Wave energy conversion incorporating actuated geometry

A method comprising:

• harvesting wave energy using a wave energy conversion system that comprises:
• a body comprising an approximately planar frame having a front surface and at least one opening extending through the body, wherein the body is configured to:
• connect to a power take off device, and
• during operation, transfer the wave energy to the power take off device via movement of the body relative to the power take off device;
• and
• at least one fin disposed within the at least one opening and attached to the body, the at least one fin operable by a processor that is communicatively coupled to the at least one actuated geometry component to modify at least one of a size of the at least one opening or a shape of the at least one opening;
• receiving, by the processor, at least one environmental condition value;
• determining, by the processor, whether the at least one environmental condition value surpasses a threshold;
• and
• responsive to determining that the at least one environmental condition surpasses the threshold, operating, by the processor and based on the at least one environmental condition value, the at least one fin to modify the at least one of the size of the at least one opening or the shape of the at least one opening.

A device comprising:

• a body having:
• an approximately planar shape;
• an approximately rectangular front surface;
• and
• an approximately rectangular back surface that is substantially parallel to the front surface,
• wherein:
• the body comprises at least one opening that extends from the front surface, through the body, and to the back surface, and wherein the at least one opening is substantially horizontal,
• the body is configured to be connected at a bottom end to a power take off device, and
• during operation, the body is configured to transfer wave energy to the power take off device by rotating around a first axis extending in the horizontal direction, through the power take off device;
• at least one fin, disposed in the at least one opening, having a front surface and configured to rotate around a second axis extending in the horizontal direction, parallel to the front surface, wherein:
• the at least one fin obstructs a majority of the at least one opening when the at least one fin is in a first position, and
• the at least one fin does not obstruct a majority of the at least one opening when the at least one fin is in a second position;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the at least one fin, the processor configured to rotate the fin between at least the first position and the second position.