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.

1 . A system for operating a watercraft vessel, the system comprising:
 a communication unit configured to receive;
 a position signal of a first vessel; and 
 a velocity signal of the first vessel; 
   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;   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   a control unit configured to maneuver the watercraft vessel from a first position to an optimum position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the watercraft vessel is a hydrofoil vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrofoil vessel includes one or more hydrofoil assemblies, operably connected to a hull of the watercraft vessel, configured to generate lift during operation of the watercraft vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more hydrofoil assemblies are vertically adjustable to change distance between the one or more hydrofoil assemblies and the hull. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the vortex is generated by one of the first hydrofoil assemblies of the first vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensing unit further comprises one or more sensors including a global positioning system (GPS), light detection and ranging (LiDar) sensor, radar, passive optical, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensing unit further comprises one or more sensors including sonar sensor, ultrasonic sensor, acoustic doppler current profilers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the third sensing unit further comprises one or more sensors including one or more inertial sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers, inertial measurement units (IMUs), strain gauges, load cells, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors of the third sensing unit is operably connected to a hydrofoil assembly of the watercraft vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optimum position is determined by the control unit based at least in part on the position signal and velocity signal of the first vessel, the relative position signal of the first sensing unit, the fluid velocity field measured from the second sensing unit, the lifting force measured by the third sensing unit, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optimum position is further determined by determining a peak upwash region of the vortex around the watercraft vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second control unit configured to automatically receive the relative position signal, fluid velocity field, a location of the measured upwash region of the vortex, the lifting force experienced by the watercraft, or a combination thereof, and maneuver the watercraft vessel to the optimum position. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control interface for receiving inputs from a user, a remote device, or a combination thereof, and for transmitting sensing signals including the relative position signal, fluid velocity field, efficiency gain, or a combination thereof, to the user, the remote device, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit further comprises a computational unit configured to detect the location of a free surface of water relative to a hydrofoil of the watercraft vessel and incorporate the location of the free surface of water in determining the optimum position. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit further comprises a computational unit configured to detect ocean waves, and incorporating vortex deformation caused by the ocean waves in determining the optimum position. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to maintain a relative position of the watercraft vessel from the first vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein maneuvering the watercraft vessel from the first position to the optimum position reduces drag experienced by the watercraft vessel. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A system for operating a trailing watercraft, the system comprising:
 a control unit for maneuvering the trailing watercraft from a first position to a second position;   a first sensing unit configured to determine a relative position of one or more nearby watercrafts including a leading watercraft or one or more different trailing watercrafts;   a second sensing unit configured to detect and measure a fluid velocity field of a vortex created by the leading vessel;   a third sensing unit configured to detect and measure an efficiency gain of the trailing watercraft operating in an upwash region of the vortex created by the leading vessel; and   a control interface for receiving inputs and sending guidance information associated with the optimum position to a user or remote device.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising an autopilot unit configured to automatically receive the position sensing signals, vortex signals, upwash signals, lift sensing signals, or a combination thereof, and maneuver the trailing watercraft to an optimum position. 
     
     
         27 . A method for operating a watercraft vessel, the method comprising:
 determining a position signal and a velocity signal of a leading vessel;   detecting a relative position, from one or more sensors, of a nearby vessel including the leading vessel or a different trailing vessel from the watercraft vessel;   receiving measurements, from one or more sensors, of a fluid velocity field of a vortex created by the leading vessel;   detecting a lifting force, from one or more sensors, experienced by the watercraft vessel operating in a region of the vortex; and   maneuvering the watercraft vessel from a first position to an optimum position.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 determining, automatically at a control unit of the watercraft vessel, the optimum position in real time based on the relative position, a magnitude of the fluid velocity field, the lifting force, or a combination thereof; and   maneuvering, automatically, the watercraft vessel to the optimum position.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 determining a peak upwash region of the vortex created by the leading vessel; and   maneuvering the watercraft vessel to the optimum position in real time.