Systems and methods for operating a hydrofoil board with variable foil sweep

Abstract

A hydrofoil board is provided including a board having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface is configured to support a user. The hydrofoil board further includes a mast extending from the lower surface and a hydrofoil system connected to the board by the mast. A propulsion system is configured to provide a propulsive force to the hydrofoil board and a foil structure is configured to provide a lifting force and comprises a pair of wings. Each of the pair of wings is movable through multiple sweep angles from a fully extended position wherein the pair of wings are each at a minimum sweep angle to a fully retracted position wherein the pair of wings are each at a maximum sweep angle. One or more controllers are configured to modify the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hydrofoil board comprising:
 a board having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface configured to support a user;   a mast extending from the lower surface;   a hydrofoil system connected to the board by the mast, the hydrofoil system comprising:
 a propulsion system configured to provide a propulsive force to the hydrofoil board; and 
 a foil structure configured to provide a lifting force for the hydrofoil board and comprising a pair of wings, each of the pair of wings being movable through a plurality of sweep angles from a fully extended position wherein the pair of wings are each at a minimum sweep angle to a fully retracted position wherein the pair of wings are each at a maximum sweep angle; and 
   one or more controllers configured to modify the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 operating each of the pair of wings in the fully extended position; and   responsive to a determination that a speed parameter of the hydrofoil board exceeds a maximum extension threshold, moving the pair of wings to the fully retracted position.   
     
     
         3 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 operating each of the pair of wings in the fully retracted position; and   responsive to a determination that a speed parameter of the hydrofoil board is below a minimum retraction threshold, moving the pair of wings to the fully extended position.   
     
     
         4 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 responsive to a determination that a decrease in the lifting force is required, moving the pair of wings to increase the sweep angles.   
     
     
         5 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 responsive to a determination that an increase in the lifting force is required, moving the pair of wings to decrease the sweep angles.   
     
     
         6 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 determining a target lifting force for the hydrofoil board;   responsive to a determination that an actual lifting force exceeds the target lifting force by an error threshold; moving the pair of wings to increase the sweep angles.   
     
     
         7 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 determining a target lifting force for the hydrofoil board;   responsive to a determination that the target lifting force exceeds an actual lifting force by an error threshold; moving the pair of wings to decrease the sweep angles.   
     
     
         8 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , further comprising a hand controller, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to modify the sweep angles of the pair of wings responsive to signals received from the hand controller. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , wherein the sweep angle of each of the pair of wings is individually controllable. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrofoil board of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of weight sensors configured to generate data regarding the user's weight distribution on the board, wherein the one or more controllers configured to modify the sweep angles of the pair of wings responsive to the weight distribution data. 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a hydrofoil board, comprising:
 providing a hydrofoil board having a foil structure configured to provide a lifting force for the hydrofoil board and comprising a pair of wings, each of the pair of wings being movable through a plurality of sweep angles from a fully extended position wherein the pair of wings are each at a minimum sweep angle to a fully retracted position wherein the pair of wings are each at a maximum sweep angle; and   modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 operating each of the pair of wings in the fully extended position; and   responsive to a determination that a speed parameter of the hydrofoil board exceeds a maximum extension threshold, moving the pair of wings to the fully retracted position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 operating each of the pair of wings in the fully retracted position; and   responsive to a determination that a speed parameter of the hydrofoil board is below a minimum retraction threshold, moving the pair of wings to the fully extended position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 responsive to a determination that a decrease in the lifting force is required, moving the pair of wings to increase the sweep angles.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 responsive to a determination that an increase in the lifting force is required, moving the pair of wings to decrease the sweep angles.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 determining a target lifting force for the hydrofoil board;   responsive to a determination that an actual lifting force exceeds the target lifting force by an error threshold; moving the pair of wings to increase the sweep angles.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein modifying the sweep angles of the pair of wings to thereby modify the lifting force for the hydrofoil board comprises:
 determining a target lifting force for the hydrofoil board;   responsive to a determination that the target lifting force exceeds an actual lifting force by an error threshold; moving the pair of wings to decrease the sweep angles.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a hand controller, wherein the sweep angles of the pair of wings are modified responsive to signals received from a hand controller. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sweep angle of each of the pair of wings is individually controllable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sweep angles of the pair of wings are modified responsive to weight distribution data received from a pair of weight sensors.