Method for Constructing A Water Sports Device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for constructing and/or manufacturing a water sports device (2) which has a modular structure comprising a floating body (4). The modules can be connected together via interfaces and are connected during operation. In particular, the invention relates to a method for constructing and/or manufacturing a foilboard or driver propulsion vehicle, wherein a server device is provided, and a program-controlled input interface is provided for user-defined inputs on a terminal (5), in particular a mobile terminal, which is arranged at a distance from the server device in particular. The modules are imaged in a computer program of the server device and/or of the terminal (5), and at least one outer contour of the floating body (4) of the water sports device (2) can be, in particular, freely defined by the user. On the basis of the outer contour of the floating body (4) defined in the program, automated manufacturing information is produced, and the floating body (4) manufactured according to the production information can be combined with another module, in particular multiple other modules, to produce the water sports device (2). The invention also

Claims

1. A method for constructing a water sports device having a modular construction including a floating body and at least one module connectable to at least one of the floating body and another module, the method comprising the steps of: providing a server installation and a program-controlled input interface for user-defined inputs on a terminal device, mapping one or more of said at least one module in a computer program of the server installation and/or of the terminal device, defining, by a user, at least one external contour of the floating body of the water sports device, automatically creating items of production information based on the external contour of the floating body defined by the user via the program, producing the floating body accordingly, wherein the floating body is thereby is used conjointly with at least one, of said modules tconnectable therewith so as to complete the water sports device [[(2)]].

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external contour is determined based on free-form surfaces on the server installation and/or the terminal device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein testing in terms of constructive, characteristics of the water sports device is performed in an automated manner on the server installation and/or the terminal device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floating body is manufactured manually or in an automated manner based on the items of production information.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floating body is manufactured by means of milling or 3D printing.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floating body is a board of a hydrofoil board.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module having a propulsion installation is mapped in the program, said propulsion installation being configurable in terms of size and/or output.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module having a hydrofoil and/or holding installation is mapped in the program, said hydrofoil and/or holding installation being configurable in terms of size and/or actuation capability.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module having a sensor assembly is mapped in the program, said sensor assembly being configurable in terms of the number and type of sensors.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module having a control unit is mapped in the program, said control unit being configurable in terms of the type of human-machine interface.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control unit which in an automated manner is compatible as a function of the configured modules is provided in the program.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module for accessories and the interfaces thereof is mapped in the program.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module having floating bodies for the choice of the type of water sports device is preselected in the program.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the external contour of the preselected floating body is configurable in the program by way of the choice of the type of water sports device.

15. A water sports device manufactured by a method as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart for a method according to the invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an example of a first floating body produced by means of a method according to the invention.

[0040] FIGS. 3 - 4 show a water sport device according to the invention produced with the module according to FIG. 2.

[0041] FIGS. 5 - 7 show a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0043] FIGS. 9 - 10 show different configurable propulsion installations.

[0044] FIGS. 11-14 show further exemplary embodiments of water sports device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below, in combination with the features of the independent claim, can also lead to refinements according to the invention. Where expedient, functionally equivalent parts are provided with identical reference signs.

[0046] A method according to the invention is visualized by means of a flow chart in FIG. 1. In part, the process runs as a computer-implemented process on appropriate EDP units, although the design data obtained in this process is used to produce a water sports device which is then provided to the customer.

[0047] In this respect, there are three levels in a method according to the invention, which are shown superimposed in FIG. 1. On the one hand, an upper customer level, on which a (custom) user-defined product configuration 3, i.e. the configuration of the water sports device by the user, takes place. This product configuration takes place on a particularly mobile terminal device 5 of a user, which displays a web-based interface, for example, for a computer program running on a server for carrying out the method according to the invention. Alternatively, the computer program can also run on the terminal device 5 alone and only transmit any design data to a middle-level server (server installation), which is not shown in detail. At the customer end, a program-controlled input interface for user-defined inputs is thus provided on a terminal device 5, wherein program modules 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 are able to be run through, via which at least one external contour of a floating body 4 of a water sports device 2 can be freely defined by the user. Manufacturing information is then automatically created on the terminal 5 or on the server based on the external contour of the floating body 4 and then the configured floating body 4 can be connected to one, in particular several modules of the water sports device 2 to complete the water sports device. The individual modules of the water sports device in the exemplary embodiment are defined by way of the corresponding program modules as follows. In the program module 7, either a floating body is selected from a group of predefined floating bodies, for example underwater scooter shapes or foilboard shapes, or alternatively a custom shape is uploaded, which is then adopted as a 3D data set in a predefined, known format. The program module 9 represents a program module for selecting a module of a propulsion installation which can also be configured in terms of size and/or output. In particular, an impeller or propeller drive can be selected here, including any options with regard to its controllability. For example, it may be selected whether the propulsion installation has thrust vectoring, whereupon appropriate control elements may be selected. These specify certain parameters for the disposal of the individual modules. The program module 11 is optionally available depending on a predefined basic format. When a foilboard is selected in the program module 7, various holding installations for a hydrofoil installation that can likewise be optionally selected in the program module 17 are selected here. In the case of the holding installations, various linkage constructions can either be predetermined or self-constructed and defined in terms of their mobility for the manufacturing of a foilboard having a hydrofoil installation that can be transferred from a resting and operating position close to the floating body to an operating position remote from the latter for the purpose of the floating body traveling over water. The actuation capability and alignment of any potential hydrofoils of the hydrofoil installation can also be configured here.

[0048] Depending on the configuration selected in the program module 9, a corresponding foilboard can also be configured, for example, for active self-stabilization in the operating position or during the transition to the operating position. In an automated embodiment, in particular in connection with position sensors such as gyrometers, there is active self-stabilization of the water sports device, particularly in the operating position. In the case of active self-stabilization, the control unit thus compensates for instabilities by sending control commands to at least one actuator of the water sports device, wherein actuators are active actuating means. This can be a motor of the propulsion installation, adjustable flaps or nozzles or adjustable fins, rudders, hydrofoils or individual adjustable portions thereof. In the control unit, input variables such as data on the position of the water sports device, output of the propulsion installation, speed, acceleration and/or user inputs are evaluated and control commands for one or a plurality of actuators are generated. As a result, it is possible for beginners in particular to more rapidly have a better driving experience. In particular, the control unit is designed for active self-stabilization of the water sports device by means of thrust vector control during the transition to the operating position and/or when the floating body is lifted from the water surface, since the person using said water sports device is subjected to great influences during these phases.

[0049] Any sensors that simplify the operation of the water sports device, or sensors of a sensor assembly that are available to said water sports device for various, in particular comfort, functions can be selected in the program module 15 . These are, for example, sensors from a group of sensors including gyro sensors, speed sensors, position sensors, distance sensors, infra-red sensors and inclination sensors.

[0050] Various control units, which can be configured in particular with regard to a human-machine interface, are shown in the program module 13. For example, a hand-held device for manual control of a foilboard, display units for disposing displays in a floating body and/or bus systems for actuating individual modules and means of communication can be selected there. Additional modules that are not illustrated can, for example, depict accessories and the interfaces thereof, for example cameras, life-saving accessories, etc.

[0051] After the type of water sports device and the configuration thereof has been selected in the program module 7, a 3D data set of a water sports device is created either on the server or on the terminal device, which in terms of constructive properties, in particular technical swimming properties, is either already checked at the customer end by the program running in the corresponding device or on a server installation. In the present exemplary embodiment, this takes place in program module 19. If a corresponding check has produced a positive result, in addition to the usual query steps such as entering the address, ordering process, etc., any production steps are determined. It is preferably defined here whether the floating body is produced by 3D printing or by milling, depending on the material selected (step 21). Production then takes place in step 23 and the produced water sports device is tested in step 25 before it is made available to the customer in step 27. A production data set is generated as described above for the production of the floating body in particular.

[0052] For example, a floating body 4 in the form of a swimming board is initially configured in the program module 7. In this instance, this swimming board according to the optional program modules 11, and 17, having the hydrofoil installation 6 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, can have in each case two front and two rear control arms 10 which are attached to one another in an articulated manner and connected to one another by means of a transverse linkage 24 and by a drive 12 are transferred from a resting and operating position close to the floating body 4 to the operating position according to FIG. 4 by way of an intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 3. For this purpose, the holding device 8 has a control installation that is controlled in a control unit that is selected in the program module 13.

[0053] FIGS. 5 to 7 disclose a further variant of a water sport device 2, again in the form of a foilboard, which in the present case is equipped with two propulsion installations 50, hydrofoils 16 of a hydrofoil installation 6 being disposed therebetween. The holding installation 8, by means of which the hydrofoil installation 6 provided with the two propulsion installations 50 can be transferred from the operating position shown in FIG. 6 back to the resting and/or starting position shown in FIG. 7, again has an electric motor drive 12. In addition, a shield 71 is configured to serve as a splash guard. If, in the case of a foilboard configured with a movable holding installation 8, which is intended to be transferrable from the position shown in FIG. 5 to a resting and starting position close to the floating body 4, the shape of the floating body contradicts a sufficiently close arrangement, the computer program can, for example, propose the incorporation in one of the recesses 68 shown in FIG. 5, so that the hydrofoil installation 6 can better pivot toward the floating body 4.

[0054] An arrangement of propulsion installations 50 on the side of hydrofoils 16 shown in FIG. 8 can be proposed both by the user and in the program module 9 if a basic type of foilboard has been selected in the program module 7 (FIG. 8). Different types of propulsion installations can also be selected in the program module 9. By way of example, FIG. 9 shows a propulsion installation 50 provided with an impeller drive, which is provided for thrust vector control by means of guide vanes 94 designed as elevator and rudder. FIG. 10 shows a propulsion installation having a vector nozzle 92.

[0055] According to program module 11, the hydrofoils 16 of a hydrofoil installation 6 can be configured to be pivotable, for which purpose manual pivoting can be selected on the one hand, which must be carried out before the start of an operation in order to achieve specific properties. In a comfortable variant of a foilboard, on the other hand, with a corresponding control unit and corresponding actuators, motorized controllability of the hydrofoils 16 and, in particular, automatic controllability for stabilization purposes can be configured (FIG. 12). The controllability of the hydrofoils 16 can also be configured or achieved by only partially controlled parts of the hydrofoil installation in the form of the tips 16.1 of the latter (FIG. 13). According to FIG. 14, a propulsion installation 50 configured with a total of two front and two rear control arms 10, each being arranged on one side of a propulsion installation 50, can also be equipped with a propeller instead of an impeller.

ABSTRACT

[0056] A modularly constructed water sports device is configured as defined by the user by means of a computer program. A floating body which at least in terms of the external contour thereof is defined by a user is manufactured according to items of production information generated in an automated manner. The external contour may be freely definable. The floating body defined in this way as a module of the water sports device, preferably with one or a plurality of further modules, is subsequently used for the construction and/or production or completion, respectively, of a water sports device composed of a plurality of modules, i.e. a plurality of in particular functional assembles which are connectable to one another. The individual modules of a water sports device initially comprise the floating body configured as a module and to be defined in the program and mapped in the latter, as well as any other potential modules necessary for the functioning of the water sports device.