Lift from vessel formation

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for operating a watercraft vessel. The system can include a communication unit configured to receive a position signal and a velocity signal of the first vessel. The system can include a first sensing unit configured to determine a relative position signal of one or more nearby vessels including the first vessel, a second sensing unit configured to detect and measure a fluid velocity field of a vortex around the watercraft vessel, and a third sensing unit configured to detect and measure an efficiency gain from a lifting force experienced by watercraft vessel operating in an upwash region of the vortex. And the system can include a control unit configured to maneuver the watercraft vessel from a first position to an optimum position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a watercraft vessel having one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils in a body of water, the method comprising:
 determining a portion of an upwash region of fluid of an underwater vortex created by one or more hydrofoils of a leading vessel; and   maneuvering the watercraft vessel from a first position to a second position such that at least one or more of the submerged underwater hydrofoils of the watercraft vessel would be positioned in the portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a location of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying an optimum position to maneuver the watercraft vessel such that at least one or more hydrofoils of the watercraft vessel would be positioned in the portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex, wherein the optimum position is the second position.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second position comprises a portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex with a highest upward vertical fluid velocity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second position increases a lift experienced by the one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a position signal and a velocity signal of the leading vessel;   determining a relative position of the leading vessel; and   measuring a fluid velocity of the underwater vortex; and   measuring a lifting force experienced by the watercraft vessel using one or more sensors coupled to the one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second position is determined at least in part on the received position signal and received velocity signal of the first vessel, the determined relative position signal, the measured fluid velocity of the underwater vortex, the measured lifting force, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting and measuring an efficiency gain from a lifting force experienced by watercraft vessel operating in the upwash region of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a peak upwash region of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving by a trailing vessel, a position signal and a velocity signal of the watercraft vessel, the trailing vessel having one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils in the body of water,   receiving measurements of a fluid velocity field of an underwater vortex created by the watercraft vessel;   determining an upwash region of the underwater vortex created by the watercraft vessel; and   maneuvering the trailing vessel from an initial position to another position such that at least one or more of the submerged underwater hydrofoils of the trailing vessel would be positioned in a portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex created by the watercraft vessel.   
     
     
         11 . A positioning system for determining an underwater vortex about a watercraft vessel, the watercraft vessel having one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils in a body of water the system configured to perform the operations of:
 determining a portion of an upwash region of fluid of an underwater vortex created by one or more hydrofoils of a leading vessel; and   maneuvering the watercraft vessel from a first position to a second position such that at least one or more of the submerged underwater hydrofoils of the watercraft vessel would be positioned in the portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the operations of:
 determining a location of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising the operations of:
 identifying an optimum position to maneuver the watercraft vessel such that at least one or more hydrofoils of the watercraft vessel would be positioned in the portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex, wherein the optimum position is the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second position comprises a portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex with a highest upward vertical fluid velocity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second position increases a lift experienced by the one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the operations of:
 determining a relative position of the leading vessel; and   measuring a fluid velocity of the underwater vortex; and   measuring a lifting force experienced by the watercraft vessel using one or more sensors coupled to the one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second position is determined at least in part on the received position signal and received velocity signal of the first vessel, the determined relative position signal, the measured fluid velocity of the underwater vortex, the measured lifting force, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the operations of:
 detecting and measuring an efficiency gain from a lifting force experienced by watercraft vessel operating in the upwash region of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the operations of:
 determining a peak upwash region of the underwater vortex.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the operations of:
 receiving by a trailing vessel, a position signal and a velocity signal of the watercraft vessel, the trailing vessel having one or more submerged underwater hydrofoils in the body of water;   receiving measurements of a fluid velocity field of an underwater vortex created by the watercraft vessel;   determining an upwash region of the underwater vortex created by the watercraft vessel; and   maneuvering the trailing vessel from an initial position to another position such that at least one or more of the submerged underwater hydrofoils of the trailing vessel would be positioned in a portion of the upwash region of the underwater vortex created by the watercraft vessel.