Real hydrofoil

[Aviator5]

Why this technology is not used widely here in North America?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w54-OEWulDE

 

[JB]

Re: Real hydrofoil

1. Stumps
2. Rocks
3. Drunks

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Real hydrofoil

"controlled by laptop computer"

 

[mciaio]

Re: Real hydrofoil

"controlled by laptop computer"

I saw that too, and it scared me. I use a laptop on my boat as a GPS chartplotter with Maptech Offshore Navigator. If it goes down I have several options as back-up. What happens if his computer goes down, does the boat roll over on it's side?

 

[grego]

Re: Real hydrofoil

The general population do not trust it. fuel prices do not warrent it. tech people, are not behind it. those of us who trust this same tech. in aircraft are out numbered. pretty much, "fear" of the untried.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Real hydrofoil

There are lots of ways to put in safeguards with the laptop controlling it. Only dabbling in EE, I'd have basic X's (embedded CPU more or less) controlling it, and the laptop talking to the basicX. Constant heartbeats between them, if the heartbeats stop, the roll actuators both go to full up position. (more or less dropping the boat off hydroplane).

Actually the entire system could easily be replaced by a single BasicX chip running fairly minimal code.

(I build UAV's as a hobby, I do lots of things like this in the basement... )


#1 reason why we don't see it, DRAFT.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Real hydrofoil

Over in Russia, those hydrofoils are being in use since 60s, on small 20' - 22' lifeguard's boats, and larger sea going commercial passenger vessels. Obviously neither laptop, nor desktop, or any other kinds of computers were controlling it. The vessels were used on rivers, lakes and seas. So rocks, stumps and drunks were not an issue.
http://www.hydrofoils.org

 

[grego]

Re: Real hydrofoil

Been doing some reading. seems that we, in the us, have too many boaters in the way. Seems it takes a lot of power to get onplane, just to slow down to avoid a hick like you or me that have never seen one or how to get out of the way. Mostly they say they can run in rough water, but only see them " on plane"in smooth river waters.