Back to results
US 12,168,497 B1Granted
Powered hydrofoil board with spaced control flap
AssigneeSnap Inc.
InventorSimon Nielsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeSnap Inc.
InventorSimon Nielsen
Estimating the term…
A hydrofoil board having a hydrofoil and individually controllable flaps configured to be controlled to stabilize the board in a level position even when incurring waves. The flaps are spaced from the hydrofoil to generate a gap, and direct fluid flowing under the hydrofoil through the gap, and over the flaps. The flaps control the pitch and direction of the hydrofoil board when propelled in motion. A processor uses an internal measurement unit (IMU) to obtain orientation and acceleration information of the hydrofoil board. A global positioning system (GPS) unit is also used as an additional speed and location sensor. The processor combines IMU data with a user/rider's input, such as selected speed and direction via handheld wireless controller, and individually controls the flap motors to position the flaps, and the propulsion motor to set speed. In one example, the controller is configured to bring the hydrofoil board to a complete and stabile stop.
A hydrofoil board, comprising:
A method of operating a hydrofoil board including a floatable board having a top surface configured to support a user, a strut extending from the floatable board, a propulsion system coupled to the strut and configured to propel the floatable board in a direction, a hydrofoil coupled to the strut and configured to stabilize the floatable board when in motion, a controller, and a flap coupled to the hydrofoil and configured to be controlled by the controller to control the floatable board when in motion, wherein the flap is spaced from the hydrofoil to provide a gap, and is configured to direct a fluid flowing under the hydrofoil over flap, comprising:
A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable code that when executed by a controller of a hydrofoil board including a floatable board having a top surface configured to support a user, a strut extending from the floatable board, a propulsion system coupled to the strut and configured to propel the floatable board in a direction, a hydrofoil coupled to the strut and configured to stabilize the floatable board when in motion, and a flap coupled to the hydrofoil and configured to be controlled by the controller to control the floatable board when in motion, wherein the flap is spaced from the hydrofoil to generate a gap, and is configured to direct a fluid flowing under the hydrofoil through the gap, and over the flap when in motion, operable to:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.