CN117222578A - Apparatus and method for wireless communication in a powered watercraft - Google Patents

Abstract

A hydrofoil vessel comprising: a hull; hydrofoils and motors connected to the hull through masts; a battery module positionable in the hull, the battery module comprising a battery and a first wireless communication device both in a battery housing; and a controller module that may be located in the hull. The controller module includes a controller and a second wireless communication device both located in the controller housing, wherein the battery module is configured to transmit battery status data using the first wireless communication device, and the second wireless communication device is configured to receive the battery status data and relay the data to the controller.

Description

Apparatus and method for wireless communication in a powered watercraft

Technical Field

The present application relates generally to hydrofoil vessels and, more particularly, to a vessel or hull having hydrofoils, electric motors and batteries.

Prior application

The present application claims priority from australian provisional application 2021900437 entitled "Apparatus and method for wireless communication in powered watercraft" filed on month 19 of 2021 and australian provisional application 2021900438 entitled "Apparatus and method for wireless communication with submerged controller" filed on month 19 of 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Background

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Recent developments in battery technology have begun to make electric watercraft more practical, which has been hampered by the high power requirements, size and weight of previous batteries. These vessels tend to be relatively small, for example, for use as a back-up on a small sailboat, or as the primary source of propulsion on a rigid inflatable boat, tender, or similar vessel. The propulsion system is typically in the form of an outboard motor connected to a battery located within the hull.

One particular form of watercraft that is becoming more and more popular is an electric hydrofoil surfboard formed by attaching hydrofoils and motors to the surfboard, with the batteries typically housed within the hull. These systems include a combination of electric motors and hydrofoils, where the hydrofoils lift the hull off the water under power from the motors, reduce drag and provide high speed travel over the water.

The hydrofoil and motor are positioned towards the lower end of the mast, while the upper end of the mast is bolted to the underside of the hull. One way to develop such a system is to use an existing hydrofoil surfboard and insert a motor into a portion of the mast.

Many of the components required for operation of the motor may be housed in the hull, such as a battery and/or control circuitry. These components must then be connected to the motor at the lower end of the mast by means of wires running along the inside of the mast.

The control of the motor may be achieved by a manual controller in wireless communication with a control circuit located in the hull. From a technical point of view, this may be relatively simple for the case where the hull is lifted above the water surface. However, communication problems may occur in the case of a partially submerged hull due to the attenuation of the wireless signal by the water. This may be common when the hull is first opened, or when the primary school user has not yet obtained sufficient hull speed relative to the hydrofoil.

The combination of water and electricity, as well as the large variations in temperature and heat generated by the electronic components, means that adequate sealing is difficult, but adequate sealing is very important in both conventional vessels and hydrofoil vessels. In addition to this complexity, it is often desirable that the watercraft be easily disassembled for transport or maintenance at regular intervals, yet have adequate sealing each time it is reassembled for use.

Disclosure of Invention

In one broad form of the invention, there is provided a hydrofoil vessel comprising: a hull; hydrofoils and motors connected to the hull through masts; a battery module positionable in the hull, the battery module comprising a battery and a first wireless communication device, both positioned in the battery housing; and a controller module positionable in the hull, the controller module including a controller and a second wireless communication device both positioned in the controller housing; wherein the battery module is configured to transmit battery status data using the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device is configured to receive the battery status data and relay the data to the controller.

In an embodiment, data may also be transmitted from the second wireless communication device to the first wireless communication device.

In an embodiment, the hydrofoil vessel further comprises an input device comprising a third wireless communication device configured to exchange data with the first wireless communication device and/or the second wireless communication device, wherein the hull comprises a housing having a transmission portion with a high permeability for wireless signals used by the third wireless communication device.

In one embodiment, the input device is a manual control.

In an embodiment, the third wireless communication device exchanges data with the second wireless communication device.

In an embodiment, the hull comprises carbon fibres at a location other than the transfer section.

In an embodiment, the transfer portion is located at least one of: near the front end of the hull; near the aft end of the hull; and a portion of the deck of the hull.

In an embodiment, the hull comprises a second transfer section, wherein the two transfer sections are located in substantially opposite positions of the hull.

In an embodiment, the transmitting portion has a high permeability for electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of 2.4 to 2.5GHz and/or for electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of 5 to 6 GHz.

In an embodiment, the size of the transfer portion is selected from the group consisting of: 5-6cm;4-7cm;6-10cm; <5cm; and >10cm.

In one embodiment, the data is transmitted using the Bluetooth protocol.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication devices are paired as needed before exchanging data.

In an embodiment, the controller module and the battery module are removable from the hull.

In one embodiment, the controller module is located in a watertight compartment.

In an embodiment, an air gap is positioned between the battery module and the controller module.

In an embodiment, the controller housing and the battery housing are each at least partially composed of a material having low electrical conductivity.

In an embodiment, the battery module and the controller module are linked by an electrical connection only for power transmission, all data communication being performed wirelessly.

In an embodiment, the controller module is fixed to the upper end of the mast and may be coupled to the hull by inserting at least a portion of the controller module into a socket of the hull.

In an embodiment, there is no electrical connection between the battery module and the hull, or between the controller module and the hull, such that the hull does not contain any electronic components.

In an embodiment, the core of the hull comprises at least one of: foaming; and a hollow portion.

It is to be understood that the broad forms of the invention and their respective features can be combined and/or used independently, and that reference to separate broad forms is not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, it should be understood that features of the method may be performed using the system or apparatus, and features of the system or apparatus may be implemented using the method.

Drawings

Various examples and embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ship according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the watercraft of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the watercraft with the controller module removed from the hull;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hydrofoil vessel of FIG. 1 partially submerged in water;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a manual controller for use as an input device to the watercraft of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for operating a watercraft; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an example processing system for a system for operating a watercraft.

Detailed Description

The following modes are presented by way of example only in order to provide a more accurate understanding of the subject matter of one or more preferred embodiments.

In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to identify like parts throughout the several views in order to illustrate features of the exemplary embodiments.

An example of a hydrofoil vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The watercraft is electrically powered and includes a hull, a hydrofoil and a motor connected to the hull by a mast, a battery module that can be located in the hull, and a controller module that can also be located in the hull. The battery module may include a housing and any necessary components for storing and supplying electrical power, such as a battery. The controller module may include a housing and any necessary components for operating the motor, such as a controller.

The battery module may further include a first wireless communication device located in the battery housing, and the controller may include a second wireless communication device located in the controller housing. This allows the battery module to transmit battery status data using the first wireless communication device, and the second wireless communication device can receive the battery status data and relay the data to the controller.

Throughout the specification, unless otherwise indicated, the term "hull" is broad and is intended to include any suitable form of floatation device. For example, the hull may be a rigid structure made of fiberglass, carbon fiber, or other similar materials. It may or may not include foam or other types of cores, for example similar to a surfboard. Alternatively, the hull may be softer, e.g. made mainly of rigid foam or the like. In yet another example, the hull may be inflatable or otherwise collapsible such that it may take a rigid or at least semi-rigid form during use, but may be deflated or otherwise packaged for transportation.

By allowing fewer, simpler and/or lighter components to be used, the watercraft is advantageous, potentially reducing cost and/or minimizing weight for better performance. For example, the hull may be made simpler, lighter, and/or cheaper than having to include data cables and various attachment points for the battery module and the controller module, as these components are not required.

The reduction in data cables and connections also helps ensure that all necessary components remain waterproof to reduce the chance of any failure and/or damage. That is, the wireless communication device contained within the housing may allow the modules to be removed and the watercraft packaged for transportation, but each module is independent and the data connections are reduced or removed. This can limit the necessary seals that may wear or cause problems over time if not properly assembled in a particular situation.

Some other example embodiments of the watercraft will now be described.

In different versions of the watercraft, data may be sent only from the battery module to the controller module. That is, the first communication device will be configured to simply propagate the data, while the second communication device listens to and receives the data and performs any necessary further processing, such as error detection, etc. If the data is not received correctly or not received at all, the controller may determine how to continue.

Preferably, however, the data may also be transmitted in reverse, i.e. in bi-directional communication. Wireless communication devices are typically devices capable of communicating using a short range wireless communication protocol such as bluetooth, bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or the like.

The battery module and the controller module may be paired prior to exchanging battery status data. In the event that one of the modules is removed and replaced, the pairing procedure may be automatically re-executed before exchanging data.

In other examples, it will be appreciated that one of a collection of other wireless communication protocols may alternatively be used. These may include, but are not limited to WiFi, loRa, zigBee, or any other radio frequency communication known in the art in the range of 433MHz to 5 GHz.

The battery status data transmitted from the battery module may be any desired information, such as battery identification information, charge level, temperature information, and/or fault indication. The controller may use battery status data received from the battery to trigger events such as limiting or conserving power when the charge level is low or overheating is detected, mitigating actions if there is a fault in the battery module, such as turning off the motor, and/or notifying the user via an output device of any of the above or other related information, etc. This may be done according to certain rules preprogrammed in the controller.

In one example embodiment, an input device having a third wireless communication device may be provided. The third wireless communication device may be configured to exchange data with the first wireless communication device and/or the second wireless communication device.

The hull may be provided with a housing having a transfer portion. The transfer portion may be made of a material that may be different from the material used in the rest of the hull, the material of the transfer portion being highly permeable to wireless signals used by the third wireless communication device.

Providing a transfer section is advantageous because it allows communication even if the hull is partially submerged. For example, the first and/or second wireless communication device may be located in the centre of the hull or towards the rear of the hull. If the user lies on the hull when stationary, in particular if they lie down towards the rear of the hull, the part of the hull containing the first and/or second wireless communication device may or even likely be submerged. However, if the transmitting portion is located on an unsubmerged portion of the hull, the wireless signal may pass through the hull and exit above the water surface, allowing the wireless signal to successfully reach the third wireless communication device.

The transmitting portion is also advantageous in that it allows the first and/or second wireless communication device to be located at any desired portion of the hull without requiring the receiver, antenna or similar component to be located at a particular location. This may reduce wiring in the hull, for example. Accordingly, the resulting ship may allow for fewer, simpler and/or lighter components to be used, potentially reducing cost and/or minimizing weight for better performance.

The reduction of connections and/or cables within the hull also helps to ensure that all necessary components remain watertight to reduce the chance of any failure and/or damage. For example, a first wireless communication device that is co-located with a battery may allow these devices to be contained as separate, single modules and reduce or eliminate data connections. Similarly, the same advantages may be achieved with the second wireless communication device being co-located with the controller and contained as a single module. This can limit the necessary seals that may wear or cause problems over time if not properly assembled in a particular situation.

In one example, the third wireless communication device is also capable of communicating using a short range wireless communication protocol such as bluetooth, bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or the like. The input device and the controller module and/or the battery module may perform a pairing procedure prior to exchanging data, but in other examples this may not be necessary.

In other examples, it will be appreciated that one of a collection of other wireless communication protocols may alternatively be used, similar to that previously discussed. These may include, but are not limited to WiFi, loRa, zigBee, or any other radio frequency communication known in the art in the range of 433MHz to 5 GHz.

In an embodiment, the input device may be in the form of a manual controller, for example as described in the earlier publication WO2019/183668 by the inventors. However, it should be understood that the input device may take various other forms as well.

In a preferred example, the input device exchanges data only with a second wireless communication device located in the controller module, which communicates with the battery module alone as needed.

In some examples of vessels, the hull of the hull may be composed primarily of carbon fiber at locations other than the transfer portion. While the carbon fiber may interfere with wireless communications, the transmitting portion ensures that the input device may still be in effective communication with the controller module and/or the battery module.

In this or other examples, the hull may have a foam core, a hollow core, or some combination of these materials and/or other materials in the core. Of course, reference to the "core" of the hull in this sense does not include the controller module, battery module, or other components that may be located within the hull.

In various example embodiments of the vessel, the transfer portion may be located near the forward end of the hull, near the aft end of the hull, on a portion of the deck of the hull, or any other location deemed suitable.

The hull may also have a second transfer portion or any number of transfer portions. The two transfer sections may also preferably be located at substantially opposite positions of the hull, such as front and rear, left and right edges, or deck and bottom surface. In this way, it is more likely that at least one of the plurality of transfer portions will remain above the water surface at all times, ensuring uninterrupted communication between the input device and the controller module and/or the battery module.

In some examples, the transmitting portion is preferably highly transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of 2.4 to 2.5GHz, as used for bluetooth and the like. Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting portion may be highly transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the 5 to 6GHz frequency range, or any other suitable range required for a particular form of wireless communication.

The dimensions of the transfer portion in the different examples may be selected to ensure that it is large enough for reliable wireless communication between the input device and the controller module and/or the battery module without causing any structural or other problems of the hull. For example, the dimension may be about 5-6cm, 4-7cm, 6-10cm, <5cm, >10cm, or any other size required by the particular vessel design.

In some examples of watercraft, the controller module may be removable from the hull. In these or other examples, the battery module may also be removable from the hull. For example, the ability to remove these components facilitates disassembly of the watercraft for transportation. By incorporating the various components within the housing, the modular form may make disassembly simpler and also reduce the risk of, for example, the watertight seal being damaged or failing. The ability to remove one or both modules is also advantageous for servicing ships or in case of failure and the need to replace certain parts.

In another example of a watercraft, the controller module may be located in a watertight compartment during use. That is, a proper seal is provided, for example, to ensure that water is unlikely to reach the controller module during use of the watercraft. In one particular example, there may be an air gap near the controller and/or between the battery module and the controller module that helps ensure minimal disruption of communication between the wireless communication devices. For example, the controller may be located inside the controller housing and the air gap may be located immediately outside or inside the housing. Whether or not an air gap is present, it is advantageous to prevent water from finding its path between two modules or around the controller module, as this avoids the risk that water could potentially cause interference with the wireless signal.

The controller housing may be constructed from a batch of suitable material, but preferably the housing is at least partially made from a material having low electrical conductivity. For example, the controller housing may be made of plastic or fiberglass. Similarly, the battery housing is preferably at least partially constructed of a low conductivity material.

For each of the controller housing and the battery housing, a related consideration is to ensure that the housing does not interfere with wireless communications when selecting the materials of construction. It is therefore important to ensure that neither housing forms a faraday cage, ensuring that any conductive material is not located between the wireless communication devices. For example, in many cases, it may be desirable to use carbon fibers for the housing, but care must be taken to ensure that the carbon fibers are not located in a location or in a form that may interfere with wireless communications.

In some examples of watercraft, the battery module and the controller module may be linked by an electrical connection for transmitting power only. However, all data communication may still be performed wirelessly. Such electrical connection may be in the form of a single cable or a plurality of cables, but in either case the reduction in physical connections allowed for wireless data transfer is still advantageous.

In one particular example, the watercraft may be in the form of an electric hydrofoil hull. That is, the vessel may also include a hydrofoil coupled to the hull via a mast. The motor may also be connected to the mast adjacent the hydrofoil, or the hydrofoil and motor may be connected to each other such that the hydrofoil is in fact connected to the mast by the motor.

If the hydrofoil comprises one or more components for providing lift and necessary components for providing propulsion, the hydrofoil and the connected components may in fact take a number of forms. For example, the hydrofoil module can have an integrated motor and wing of earlier design similar to the inventors described in publication number WO 2019/104378. In this way, the wing is not directly connected to the mast, but rather to the motor housing, which in turn is connected to the mast. Alternatively, the hydrofoil module can take a different form, for example some other known design, in which the mast has a wing mounted in one position and a motor mounted in a separate position.

The controller module may in fact be fixed to the upper end of the mast such that removal of the controller module in turn results in removal of the mast, motor and hydrofoil from the hull. For example, the controller module may be coupled to the hull by inserting at least a portion of the controller module at the upper end of the mast into a socket in the hull, similar to that described in the earlier designs of the present inventors publication No. WO 2019/104379. This may allow for very quick and simple assembly and disassembly while having sufficient strength to withstand the high forces to which such a connection is subjected during use. This connection also allows a seal to be incorporated relatively easily to ensure that the electrical connection is not exposed to water.

In another example of a watercraft, the controller module is further configured to wirelessly exchange information with the manual controller. This may be accomplished using the same communication device as is used to communicate with the battery module, or alternatively, additional devices may be provided for communicating with the manual controller.

The manual controller may be used as a user input device for the watercraft, for example by means of buttons or triggers receiving input and sending a signal to the controller to select the level of thrust produced by the motor. The manual controller may also send information from the controller for display to a user, such as the battery's charge level, temperature, speed, and any other relevant parameters.

In some examples of the watercraft, there may be no electrical connection between the battery module and the hull, and/or there may be no electrical connection between the controller module and the hull. That is, instead of the battery module being connected to the wiring in the hull, the wiring is in turn connected to the controller module, but the battery module and the controller module may be directly connected to each other. Furthermore, one or both of the battery module and/or the controller module may not have any other electrical connections, e.g. no separate wiring for the data connection of the display or for charging the battery is included.

In one particular example of a watercraft, all of the electronic components may be located in the controller module and associated components, battery modules, and/or manual controllers. That is, once the battery module and the controller module are removed, the hull itself may not contain any electronic components. Such a system makes the hull as inexpensive, simple and lightweight as possible.

An example embodiment of the ship 100 will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1, vessel 100 has a hull 110 with a deck 111, deck 111 being adapted for a user to lie or stand on in use. A mast 114 extends from the lower surface of hull 110, and a motor 115 with a propeller 116 is connected to the lower end of mast 114. The main hydrofoil 118 and the tail 119 are each connected to the main body of the motor 115.

Referring now to fig. 2, the watercraft 100 has a battery module 120, the battery module 120 having a battery and a first wireless communication device 121 located in a battery housing 122. The controller module 125 has a controller and a second wireless communication device 126 located in a controller housing 127. The battery module 120 and the controller module 125 are connected to each other by positive and negative cables 129.

The battery module 120 is configured to transmit battery status data using the first wireless communication device 121 and the second wireless communication device 126 is configured to receive the battery status data and relay the data to the controller.

This exchange of wireless information is schematically illustrated by dashed line 130, but is actually implemented using a short range wireless communication protocol such as bluetooth, bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), etc. In this way, the battery module 120 and the controller module 125 are linked through electrical connection only for power transmission, and all data communication is performed wirelessly.

The wireless communication device 126 of the controller module is also configured to communicate with a manual controller (not shown). The manual controller is operated by the user and is an input device for controlling motor speed and relaying data (e.g., diagnostic and performance information) to the user. The communication is also performed using the same short range wireless communication protocol as the communication of the battery module 120.

By providing a direct electrical connection between battery module 120 and controller module 125, the use of wireless data transfer means that hull 110 does not require any electronic components at all. In this way, the manufacture of the hull can be greatly simplified and the cost of the hull significantly reduced. The reduced complexity may also reduce the risk of failure, such as may be caused by water seal failure.

Referring to fig. 3, controller module 125 is shown removed from hull 110. In this embodiment, the controller module 125 is fixed to the upper end of the mast 114 and can be plugged into a socket 130 of the hull 110. Wiring extends along the interior of the mast 114 to connect the controls inside the housing 127 to the motors 115 at opposite ends of the mast 114.

Flange 132 is configured to mate with a slot 133 in hull 110 and be secured in place using fasteners (not shown). The flange 132 forms a watertight seal with the slot 133 to ensure that no water can enter the space between the housing 127 and the receptacle 130, maintaining a small air gap therebetween. Mast 114 and flange 132 are constructed of aluminum while the remainder of housing 127 is constructed of plastic.

Once the controller module 125 is plugged into the receptacle 130, the electrical connection provides power from the battery module 120. In the embodiment of fig. 3, the electrical connection includes two pins on the controller module 125 that are received in corresponding holes 134 in the socket 130. These two conductive paths allow for power transfer. However, alternative embodiments such as that shown in fig. 2 use leads or cables for such electrical connections. In some cases, leads or cables may actually be preferred, as this may allow the battery to be directly connected to the controller 125 without any wiring or other electronics in the hull 110.

Referring to fig. 4, battery module 120 is shown removed from hull 110. The housing 122 includes a planar surface 136 secured to a protective surround 137 by fasteners 138. The planar surface 136 is made of aluminum and the protective surround 137 is made of plastic. The electrical connector 140 is used to provide power from the battery module 120 to the controller module 125.

The controller located in the controller module 125 includes the relevant components that allow the watercraft 100 to operate, including a microprocessor, memory, input/output devices in the form of one or more wireless communication devices that exchange instructions with the manual controller and the battery module, and logic level motor controllers, interconnected by buses. These components work together to allow the controller to perform tasks including battery management, motor operation, and data output for display to a user.

The nature of the controller, particularly the physical dimensions of the device, and the components used, may vary depending on the preferred embodiment. For example, the microprocessor and communication device may be formed of custom integrated circuits, such as a Bluetooth system on a chip (SOC) coupled to or including an integrated antenna and other optional components, such as a memory.

Referring now to fig. 6, an input device in the form of a manual controller 6 suitable for use with the watercraft 100 is shown. The manual controller 6 has a handle 7 allowing the manual controller 6 to be gripped by a user. The handle 7 may have a tether (not shown) for placement around the user's wrist to tether the manual controller 6 to the user's wrist when the user loses grip on the handle 7.

The handle 7 is in the form of a pistol grip with an actuator in the form of a trigger 9, the trigger 9 being accessible to the fingers of a user holding the handle 7. The trigger 9 may be used as an accelerator or throttle, whereby a variable power/speed level may be indicated by partially pressing the trigger 9. The manual control 6 also has an actuator in the form of a button 10 which can be pressed by the thumb of the user grasping the handle 7.

The manual controller 6 has a display screen 11 near the top of the button 10 so that a user grasping the handle 7 can easily browse the screen 11. The screen 11 may display certain outputs such as the speed of the hull, distance travelled, remaining battery life, remaining driving time, etc. For example, these metrics may be accessed through multiple display layouts to which the user may scroll using their thumb and mode button 10.

The manual controller 6 is small enough to allow one-handed operation. That is, the user may operate the trigger 9 by pressing one or more buttons 10 while grasping the handle 7. In fact, the controller 6 is small enough that most drivers can stand up using their palms to press against the hull without the controller 6 touching the hull.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the manual controller 6 is waterproof and uses a hall effect sensor for the throttle valve, allowing the trigger 9 to be movable while maintaining the waterproof characteristics of the main housing of the manual controller 6. However, it should be understood that alternative forms of sensors may be used in alternative embodiments. Furthermore, the controller 6 comprises a molded foam insert which ensures that the controller 6 floats in water in case of a drop.

The manual controller 6 preferably further comprises a buzzer and/or a vibrator. A buzzer and/or vibrator may be used to alert the driver to pop up a warning on the display screen 11 while driving. These warnings may indicate such a condition: a half hull cell (half board battery); a low hull cell (low board battery); an empty battery; a low controller battery; high temperature; high current; and a new maximum speed.

Referring now to fig. 5, a watercraft 100 is shown with a manual control 6. Hull 110 has an internal battery module 120 as previously described, battery module 120 not being visible in the figures, but accessible through a panel 132 forming part of deck 111. Once panel 132 is first removed, battery module 120 may be removed from hull 110, which may facilitate charging the battery, for example. Controller module 125 is also located in hull 110, although not actually visible, but this location is identified in the figure.

The controller module 125 including the second wireless communication device 126 may wirelessly exchange data with a third wireless communication device located in the manual controller 6. This exchange of wireless information is schematically illustrated by dashed line 130, but is actually implemented using a short range wireless communication protocol such as bluetooth, bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), etc.

In this way, the manual controller 6 and the controller 125 are linked only by data communication performed wirelessly. Before using the vessel 100, the manual controller 6 and the controller 125 first perform a pairing procedure and then communicate for operation of the vessel 100 as described herein.

Hull 110 has a housing 135 that includes a transfer portion 136. The transmitting portion 136 has high permeability to wireless signals used by the wireless communication device. That is, the transmitting portion 136 has high permeability to electromagnetic radiation at least in the frequency range of 2.4 to 2.5 GHz.

The outer shell 135 is mainly composed of carbon fibers, the transfer portion being in fact a hole in the carbon fiber shell covered by plastic. Accordingly, in practice, the housing 135 is continuous in this area and the transfer portion 136 is not noticeable or generally noticeable to the user at all. The width of the plastic part is about 5-6cm, but it will be appreciated that the dimensions can be adjusted if desired.

The core of hull 110 is filled with light foam in areas not required by other components such as battery module 120 and controller module 125. Since the wireless signal can effectively pass through the foam and plastic of the transmission portion 136, the connection 130 between the controller 125 and the manual controller 6 is still possible even if the controller 125 is largely surrounded by the carbon fiber of the housing 135.

Fig. 5 also shows water surface 140, wherein a majority of hull 110, including the portion containing controller module 125, is located below water surface 140. Despite this positioning of hull 110 and the fact that the wireless signal does not pass well through the water, the positioning of transfer section 136 near the front of hull 110 and above water surface 140 means that connectivity to manual controller 6 is maintained.

Referring to fig. 7, an example system 200 for operating a hydrofoil hull such as the watercraft 100 is shown. In an embodiment, the system 200 may be used to perform the described methods. As shown, the system 200 includes a manual controller 210 in communication with a receiver 220, which receiver 220 in turn communicates with a propulsion control unit 230. As described in the previous embodiments, both the receiver 220 and the propulsion control unit 230 may form part of the controller module 125.

The manual controller 210 may be a portable, user-operated controller that may allow a user to communicate with the propulsion control unit 230 via the receiver 220 and remotely operate and/or control the propulsion control unit 230. In some examples, the manual controller 210 has a housing that includes a user interface for user input commands. The user interface may include one or more buttons, such as an "plus" button, a "minus" button, and a "mode/menu" button.

The housing may also include a display screen to display settings of the system 200 to a user. The display screen may comprise an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display screen, or a Passive Matrix OLED (PMOLED) display screen, or any other type of electronic display screen. In other examples, the housing may include a touch display that may provide a user interface and display information to a user. Preferably, although not necessarily, the housing of the manual controller 210 is waterproof.

The manual controller 210 may also include one or more motion sensors for sensing motion and/or orientation of the manual controller 210. The one or more motion sensors may include inertial measurement units, accelerometers, gyroscopes, or any other motion sensor. In some examples, the motion sensor is a six-axis motion sensor including a three-axis gyroscope and a three-axis accelerometer.

The manual controller 210 may also include a communication unit for communicating with the receiver 220. Preferably, although not necessarily, the communication unit is a wireless communication unit, such as a bluetooth module, configured to wirelessly communicate with the receiver 220. The manual controller 210 may also include an antenna to facilitate wireless communication between the wireless communication unit and the receiver 220.

The processing system may also optionally facilitate user input of certain parameters to affect the performance of the hull, such as the user weight and acceleration/power curves described above. In an embodiment, the processing system may take the form of an example processing system 300 as shown in FIG. 8 and described in more detail below.

The manual controller 210 may also include a processing system configured to receive user input commands from a user interface, to receive motion and/or orientation data from one or more motion sensors, to operate a display screen to display settings of the system 200, and to send data and/or command signals to the propulsion control unit 230 via the receiver 220.

Preferably, although not necessarily, the manual controller 210 is battery powered. The manual controller 210 also includes a battery, such as a lithium polymer battery. Preferably, although not necessarily, the battery is a rechargeable battery. The manual controller 210 also includes charging circuitry, such as a USB port and USB charging circuitry, for charging the battery. The battery may be used to power at least the processing system and display screen of the manual controller 210. The manual controller 210 may also include one or more power converters to regulate or adjust battery output power for powering the processing system, the display screen, and any other devices of the manual controller 210.

The manual controller 210 may also include an ignition circuit to turn the processing system on or off. The ignition circuit may include a magnetic sensor (e.g., a hall effect sensor) within the housing, and one or more magnets mounted to the exterior of the housing to activate and/or deactivate the manual controller 210.

In some examples, the receiver 220 may be configured to be embedded within a module with the propulsion control unit 230. The receiver 220 may include a housing. Preferably, although not necessarily, the housing is waterproof.

The receiver 220 may include a communication unit for communicating with the manual controller 210. Preferably, although not necessarily, the communication unit may be a wireless communication unit, such as a bluetooth module, configured to wirelessly communicate with the manual controller 210.

The receiver 220 may also include an ignition circuit to turn the processing system on or off. The ignition circuit may include a magnetic sensor, such as a hall effect sensor, within the housing.

The receiver 220 may also include a processing system configured to receive user input commands from a user interface. The processing system may take the form of an example processing system 100.

The receiver 220 may also include a connector to enable a wired connection with the propulsion control unit 230. In some examples, the processing system may be further configured to send data to propulsion control unit 230 via the connector. In some examples, propulsion control unit 230 is configured to provide a power signal to receiver 220 through a connector.

The receiver 220 may be located in the core of the hull. When a user positions themselves on the hull, the nose of the hull may be more likely to remain above the water surface, and thus it is desirable that the transfer be possible even though the receiver 220 is underwater. This may be accomplished by a wireless signal passing through the hull, even if the receiver 220 is below the water surface.

This arrangement may allow transfer between the receiver 220 and the manual controller 210 to still occur without the need to remotely connect the receiver 220 to the propulsion control unit 230.

Even in a resting position, users lying on the hull in a prone position typically orient themselves towards the rear of the hull, which may cause the front of the hull to be raised above the water surface so that placement of the delivery portion in the nose of the hull may provide a more reliable control link when initially powering the propulsion source.

While other systems can check the signal strength and close the controller connection if the signal is not strong enough, it is generally not necessary in the present system because the digital signal is used with built-in error checking.

The propulsion control unit 230 may be configured to be housed within the hydrofoil hull and coupled to a propulsion source. For example, the propulsion control unit may be drivingly coupled to a propeller of the hydrofoil hull. Preferably, although not necessarily, the propulsion control unit 230 is installed within the core of the hull.

The propulsion control unit 230 may include a motor controller operatively connected to a motor for driving the propeller. The motor may be a three-phase brushless DC motor.

Propulsion control unit 230 may also include a processing system configured to receive a first user input from manual controller 210 selecting one of a plurality of operational presets of propulsion control unit 230. The processing system may be further configured to operate the motor via the motor controller in accordance with the selected operation preset.

The user may select the operation preset through a user interface of the manual controller 210. The operational presets may correspond to different operational styles of the hull.

Propulsion control unit 230 may also include a battery module including a battery and a battery management system for powering the processing system, motor controller, and any other devices of propulsion control unit 230. Propulsion control unit 230 may further include one or more power converters to regulate or adjust the power signal from the battery module.

The propulsion control unit 230 is connected to the receiver 220 by a wire or cable connected to a connector of the receiver 220. The battery module of propulsion control unit 230 may also be configured to supply power to receiver 220 via wires or cables.

In an embodiment, propulsion control unit 230 and/or receiver 220 may communicate with manual controller 210, for example, to display information extracted from system 200 on a screen of the manual controller. For example, the battery management system of propulsion control unit 230 may communicate to provide output such as remaining battery life and dynamic range information on the screen of manual controller 210.

Particular embodiments of the invention may be implemented using one or more processing systems, an example of which is shown in FIG. 8. In particular, processing system 300 generally includes at least one processor 302 or processing unit or units, a memory 304, at least one input device 306, and at least one output device 308, all coupled together via a bus or group of buses 310. In some embodiments, the input device 306 and the output device 308 may be the same device.

An interface 312 may also be provided for coupling the processing system 300 to one or more peripheral devices. At least one storage device 314 housing at least one database 316 may also be provided. Memory 304 may be any form of storage device, such as volatile or non-volatile memory, solid state storage devices, magnetic devices, and the like. Processor 302 may include a number of different processing devices, such as for processing different functions within processing system 300.

Input device 306 receives input data 318. The input data 318 may come from a different source, such as a manual controller or a mobile phone application used in conjunction with data received via a network. Output device 308 generates or generates output data 320 and may include, for example, a display device or a data transmitter. Storage 314 may be any form of data or information storage device such as volatile or nonvolatile memory, solid state storage, magnetic devices, and the like.

In use, the processing system 300 is adapted to allow data or information to be stored in the at least one database 316 and/or retrieved from the at least one database 316 via wired or wireless communication means. The interface 312 may allow wired and/or wireless communication between the processing unit 302 and peripheral components that may serve a particular purpose.

The processor 302 receives instructions as input data 318 via the input device 306 and may display the results of the processing or other output to a user using the output device 308. A plurality of input devices 306 and/or output devices 308 may be provided.

In the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "front" and "rear", "inner" and "outer", "upper" and "lower" are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and should not be construed as limiting terms

Throughout the specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. As used herein, the term "about" refers to 20% unless otherwise indicated.

Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinbefore described.

Claims (20)

1. A hydrofoil vessel comprising:

a) A hull;

b) Hydrofoils and motors connected to the hull by masts;

c) A battery module positionable in the hull, the battery module comprising a battery and a first wireless communication device, both the battery and the first wireless communication device being positioned in a battery housing; and

d) A controller module positionable in the hull, the controller module comprising a controller and a second wireless communication device, both the controller and the second wireless communication device being positioned in a controller housing;

Wherein the battery module is configured to transmit battery status data using the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device is configured to receive battery status data and relay the data to the controller.

2. The hydrofoil vessel of claim 1, wherein the data is also transmittable from the second wireless communication device to the first wireless communication device.

3. The hydrofoil vessel of claim 1 or 2, further comprising an input device comprising a third wireless communication device configured to exchange data with the first wireless communication device and/or the second wireless communication device, wherein the hull comprises a housing having a transmitting portion that is highly transparent to wireless signals used by the third wireless communication device.

4. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 3, wherein the input device is a manual control.

5. The hydrofoil vessel of claim 3 or 4 in which the third wireless communication device exchanges data with the second wireless communication device.

6. The hydrofoil vessel of any of claims 3 to 5 in which the hull skin comprises carbon fibres in a location other than the transfer section.

7. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the transfer section is located at one of the following:

a) Near the front end of the hull;

b) Near the aft end of the hull; and

c) On a portion of the deck of the hull.

8. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the hull comprises a second transfer section, wherein the two transfer sections are located in substantially opposite positions of the hull.

9. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the transmission section is highly transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of 2.4 to 2.5GHz and/or electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of 5 to 6 GHz.

10. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the size of the transfer section is selected from the group:

a)5-6cm；

b)4-7cm；

c)6-10cm；

d) <5cm and

e)>10cm。

11. hydrofoil vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the data is transferred using the bluetooth protocol.

12. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication devices are paired as required before exchanging data.

13. The hydrofoil vessel of any preceding claim in which the controller module and the battery module are removable from the hull.

14. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller module is in a watertight compartment.

15. The hydrofoil vessel of any preceding claim in which an air gap is located between the battery module and the controller module.

16. The hydrofoil vessel of any preceding claim in which the controller housing and the battery housing are each at least partially constructed of a low conductivity material.

17. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery module and the controller module are linked by an electrical connection only for transmitting electrical power, all data communication being performed wirelessly.

18. A hydrofoil vessel in accordance with any preceding claim in which the controller module is secured to the upper end of the mast and is coupleable to the hull by insertion of at least a portion of the controller module into a socket of the hull.

19. The hydrofoil vessel of any of the preceding claims in which there is no electrical connection between the battery module and the hull or between the controller module and the hull, such that the hull does not contain any electronic components.

20. Hydrofoil vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the core of the hull comprises at least one of the following:

a) Foaming; and

b) A hollow portion.