Motor assisted paddlecraft

Abstract

Described herein are paddlecraft such as kayaks modified to include a motor to assist the paddling action of a user of the paddlecraft. The paddlecraft has a motor driven propeller located in an elongated channel within a paddlecraft base which drives water flow from an inlet side to an outlet side of the motor driven propeller via the elongated channel to drive movement of the paddlecraft. At least one movement sensor may be located on the paddlecraft and motor driven propeller actuation is driven by a user when the at least one movement sensor senses paddling movement by the user. A network comprising multiple paddlecraft and movement sensor communication is also described along with a method of assisting a paddlecraft user to generate motion.

1 . A paddlecraft comprising:
 a motor driven propeller that assists with paddlecraft movement, the motor driven propeller being located in an elongated channel within a paddlecraft base and in contact with and propelling water therethrough when the paddlecraft is on water, the motor driven propeller driving water flow from an inlet side to an outlet side of the motor driven propeller via the elongated channel to drive movement of the paddlecraft;   wherein the motor driven propeller is recessed into the elongated channel so that at least 80% of the motor driven propeller lies within an envelope defined by a hull exterior of the paddlecraft;   wherein the elongated channel within the paddlecraft directs water to and from the motor driven propeller, the elongated channel being moulded into a hull or base of the paddlecraft;   wherein the elongated channel comprises a front section and a rear section and the motor driven propeller is located intermediate the front section and the rear section and wherein, the front section acts as a water inlet and the rear section acts as a water outlet and wherein, the rear section is longer than the front section.   
     
     
         2 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the paddlecraft comprises a length from a front or nose to a rear or tail and the elongated channel is located about a rear half or a rear third of the paddlecraft length. 
     
     
         3 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elongated channel has a length and a width and a ratio of the elongated channel length to the width is approximately 5:1 to 15:1. 
     
     
         4 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the motor driven propeller is located towards the water inlet end of the elongated channel. 
     
     
         5 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the front section of the elongated channel has a part ovoid shape that increases in depth from the hull exterior to a deepest point of the elongated channel, the deepest point of the elongated channel being approximate an inlet of the motor driven propeller. 
     
     
         6 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a degree of slope from sides of the elongated channel to a deepest point of the front section of the elongated channel is steeper than the degree of slope from sides of the elongated channel to a deepest point of the rear section of the elongated channel. 
     
     
         7 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rear section of the elongated channel is tapered in width, narrowing towards the water outlet of the rear section of the elongated channel from a maximum width at or about the motor driven propeller. 
     
     
         8 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a depth of the rear section of the elongated channel decreases from a maximum depth about the motor driven propeller to a depth proximate the hull exterior at a distal end of the rear section of the elongated channel. 
     
     
         9 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a depth of the rear section of the elongated channel shallows out at a less acute angle than an angle of the front section of the elongated channel. 
     
     
         10 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rear section of the elongated channel has a relatively flat planar region along a base of the rear section of the elongated channel between sides of the rear section of the elongated channel. 
     
     
         11 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elongated channel comprises flow features selected from: notches, trips, and fins, the flow features configured to alter the flow characteristics of water moving through the elongated channel. 
     
     
         12 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the paddlecraft comprises a single motor driven propeller. 
     
     
         13 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the paddlecraft comprises:
 a primary motor driven propeller and at least one secondary motor driven propeller, 
 wherein the at least one secondary motor driven propeller:
 has a lower output than the primary motor driven propeller; 
 is located in a different position on the paddlecraft to the primary motor driven propeller; and 
 is actuated using a different controller to a controller used to actuate the primary motor driven propeller. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . A paddlecraft comprising a motor driven propeller configured to assist with paddlecraft movement,
 the motor driven propeller being in contact with and propelling water therethrough when the paddlecraft is on water, and   at least one movement sensor located only on the paddlecraft about where a user moves a paddle relative to the paddlecraft, the at least one sensor using near field directional motion control to sense at least one paddle characteristic by the user selected from: paddle movement, paddle movement direction, paddle movement cadence, paddle movement speed;   wherein, actuation of the motor driven propeller is configured so that actuation is driven by a user when the at least one movement sensor senses paddling movement by the user about the near field directional motion control at least one sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the at least one movement sensor actuates the motor driven propeller to:
 actuate propeller motion on or off; 
 turn the motor driving the motor driven propeller on or off; 
 alter the speed of the motor driven propeller and therefore the amount of thrust provided by the motor driven propeller; 
 adjust the motor driven propeller direction; 
 and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         16 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 14  wherein when the user paddles forwards, the at least one movement sensor causes motor driven propeller forward thrust to occur. 
     
     
         17 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 14  wherein an increase in the user paddling cadence and/or force causes an increase in motor driven propeller thrust assistance while a decrease in the user paddling cadence and/or force causes a decrease in motor driven propeller thrust assistance. 
     
     
         18 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 14  wherein reverse paddling by the user causes the motor driven propeller to stop. 
     
     
         19 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 18  wherein successive reverse paddling by the user causes the motor driven propeller to reverse thrust movement of the propeller. 
     
     
         20 . The paddlecraft as claimed in  claim 14  wherein a foiling wing system is embedded in a structure of a hull of the paddlecraft, a foiling wing of the foiling wing system configured to be lowered or raised relative to the hull of the paddlecraft based on sensed speed and output from a separate speed sensor, the at least one movement sensor, or both a separate speed sensor and the at least one movement sensor. 
     
     
         21 .- 26 . (canceled)