EP3945015A1

EP3945015A1 - Maritime drone

Info

Publication number: EP3945015A1
Application number: EP21188014.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Tiberio; Stefano Malagodi
Original assignee: Innovo Engineering and Construction Ltd
Current assignee: Innovo Engineering and Construction Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-29
Filing date: 2021-07-27
Publication date: 2022-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2041-07-27
Also published as: US20230294808A1; EP3945015B1; WO2022023971A1

Abstract

Maritime drone (1) comprising a hull (2) provided with an upper face (3) and a lower face (4), a centerboard (5) extending projecting from the lower face (4) of the hull (2) in order to give sailing/navigation stability to the maritime drone (1) and at least one wing sail (6). The wing sail (6) comprises a mast (7) connected to the hull (2) and a wing profile (8) connected to the mast (7) and it is suitable to intercept the wind in order to move the maritime drone (1). The centerboard (5) internally defines a containment volume (9) for the wing sail (6), which is movable between an operative position, in which it extends at least partially above the upper face (3) of the hull (2), and an inoperative position, in which it is at least partially housed in the containment volume (9) of the centerboard (5).

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a maritime drone, according to the preamble of independent main claim 1.
The maritime drone in question is particularly applicable in the field of the production of automated vessels, that is vessels capable of sailing/navigating entirely independently, in particular by remote control, which are therefore without human crew on board.
In greater detail, the maritime drone in question is particularly applicable in the field of the manufacturing of automated vessels provided with an at least partially wind-assisted propulsion, that is a propulsion which exploits the thrust exerted by the wind on a sail of the vessel.

State of the prior art

In the field of manufacturing automated vessels, manufacturing maritime drones provided with a hull and a wing sail extending projecting from the aforementioned hull, which allows the drone to sail/navigate exploiting the thrust exerted by the wind in order to increase the independence and reduce consumption, whether they are due to sources of electric energy or to sources of fuel, is known.
Such drones are used in many fields of the prior art, such as for example in the field of scientific research, given that they are provided with several sensors suitable to measure parameters indicating the quality of water, to measure variations in the thermal content of certain marine currents, to monitor the health or the degree of activity of marine fauna and vegetation or the like, in the field of security, since it is capable of detecting the presence of foreign military vessels or submarines, or the presence of vessels not reported to appropriate port control bodies, and thus, possibly involved in illegal activities, and in the offshore industry, as they can communicate with submerged drones and transmit information received regarding the wholeness of pipelines, platforms, and oilfield sites.
Drones of the known type currently available on the market and of the type briefly described so far revealed several drawbacks.
The main drawback lies in the fact that, in case of strong wind and harsh weather conditions, the maritime drone could tip over due to the thrust exerted by the wind on the wing sail, or, the wing sail itself, which is generally made of composite material with glass or carbon fiber embedded in a plastic matrix or with a sandwich structure alternating with expanded plastic material layers, could be damaged or even broken by the wind, thus rendering the drone no longer usable.
In order to at least partially overcome the problems of the prior art briefly described above, US patent 10,399,651 discloses a maritime drone provided with wing sail which can be driven to rotate around an axis transverse to the main extension direction of the hull between an operative position, in which the aforementioned sail rises above the hull to intercept the wind and it is rotatable with respect to the hull around a vertical rotation axis to vary the angle of incidence between the wing profile thereof and the direction of the wind, and an inoperative position, in which the aforementioned sail is partially inserted into a containment volume extending along the rear portion of the hull so as not to be exposed to the wind.
In greater detail, the aforementioned wing sail can be driven in rotation between the operative position and the inoperative position by movement means, which are designed to move, together with the wing sail, a centerboard mechanically connected to the hull, so that, when the wing sail is in the operative position, the centerboard extends below the hull, conferring sailing/navigation stability to the maritime drone, and, when the wing sail is in an inoperative position, the centerboard is collected just below the hull, increasing the hydrodynamics of the maritime drone and allowing it to be submerged beneath the sea surface in case of harsh weather conditions that could damage the wing sail or the drone as a whole.
The maritime drone provided with wing sail retractable into the containment volume obtained along the hull briefly described so far also revealed several drawbacks.
The main drawback lies in the fact that such housing volume obtained along the hull does not allow to optimally use the space inside the hull so as to install the electronics and components of the maritime drone therein. As a matter of fat, the provision of the aforementioned housing volume entails an increase in the dimensions of the hull, given that besides the containment volume for the wing sail, the latter must in any case have sufficient space therein to house an electronic control unit, a data transmission module for exchanging information with a base station, a GPS module for tracking the position of the drone, a plurality of sensors for carrying out various monitoring operations, propeller drive means which can be used should the thrust of the wind on the sail not be sufficient to sail/navigate the drone at the desired speed or should the wing sail be retracted due to harsh weather conditions, the means for moving the wing sail, an electric battery for power-supplying the components listed so far and the like.
A further drawback lies in the fact that the movement means which drive the wing sail to rotate between the operative position and the inoperative position are extremely complex, given that they are provided to move, together with the wing sail, also the centerboard of the maritime drone, in order to allow it to be submerged below the surface of the water.
US patent US 10,526,048 discloses a maritime drone provided with wing sail which can be driven using lever movement means to rotate around an axis transverse to the main extension direction of the hull between an operative position, in which the aforementioned sail rises above the hull to intercept the wind and it is rotatable with respect to the hull around a vertical rotation axis to vary the angle of incidence between the wing profile thereof and the direction of the wind, and an inoperative position, in which the aforementioned sail is placed lying on the rear part of the hull substantially parallel to the water surface, so as not to be exposed to the wing should it be sufficiently strong to break it.
This maritime drone revealed several drawbacks too.
Like in the solution described above, the main drawback of the drone described in US patent 10,526,048 lies in the fact that the wing sail lying on the hull is cumbersome and it does not allow to install mechanical or electronic components suitable to carry out particular operations on the upper face of the hull.
A further drawback lies in the fact that the wing sail can be moved only between an operative position, in which it is completely extended to intercept the wind, and an inoperative position, in which it lies on the hull so as not to be exposed to the wind, without provided for the possibility of arranging only a part of the wing sail to intercept the wind.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, in this situation the problem underlying the present invention is to eliminate the problems of the aforementioned prior art, by providing a maritime drone, which is provided with a wing sail which is movable between an operative position spread out to the wind and an inoperative position in which it does not intercept the wind and it is obtained substantially without limiting the usable space on the hull.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritime drone, which is provided with a wing sail that can be exposed to the wind even only partially, so that such wing sail can provide a thrust to the maritime drone even in case of particularly strong wind to require less wing sail.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritime drone, which is provided with a wing sail that can be easily moved between the operative and non-operative position, in particular using movement means which are less complex with respect to those of maritime drones of the prior art.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritime drone which is operatively entirely efficient and reliable.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritime drone, which is simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforementioned objects, are clearly observable from the content of the claims outlined below and the advantages thereof will be more apparent from the detailed description that follows, provided with reference to the attached drawings, which represent some embodiments thereof provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a maritime drone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is provided with two wing sails shown in the operative position;
figure 2 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of figure 1 with the wing sails shown in the inoperative position;
figure 3 shows a perspective view of a maritime drone according to a second embodiment, which is provided with a wing sail shown in the operative position and having an upper module and a lower module which can be driven to rotate independently of each other;
figure 4 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of figure 3 with the wing sail shown in operative position and the upper and lower modules having different orientation;
figure 5 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of figure 3 with the wing sail shown in the intermediate position;
figure 6 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of figure 3 with the wing sail shown in the inoperative position;
figure 7 shows a perspective view of a maritime drone according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which is provided with a wing sail shown in the operative position and having an upper module and a lower module, of which the upper module is retractable in the lower module in a telescopic manner;
figure 8 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of figure 7 with the wing sail in the intermediate position;
figure 9 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of figure 7 with the wing sail in the intermediate position, in which the lower module is aligned with a passage opening formed on the upper face of the hull;
figure 10 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of figure 7 with the wing sail in the inoperative position;
figure 11 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present invention relating to a first embodiment with first and second means for moving the wing sail, illustrated according to a schematic side view;
figure 12 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present invention relating to a second embodiment with first and second means for moving the wing sail, illustrated according to a lateral schematic view;
figure 13 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present invention relating to a third embodiment with first and second means for moving the wing sail, illustrated according to a schematic side view;
figure 14 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present invention relating to a fourth embodiment with third movement means between the upper module and the lower module of the wing profile, illustrated according to a lateral schematic view;
figure 15 shows a detail of a fifth embodiment of maritime drone subject of the present invention, relating to a variant of the second embodiment with third movement means between the upper module and the lower module of the wing profile, ed illustrated according to a lateral schematic view;
figure 16 shows a detail of a sixth embodiment of the maritime drone subject of the present invention, relating to a variant of third embodiment with third movement means between the upper module and the lower module of the wing profile, and illustrated according to a lateral schematic view.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the attached figures, a maritime drone according to the present invention was indicated in its entirety with 1.
The maritime drone 1, in question, is particularly used in the offshore industry and oil production, as it can be used, for example as a follower of submerged drones for transmitting signals in checks on the structural soundness of pipelines, oil platforms and offshore yards. As a matter of fact, such maritime drone 1 (of the surface type) can be used as a repeater between a remote-controlled submarine drone configured to monitor the soundness of a pipeline for oil transport or to scan the seabed, and a base station positioned on the dry land or on a mother vessel. In particular, the maritime drone 1 subject of the present invention can follow the remote-controlled submarine drone during its deep navigation to improve data communication between the latter and the base station, the communication which would otherwise be weak or even insufficient.
By way of example, further sectors in which the aforesaid maritime drone 1 is used is that of scientific research, given that the maritime drone 1 in question may be provided with a plurality of sensors suitable for detecting parameters indicating the quality of sea water, detecting the presence of pollutants, assessing the degree of activity and health of marine fauna and vegetation, detecting changes in the thermal content of certain marine currents or the like, or in the field of security, this drone is suitable for detecting the presence of military ships and submarines of a foreign country or vessels not reported to appropriate port control bodies and, therefore, possibly suspected of being involved in illegal activities, such as illegal fishing, smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and the like.
The maritime 1, according to the invention, comprises a hull 2 provided with an upper face 3 and with a lower face 4, which can be made of any material known in the field of nautical and maritime drones.
Preferably, the hull 2 of the maritime drone 1 extends along a first (longitudinal) extension direction X between a stern end 17 and a bow end 18 for a length substantially advantageously comprised between 2 and 4 meters.
Otherwise, the hull 2 may have larger dimensions with a length along such first (substantially horizontal) extension direction X advantageously comprised, for example, between 8 and 12 meters.
Furthermore, the maritime drone 1 in question is provided with a centerboard 5 projecting from the lower face 4 of the hull 2 in order to give sailing/navigating stability to the maritime drone 1 and with at least one wing sail 6, which comprises a mast 7 mechanically connected to the hull 2 and a wing profile 8 connected to the mast 7 and suitable to intercept the wind to move the maritime drone 1.
Although the wing sail 6 will preferably comprise a mast 7 and a wing profile 8 obtained as two separate elements connected together, such wing sail 6 could also be made of a single body and in such case the mast should be considered as being perforated by the portion surrounding the rotation axis and extending toward the leech, being tapered.
Preferably, the wing profile 8 extends height-wise between an upper end (halyard angle) and an opposite lower end (tack angle) along a second vertical extension direction Y substantially perpendicular to the first extension direction X of the hull 2 and parallel to the mast 7. According to the idea underlying the present invention, the centerboard 5 is hollow and it entirely defines at least one containment volume 9.
Furthermore, the wing sail 6, still according to the idea underlying the present invention, is moveable between an operative position A, in which it extends at least partially above the upper face 3 of the hull 2 to in order to expose at least part of the wing sail 6 to the wind, and inoperative position B, in which it is at least partially housed in the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 in order to retract at least part of the wing sail 6 from the wind.
In particular, providing the wing sail 6 which can be moved between the operative position and the inoperative position, in which it is housed in the containment volume 9 obtained inside the centerboard 5 and not directly along the hull 2, keeps the upper surface of the hull 2 free and reduces to the minimum the encumbrance inside the hull, which can be best used to install various components of the maritime drone 1, such as for example an electronic control unit, an electric battery, a plurality of sensors for carrying out various monitoring operations, a GPS module for tracking the position of the drone, a data transmission module for exchanging signals with a base station and the like.
Besides the wing sail 6, the maritime drone 1 preferably comprises propeller drive means (not shown given that they are of the per se known type) and at least one rudder 21 for adjusting the sailing/navigating direction of the drone, which are power-supplied by an electric battery mounted in the hull 2 and they can be advantageously driven when the wing sail 6 is retracted to the inoperative position.
In greater detail, the wing sail 6 can be retracted to the inoperative position if the wind is not strong enough to push the maritime drone 1 and, therefore, in order to reduce the aerodynamic resistance that would be exerted by the wing sail 6 when the maritime drone 1 is pushed by the propeller drive means, that is, should the wind be excessively strong to risk damaging or breaking the wing sail 6.
Furthermore, the upper face 3 of the hull 2 is preferably planar-shaped and the maritime drone 1 carries, mounted on the aforementioned upper face 3, one or more photovoltaic panels 22 suitable to recharge the aforementioned electric battery.
Advantageously, the maritime drone 1 comprises first movement means 19 mechanically connected to the mast 7 to move the wing sail 6 between the operative position A and the inoperative position B, and second movement means 20 mechanically connected to the wing profile 8 to rotate, with the wing sail 6 in the operative position, the wing profile 8 around a rotation axis Y coaxial to the mast 7.
In greater detail, the second movement means 20 allow to vary the angle of incidence between the wing profile 8 and the direction of the wind, so that the wing sail 6 can optimally exploit the thrust of the wind.
Preferably, the first movement means 19 are provided to move the wing sail 6 between the operative position and the inoperative position, or vice versa, by means of a linear translation along the rotation axis Z of the wing profile 8.
Preferably, the wing profile 8 is rotatably connected to the mast 7 around the rotation axis Y with the second movement means mechanically connected to the mast 7 and to the wing profile 8 in order to drive the latter in rotation with respect to the mast 7. Otherwise, the wing profile 8 is connected integrally joined to the mast 7 and, therefore, the second movement means 20 are mechanically connected to the hull and to the shaft 7 on which they act to drive the wing profile 8 in rotation around the rotation axis Z.
According to a first embodiment illustrated in figure 11, the first movement means 19 comprise a support structure 23 housed in the centerboard 5 and carrying the mast 7 of the wing sail 6 rotatably mounted thereon. The aforementioned support structure 23 is slidably inserted into the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 and it can be driven so as to translate along the rotation axis Z of the wing profile 8 by means of a screw-nut mechanism 24, whose the screw 24' is rotated by a first electric drive motor 25, advantageously fixed to the centerboard 5. Furthermore, the second movement means 20 comprise a second electric drive motor 26 mounted on the support structure 23 and suitable to drive in rotation the mast 7, which is connected integrally joined to the wing profile 8 to rotate it around the aforementioned rotation axis Y.
Otherwise, according to a second embodiment illustrated in figure 12, the shaft 7 is mounted integrally joined with the aforementioned support structure 23, the wing profile 8 is rotatably connected to the mast 7, for example with the interposition of a first bushing 27, and the second movement means 20 comprise a third electric drive motor 28 housed in a suitable seat obtained in the wing profile 8 and coupled by means of a worm screw 27' to a gear wheel keyed on the mast 7, so that, by rotating the worm screw 27' by means of the aforementioned third electric drive motor 28, the wing profile 8 is also rotated with respect to the mast 7. According to a third embodiment illustrated in figure 13, the first movement means 19 comprise a first linear actuator 29, which is connected integrally joined the wing profile 8, and it is provided with a rod inserted into the housing volume 9 of the centerboard 5 and susceptible to be driven in rotation by the second movement means 20 provided with a fourth electric drive motor 30 mechanically connected to the bottom of the housing volume 9. According to all described embodiments, the hull 2 advantageously comprises at least one through cavity 10 extending, at the centerboard 5, from the upper face 3 to the lower face 4 in order to allow the access of the wing sail 6 in the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5. The wing profile 8 of the wing sail 6 extends, advantageously, tapering from an attachment edge 11 at the shaft 7 to an outlet edge 12, opposite the attachment edge 11. Furthermore, the through cavity 10 advantageously delimits passage opening 13 on the upper face 3 of said hull 2 substantially counter-shaped with respect to the cross-section of said wing profile 8 according to a plane orthogonal to said mast 7.
In greater detail, the leading edge 11 is the point of the wing profile 8 susceptible to intercept the wind first and it has a widened and substantially rounded shape in order to divide it into two flows which flow along opposite sides of the wing profile 8 at different speeds, whose values depend on the speed of the wind, on the angle of incidence between the wing profile 8 and the direction of the wind and on the wing camber, that is, the distribution of the thicknesses of the wing profile 8 along the rope that joins the attachment edge 11 and the outlet edge 12. This distribution may be symmetrical or asymmetrical with respect to the rope. In a known manner, the wind flows which flow along the sides of the wing profile 8 at different speeds therefore exert a greater pressure on one side and a lower pressure on the other side, causing a thrust for the maritime drone 1 along a direction that goes from the side with greater pressure to the side with lower pressure. The wind flows then detach from the sides of the wing profile 8 at the outlet edge 12, where they then tend to converge. Operatively, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the operative position to the inoperative position, the wing profile 8 thereof is driven in rotation by the second movement means 20 around the rotation axis Z until it is aligned with the passage opening 13 on the hull 2; at this point the wing sail 6 is translated by the first movement means along the rotation axis Z to be inserted with the profile thereof in the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5.
According to a first embodiment illustrated in the attached figures 1 and 2, the maritime drone 1 comprises two wing sails 6, each provided with a corresponding mast 7 connected to the hull 2 and a corresponding wing profile 8 connected to the mast 7. Furthermore, the hull 2 advantageously comprises two through cavities 10, one for each wing sail 6, extending, at the centerboard 5, from the upper face 3 to the lower face 4 so as to allow the access of both wing sails 6 in the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5.
Preferably, the centerboard 5 internally defines a single containment volume 9 for both the wing sails 6.
Alternatively, the centerboard 5 internally defines several containment volumes 9, one for each wing sail 6.
In particular, the provision of two wing sails 6, or even more, allows to fit - on the shaft 7 of each wing sail 6 - wing profiles 8 having a smaller extension along the second extension direction Y with respect to the case where the maritime drone 1 comprises a single wing sail 6, given that two wing profiles 8 with a smaller extension are capable of receiving a thrust from the wind which can be similar to that of a wing profile 8 with a larger extension. In addition, two wing profiles 8 with smaller extension confer greater stability to the maritime drone 1, given that they determine a center of gravity closer to the surface of the water on which the drone navigates than in the case of a single wing profile 8 with greater extension, thus reducing the risk of the maritime drone 1 tipping over around the first extension axis X of the hull 2 in the event of sudden rush of wind.
According to an embodiment illustrated in the examples of figures 3-10 (but which can also be extended to the embodiment of figures 1, 2), the wing profile 8 of the wing sail 6 advantageously comprises at least two modules 14, 15, including an upper module 14 and a lower module 15, which can be driven to move with relative motion with respect to each other.
Preferably, the maritime drone 1 comprises third movement means 31 mechanically connected to the aforementioned upper module 14 and lower module 15 and provided to move one of them with respect to the other.
In greater detail, according to a second embodiment illustrated in the attached figures 3 to 6, the upper module 14 and the lower module 15 of the wing profile 8 can be advantageously driven to rotate independently of each other around the rotation axis Z.
Preferably, the mast 7 comprises two sections 32, 33, including an upper section 32 and a lower section 33, which are arranged coaxial, which are rotatably coupled to each other around the aforementioned rotation axis Z and are mounted integrally joined therewith, respectively. the upper module 14 and the lower module 15 to drive them in rotation independently of each other.
In greater detail, the third means 31 for moving the maritime drone 1 are interposed between the lower section and the upper section and they are provided to drive one of the two sections 32, 33 in rotation with respect to the other around the rotation axis Z, and, as a result, the two modules 14, 15 integrally joined therewith.
According to an advantageous embodiment illustrated in figure 14, the third movement means 31 comprise an electric motor provided with a stator 34 mechanically coupled to the lower section 33 and a rotor 35 mechanically coupled to the upper section 32 of the mast 7 to drive the upper module 14 in rotation with respect to the lower module 15.
Otherwise, according to an embodiment illustrated in figure 15, the mast 7 comprises a single main section 36 carrying the lower module 15 mounted integrally joined therewith and, rotatably around the rotation axis Z, for example by interposing a second bushing 37, the upper module 14.
Preferably, the third movement means 31 comprise a fifth electric drive motor 38 housed in a special seat formed inside the upper module 14 and coupled by means of a worm screw to a gear wheel keyed on the main section 36, so that, by driving the worm screw in rotation by means of the aforementioned fifth electric drive motor 38, the upper module 14 is also driven in rotation with respect to the main section 36 of the mast 7 and, as a result, with respect to the lower module 15 integrally joined therewith.
Furthermore, the wing sail 6 can be advantageously moved to an intermediate position A' between the operative position and the inoperative position, in which the lower module 15 of the wing profile 8 is at least partially housed in the containment volume 9 of said centerboard 5 in order to retract the lower module 15 from the wind and the upper module 14 of the wing profile 8 is arranged outside the containment volume 9 above the upper face 3 of said hull 2 in order to expose the upper module 14 to the wind.
This allows to use at least a part of the wing sail 6, in particular the upper module 14 of the wing profile 8, should the wind be strong enough to break or damage the wing sail 6 in an operative position which is fully extended above the upper face 3 of the hull 2 but is not strong enough to damage it when it is only partially extended.
In particular, the fact that the upper module 14 and the lower module 15 of the wing profile 8 can be driven in rotation independently of each other around the rotation axis Z allows to operate, with the wing sail 6 in an intermediate position, the upper module 14 to vary the angle of incidence between it and the direction of the wind without being hindered in the rotation by the lower module 15 retracted at least partially into the housing volume 9 of the centerboard 5.
Furthermore, the fact that the upper module 14 and the lower module 15 can be driven in rotation independently of each other around the rotation axis Z allows, with the wing sail 6 in the operative position, to vary the angle of incidence between each module 14, 15 and the direction of the wind, in particular, in order to exploit wind gradients, both in direction and in speed, extending along the direction of the rotation axis Z.
Operatively, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the operative position to the intermediate position A', the wing profile 8 is driven in rotation by the second movement means 20 around the rotation axis Z until the lower module 15 is aligned with the passage opening 13 on the hull 2 and the wing sail 6 can subsequently translate - thanks to the first movement means 19 - along the rotation axis Z so as to allow the insertion of the lower module 15 into the containment volume 9, leaving the upper module 14 above the upper face 3 of the hull 2 free to rotate independently of the lower module 15 thanks to the action of the third movement means 31.
Furthermore, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the intermediate position A' to the inoperative position B, the upper module 14 of the wing profile 8 is driven in rotation independently of the lower module 15 around the rotation axis Z by the third movement means 31 until the upper module 14 is aligned with the passage opening 13 and the wing sail 6 can thus be translated by the first movement means 19 along the rotation axis Z to insert (at least partially) the upper module 14 into the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 6. Preferably, the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 has a depth substantially equal to the sum of the extension of the upper module 14 and of the lower module 15 along the second extension direction Y of the wing profile 8, so that, with the wing sail 6 in the inoperative position, the lower module 15 is fully retracted into the housing volume 16 and the upper module 14 is at least partially housed therein. However, one part of the upper module 14 of the wing profile 8 could project from the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 in order to be in any case contained in the through cavity 10 of the hull 2, or even partly project from the passage opening 13 on the upper face 3 of the hull 2.
According to a third embodiment illustrated in the attached figures 7 to 11, one of the modules 14, 15 of the wing profile 8 advantageously defines - therein - a housing volume 16 for the other of said modules 15, 14, which is retractable into the aforementioned housing volume 16.
Advantageously, the housing volume 16 is obtained inside the lower module 15 and the upper module 14 is slidably inserted into said housing volume 16 in a telescopic manner between an extended position, in which the upper module 14 projects from the housing volume 16 with respect to the lower module 15, and a retracted position, in which the upper module 14 is retracted into said housing volume 16.
In greater detail, the wing sail 6 can be movable between the operative position A, in which the lower module 15 is arranged outside the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 above the upper face 3 of the hull 2 and the upper module 14 is in extended position with respect to the lower module 15, an inoperative position B, in which the lower module 15 is housed in the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 and the upper module 14 is in retracted position in the housing volume 16 of the lower module 15, and an intermediate position A' (thus operative too) between the operative position and the inoperative position, in which the lower module 15 is arranged outside the containment volume 9 above the upper face 3 in order to expose the lower module 15 to the wind and the upper module 14 is in retracted position in the housing volume 16 of the lower module 15 in order to retract the upper module 4 from the wind.
The third movement means 31 mechanically connected to the upper module 14 and to the lower module 15 comprise, for example, a second linear actuator 39, coupled - at a first end thereof - to the bottom of the housing volume 16 of the lower module 15 and - at an opposite second end thereof - to the upper module 14 and provided to telescopically translate the latter along a linear movement direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis Z of the wing profile 8 between the extended position and the retracted position with respect to the lower module 15.
Operatively, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the operative position to the intermediate position, it is sufficient to actuate the third movement means 31 to drive the upper module 14 from the extended position to the retracted position in the housing volume 16 of the lower module 15.
Furthermore, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the intermediate position to the inoperative position, the wing profile 8 is driven in rotation by the second movement means 20 around the rotation axis Z until the lower module 15 is aligned with the passage opening 13 of the hull 2 and the wing sail 6 is translated by the first movement means 19 along the rotation axis Z in order to insert the lower module 15 into the containment volume 9 which already carries the upper module 14 inserted into the housing volume 16 in a telescopic manner
In particular, the provision of modules 14, 15 which can be driven so as to move relatively with respect to each other in a telescopic manner allows to mount - on the maritime drone 1 - third movement means 31, that are particularly simple, for example a linear actuator.
Preferably, the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 has a depth substantially equal to the extension of the lower module 15 along the second extension direction Y of the wing profile 8, so that, with the wing sail 6 in the inoperative position, the lower module 15 - carrying the upper module 14 retracted in the housing volume 16 thereof - is in turn at least partially housed the containment volume 9.
According to all embodiments outlined, one part of wing sail (or lower module 15 of the wing sail 8) could however project from the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 in order to be in any case contained in the through cavity 10 of the hull 2, or even partly project from the passage opening 13 on the upper face 3 of the hull 2.
Preferably, the maritime drone 1 comprises at least one anemometer provided to detect wind speed values and an electronic control unit operatively connected to the aforementioned anemometer to read the wind speed values detected by the anemometer.
In greater detail, the electronic control unit is provided to move the wing sail 6 from the operative position A toward the inoperative position B, by means of the first and second movement means 19, 20, for wind speed values detected by the anemometer greater than a predetermined first threshold value, above which the wing sail 6 is retracted so as not to be damaged by the wind.
The electronic control unit is advantageously provided to move the wing sail 6 from the inoperative position B toward the operative position A for wind speed values smaller than the aforementioned first threshold value, below which the wing sail 6 can be at least partially extended to intercept the wind.
Preferably, in the case of the examples of figures 3-10, the electronic control unit is provided to move the wing sail 6 from the operative position to the intermediate position, by means of the first and second movement means 19 20, for wind speed values detected by the anemometer comprised between the aforementioned first threshold value and a predetermined second threshold value smaller than the first. The electronic control unit is advantageously provided to move the wing sail 6, in the case of the examples of figures 3-10, from the intermediate position A' (partially operative) to the fully operative position A for wind speed values smaller than the aforementioned second threshold value, below which the wing sail 6 can be at fully extended to intercept the wind without the risk of being damaged by the wind. Furthermore, the electronic control unit is preferably provided to move the wing sail 6 from the operative position to the inoperative position, by means of the first and second movement means 19, 20; for wind speed values detected by the anemometer smaller than a predetermined third threshold value smaller than the first and second threshold values, to retract the wing sail 6 should the wind not be strong enough to push the maritime drone 1 and thus drive the propeller drive means from the inoperative position to the operative position for wind speed values comprised between the third and second threshold value.
Therefore, the invention thus conceived attains the pre-set objects.

Claims

Maritime drone (1), which comprises:
- a hull (2) provided with an upper face (3) and with a lower face (4);

- a centerboard (5) extending projecting from the lower face (4) of said hull (2) in order to give sailing/navigation stability to said maritime drone (1);

- at least one wing sail (6), which comprises a mast (7) connected to said hull (2) and a wing profile (8) connected to said mast (7) and it is suitable to intercept the wind in order to move said maritime drone (1);
said maritime drone (1) being characterized in that said centerboard (5) is hollow and it internally defines a containment volume (9);
said wing sail (6) being movable between an operative position (A), in which said wing sail (6) extends at least partially above the upper face (3) of said hull (2) in order to expose at least part of said wing sail (6) to the wind, and an inoperative position (B), in which said wing sail (6) is at least partially housed in the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) in order to retract at least part of said wing sail (6) from the wind.
Maritime drone according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises first movement means (19) mechanically connected to said wing sail (6) in order to move it between said operative position (A) and said inoperative position (B) and second movement means (20) mechanically connected to said wing profile (8) in order to rotate said wing profile (8) around a rotation axis (Z) coaxial to said mast (7).
Maritime drone (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hull (2) comprises at least one through cavity (10) extending, at said centerboard (5), from said upper face (3) to said lower face (4) in order to allow the access of said wing sail (6) into the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5).
Maritime drone (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the wing profile (8) of said wing sail (6) extends tapered from an attachment edge (11) at said mast to an outlet edge (12) opposite said attachment edge (11);
said through cavity (10) delimiting a passage opening (13) on the upper face (3) of said hull (2) substantially counter-shaped with respect to the cross-section of said wing profile (8) according to a plane orthogonal to said mast (7).
Maritime drone (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises two wing sails (6), each provided with a corresponding said mast (7) connected to said hull (2) and a corresponding said wing profile (8) connected to said mast (7);
said hull (2) comprising two through cavities (10), one for each said wing sail (6), extending, at said centerboard (5), from said upper face (3) to said lower face (4) in order to allow the access of both said wing sails (6) in the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5).
Maritime drone (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the wing profile (8) of said wing sail (6) comprises at least two modules (14, 15), including an upper module (14) and a lower module (15), which are rotatably movable with respect to said rotation axis (Z) and are rotatably movable with relative motion with respect to each other around said rotation axis (Z).
Maritime drone according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper module (14) and the lower module (15) of the wing profile (8) of said wing sail (6) are actuatable to rotate one independently from the other around said rotation axis (Z).
Maritime drone (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said wing sail (6) is movable into an intermediate position between said operative position and said inoperative position, in which the lower module (15) of said wing profile (8) is at least partially housed in the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) in order to retract said lower module (15) from the wind and the upper module (14) of said wing profile (8) is placed outside the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) above the upper face (3) of said hull (2) in order to expose said upper module (14) to the wind.
Maritime drone (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that one of said modules (14, 15) defines, therein, a housing volume (16) for the other of said modules (15, 14) and that the other of said modules (15, 14) is retractable in said housing volume (16).
Maritime drone (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said housing volume (16) is obtained inside said lower module (15) and that said upper module (14) is slidably inserted into said housing volume (16) in a telescopic manner between an extended position, in which the upper module (14) projects from said housing volume (16) with respect to said lower module (15), and a retracted position, in which said upper module (14) is retracted into said housing volume (16);
said wing sail (6) being movable between said operative position, in which said lower module (15) is placed outside the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) above the upper face (3) of said hull (2) and said upper module (14) is in extended position with respect to said lower module (15), an inoperative position, in which said lower module (15) is housed in the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) and said upper module (14) is in retracted position in the housing volume (16) of said lower module (15), and an intermediate position between said operative position and said inoperative position, in which said lower module (15) is placed outside said containment volume (9) above said upper face (3) in order to expose said lower module (15) to the wind and said upper module (14) is in retracted position in the housing volume (16) of said lower module (15) in order to retract said upper module (14) from the wind.