Abstract: A life protection device system is proposed. More particularly, the life protection device system includes: a shock absorbing device provided with a shock absorbing part, a shock absorber, and an airbag that are mounted on a moving object so as to absorb impact to protect the life of passengers in a crash or collision of the moving object; a measuring device detecting the shock applied to the moving object; a controller generating a preset driving control signal according to the detected shock of the measuring device; and an artificial intelligence part notifying of an occurrence of a disaster and asking for help from a designated disaster center in response to the driving control signal of the controller, wherein the impact on the passengers is minimized even when the moving object such as a drone, autonomous aircraft, and autonomous vehicle crashes or collides, or falls into a river or sea.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for measuring pressure on a sail comprising: a) at least one pressure electronic scanner; b) at least one pressure sensor positioned on the sail; c) pneumatic means for connecting said at least one pressure scanner to said at least one pressure sensor positioned on the sail, wherein said connecting means is a pressure strip.

Abstract: Sails for sailboat wind propulsion comprising shape memory systems containing shape memory elements are described. The shape memory systems are arranged in correspondence to the sail battens, extending along them and operably connected to the sail opposite faces or directly to the battens so as to face the opposite faces of the sail. A control apparatus and method of said sails is also described.

Abstract: A sail for sailboats is described. The sail having portions wherein shape memory elements in the form of filiform members made of a shape memory alloy are incorporated, the surface area resulting from the sum of the surface areas of the portions incorporating shape memory alloy elements being between 0.01% and 50% of the surface area of the whole sail. A control apparatus is also disclosed for controlling the operation of the sail. A method is further disclosed for controlling operation of a sailboat sail.

Abstract: A paddle for stand-up paddle boards includes a paddle blade at a lower end of the paddle shaft and a sail assembly slidingly stowed within the shaft, with the sail deployed by sliding the sail assembly distally out of the shaft upper end. The sail assembly may include a sail and support frame. A method and system for transporting a user across water or other surfaces has a board for the user to stand upon and a paddle with sail slidingly deployed from inside a paddle shaft via an opening in the upper end. To propel via paddling, the user leaves the sail stowed within the shaft. The propel via wind, the user deploys the sail out of the shaft, places the blade onto the board upper surface, and angles the paddle and sail to catch the wind and propel the user across the water.

Abstract: A sail system comprising a substantially isosceles-triangle-shaped sail with two booms and an arc-shaped element. The two booms are arranged along substantially equal sides of the sail and articulated to one another with a joint that defines a vertex of the triangle. The arc-shaped element is coupled to a deck of a boat for pivoting about a transverse axis between a raised position and a lowered position on the deck. Each boom has a coupling element on the arc-shaped element, the coupling element being slidable both along the arc-shaped element and along the respective boom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ship, in particular a ship comprising at least one sail rotor. According to the invention, the ship has a front part that has a height-adjustable and/or pivotable panel.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for sensor-based sailboat sails, including a device to detect whether a flow on a sail is attached or separated including a flow separation sensor; a device using data from the separation sensor to trim the sail; a wind history device for storing a history of wind conditions on the sail; a UV-exposure sensor for measuring UV-exposure on the sail; an acceleration sensor to measure an attitude of the sail; a stress or strain sensor to measure stretch and loading of the sail; an energy supply to provide energy to the sensors; and a data display to show data from the sensors to a user.

Abstract: A removable sail for a paddle-style boat, such as a kayak preferably takes the form of a fast deploying down-wind sail attachable to a deck of the kayak. The sail includes a curved, but non-circular shaped flexible material coupled to a collapsible, continuous frame member, for example the frame member may be sewn into a channel made by the material. When mounted to the deck of the boat, the sail may be arranged in a deployed or a stowed configuration, the latter being deployable on the fly in that the sail can be quickly sprung into the deployable configuration. The non-circular shape of the sail cooperates with a hull shape of the boat while providing a sufficient surface area for capturing wind energy. The sail may also include a transparent region that helps prevent excessive amounts of spray from striking the paddler and yet still provides an adequate viewing range.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel method and a novel inflatable flotation device for the method which are used in association with water sports boards such as kite boards, surfboards and the like, for the purpose of uprighting the water sports boards when inverted and encouraging the water sports boards to be moved by the wind in the direction of a water sports board rider when the rider becomes separated from the water sports board.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that resolves a long-standing seafaring problem of how close to the wind to sail. Sailboats need a convenient way to determine the optimal heading to minimize the Tacking Time to Destination (TTD). Unlike Velocity Made Good (VMG), the method disclosed here allows route planning before the trip, predicts travel time on different points of sail, allows comparison of the optimal tacking routes, and also plots the different routes so that it is inherently obvious that a particular tacking angle is longer and more off-course but will arrive sooner because of the speed on that heading. These principles can be implemented with manual dials that define the distance and speed, to calculate the relative or actual travel time on a leg without using electronics. Software is also described that visually illustrates the current and optimal headings by calculating Tacking Time to Destination before departure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind propulsion device, particularly for watercrafts, comprising an aerodynamic wing being connected to a steering unit by a tractive cable, having a first end of the tractive cable connected to the steering unit and a second end of the tractive cable connected to a base platform, a guiding line having a first end connected to the aerodynamic wing or to the steering unit, a pole being connected to the base platform. According to the invention, an aerodynamic wind propulsion device as mentioned above is provided, characterized in that a second end of the guiding line is connected to the base platform during and between starting and landing maneuvers wherein the guiding line is guided through or along the pole and is capable of transferring a tensile force onto the aerodynamic wing at least during starting or landing.

Abstract: Disclosed are luff extrusions that solve problems of batten chafing and friction locking. The inventive luff extrusions provide batten end receptacles with channels for headboard cars. The luff extrusions absorb the wind-generated compressive forces exerted by the battens on the batten pockets and eliminate the need for sail slides.

Abstract: A sail assembly having a single, closed-loop support batten that supports a flexible sail. The sail is a hollow body defining a substantially hemispherical shape when fully expanded by captured wind. The support batten is housed in a perimeter sleeve at the front end of the sail. The support batten is stiff enough to support the sail, yet elastic enough that it can be twisted and coiled as three contiguous coils for compact folding. The sail has a significantly smaller size in the folded and coiled orientation, and is capable of rapid self deployment due to the energy stored in the folded batten. The deployed sail can be fastened to the deck of a small watercraft, hand held, or fastened to the blade end of a paddle or oar for capturing the energy in the wind to propel a small watercraft.

Abstract: A sailboat is disclosed wherein the sailboat includes a three degree-of-freedom pivot assembly, sail-mounted ballast, and sail control system. These three features increase sailing efficiency and reduce both hydrodynamic and aerodynamic drag on the sailboat. This sailboat incorporates a rigid sail with sail-mounted ballast to balance the rolling moment and pitching moment produced on the sail by the wind. The rigid self-supported sail increases sailing efficiency by eliminating the need for supporting wires and structures and by taking advantage of the superior aerodynamic characteristics of rigid sails over flexible sails. Finally, the sail control system controls the sail's orientation by rotating the components of the three degree-of-freedom pivot assembly to maximize the sail's aerodynamic efficiency.

Abstract: An elevated sailing apparatus that extracts traction power from the wind. It operates without the heeling moment (typical of conventional sailboats), which constrains the design and limits the power that can be used. A wing or sail is attached beneath a streamlined blimp with aerodynamic stabilizers that keep both the blimp and the wing (or sail) directed into the wind. The blimp is directed into the wind for minimum drag. The wing (or sail) is directed into the wind for a desired angle of attack. The apparatus is tilted so that a combination of dynamic lift and lateral propulsive force is generated in addition to the static lift generated by the blimp. A single tether transfers these aerodynamic forces to a boat or other vehicle. Conventional electronically operated automatic and remote control systems can be used to adjust the tilt and to tack the apparatus.

Abstract: This invention belongs to the field of wind propelled vehicles. The goal of the invention is to provide large sails creating no overturning force. This is achieved by placing the top part of the sail above the vehicle and the bottom part of the sail aside from the vehicle.

Abstract: A sailboat mast stepping system for efficiently using mechanical aids to raise or lower the mast of a sailboat. The sailboat mast stepping system includes a base, a support member substantially housed within the base, a catch member positionable at the end of support member opposite the base and an actuator. Activating the actuator manipulates the support member with respect to the base.

Abstract: A windsurfing catamaran with a self-stabilizing wing. The wing is moved to the correct position by counter balancing water pressure from a rotating central keel connected to a central mast. The keel rotates in the opposite direction of the wing when the wing is moved off center by wind. The keel rotates such that a greater surface area is presented to water flow striking the keel. Water pressure on the keel offsets wind pressure on the sails and returns the keel and mast back to an upright position. This increases stability, lift, driving force, and speed. A central catamaran platform provides hinged struts and shock absorbers between the rear end of the central platform and planing hulls to reduce impact damage. The hinged struts and shock absorbers reduce water drag and the braking effect of repeated hull impacts with water resulting in a further increase in speed.

Abstract: A marine craft includes a floating body, elements adapted to generate a center-board effect, in particular a center-board projecting beneath the floating body, and a rigging. The rigging includes at least a directional kite forming a canopy and a series of sheets controlling the canopy linked to the craft, the series of sheets including a main sheet and two directional sheets, and a substantially punctiform member for guiding the main sheet and for applying tractive force of the sheet on the craft. The rigging further includes elements for spatial orientation of the axis of the resultant elements the tractive force exerted by the rigging on the craft so as to almost completely eliminate the list whatever the moving speed of the craft and with the guiding and force-applying member located above the water level.

Abstract: A method of operating a sailing boat is provided, comprising detecting a force of a mast of a sailing boat on a mast step of a hull of the sailing boat, while the sailing boat is sailing across a body of water, and providing a reading of the force.

Abstract: A sailboat and crew performance optimization system includes a modular system of sensors, data acquisition, computational analysis, graphical display and optional feedback control for optimizing sailboat and crew performance. The system acquires data relating to external factors (e.g. wind speed, wind direction, variations in wind speed, variations in wind direction, sea state, and wave conditions), performance parameters (e.g. boat speed, time to reach a specified destination and velocity made good, safety parameters and sailboat comfort parameters), dependent variable setpoints (e.g. sail shape, sail pressure distribution, etc.), and control variables (e.g. line tensions, rudder angle, sail plan, etc.) and correlates or analyzes the data to determine or predict the optimum setpoint targets and control variables. The system displays information and relationships to the sailboat crew in order to optimize sailboat performance and crew performance.

Abstract: A single or multi-hulled sailing craft has a stub mast 5 upstanding from the hull. A sail 10 has a luff edge 11 secured to a luff boom 20 and a foot edge 12 secured to a foot boom 21 which is connected to the lower end of the luff boom. Part way along the luff boom 20 a pivotal fitting 22 connects the luff boom to the stub mast 5, and a rigid swing boom 26 is pivotally connected between the foot boom 21 and the hull or the stub mast. The fitting 22 can be moved up and down the stub mast 5 by means of a tilt sheet. The swing boom can be connected to a carriage which moves transversely of the hull. The sail is self-tacking and its position is positively controlled to prevent collision of the sail with the stub mast.