessels, and in particular propulsion arrangements that include flanking rudders with bidirectional high-lift sections to improve performance, particularly in the reverse direction. The flanking rudders are positioned adjacent a propulsor for directing a slipstream flow when the vessel is travelling in the reverse direction. Each flanking rudder has an elongated profile extending from a first edge to a second edge, and in which each elongated profile has a first bulb portion, a convex middle portion, and a second bulb portion.

A propulsion rudder for use with a water vessel, preferably an unmanned surface water vessel. The propulsion rudder includes a rotating base, a rudder assembly, and a thrust assembly. In one embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise two vertical mast rudders connected by an upper horizontal wing, with the thrust assembly mounted on the horizontal wing. In a second embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise an annular airfoil with the thrust assembly mounted on a mast and positioned in the center of the annular airfoil. The thrust assembly may be a propeller, a turbine, a ramjet, or a rocket.

To provide a gate rudder capable of reducing energy consumption during a voyage of a ship.

A gate rudder including a pair of rudders including a left rudder and a right rudder disposed left and right, respectively, of a propeller at a stern, wherein each of the rudders includes a first rudder portion extending in a horizontal direction and a second rudder portion linearly extending in a vertical direction in rear view, wherein a rudder chord length of the second rudder portion in a front-rear direction is 40 to 100% of a diameter of the propeller, wherein the propeller is provided within a range of 15 to 65% of the rudder chord length from a front edge of the second rudder portion in side view, and wherein a rudder shaft that drives each of the rudders is provided at a position within a range of 30 to 50% of the rudder chord length from the front edge of the second rudder portion in side view.

A steering system for a marine vessel, the steering system comprises a first steering apparatus having a first steering actuator for steering the first steering apparatus and a second steering apparatus having a second steering actuator for steering the second steering apparatus. There is a mechanical steering linkage operatively connecting the first steering apparatus to the second steering apparatus so the steering apparatuses are steered synchronously. A user input device provides user inputted steering commands. A control apparatus operatively connects to the actuators and to the user input device. The control apparatus controls the steering of the steering apparatuses so both of the steering apparatuses are simultaneously steered the same amount.

A rudder for as ship is described, comprising a rudder blade (10) which is fastened via a rudder stock (32) to the aft end (16) of the ship, where the rudder blade (10) is a rudder blade of the suspension type, comprising a first rudder blade part (12) and a second rudder blade part (14), arranged above and below each other, respectively, the rudder stock (32) is mounted and fastened to the rudder blade (10) and extends up into the aft end (16) of the ship, where the rudder stock is coupled at the upper end to a steering gear (20) arranged at the aft end (16) of the ship. An outer tube (34) is arranged about the rudder stock (32) where the outer tube (34) is fastened in the first, upper rudder blade part (12) and the aft end (16) of the ship, respectively, and that the rudder stock (32) extends through the outer tube (34) and down into the second, lower rudder blade part (14).

Apparatus and associated methods relate to configuring a watercraft propulsion system and control surface to generate a higher rate flow and a lower rate flow governed by the watercraft's yaw slip angle, adjusting the rate difference between the higher rate flow and the lower rate flow based on adjusting the yaw slip angle determined as a function of the control surface position and the propulsion system thrust vector, and directing by the watercraft the higher rate flow to converge with the lower rate flow to create a wave. The propulsion system may be a plurality of independently adjustable propulsion methods permitting propulsion system differential thrust vector adjustment. The control surface may be adjustable 360 degrees in the plane of the watercraft longitudinal axis. The yaw slip angle may be adjusted based on sensor information. Exemplary implementations may increase wave quality and improve maneuverability of a watercraft configured to create waves.