US 12,330,781 B1
Wing-in-ground effect vehicles and methods of control
William Thalheimer, Waltham, MA (US); Michael Klinker, Hollis, NH (US); William Bryan Baker, Cohasset, MA (US); Edward Lester, Somerville, MA (US); Daniel Cottrell, Centreville, VA (US); Christian Bailey, Palo Alto, CA (US); David Larson, Medford, MA (US); Bradley C. Buskirk, Charlotte, NC (US); Jason Castriota, Stamford, MA (US); Marco Borge, Volpiano (IT); Andrew Gregg, Roslindale, MA (US); Andrew Levin, Cambridge, MA (US); and Michael Christopher Tilley, Amherst, NH (US)
Assigned to REGENT Craft Inc., North Kingstown, RI (US)
Filed by REGENT Craft Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/885,523.
Application 17/885,523 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/885,463, filed on Aug. 10, 2022, granted, now 12,116,139.
Application 17/885,523 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/875,942, filed on Jul. 28, 2022.
Application 17/885,463 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/845,480, filed on Jun. 21, 2022.
Application 17/885,463 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/570,090, filed on Jan. 6, 2022, granted, now 11,420,738.
Application 17/845,480 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/570,090, filed on Jan. 6, 2022, granted, now 11,420,738.
Application 17/885,523 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/845,480, filed on Jun. 21, 2022.
Application 17/885,523 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/570,090, filed on Jan. 6, 2022, granted, now 11,420,738.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/281,594, filed on Nov. 19, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,565, filed on Feb. 11, 2021.
Int. Cl. B64C 35/00 (2006.01); B60F 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 35/006 (2013.01) [B60F 5/02 (2013.01); B64C 35/007 (2013.01); B64C 35/008 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A craft comprising:
at least one sensor;
at least one wing configured to generate upwards aero lift as air flows past the at least one wing to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft;
at least one hydrofoil configured to generate hydrofoil lift as water flows past the at least one hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water; and
a control system, wherein while the craft is hydrofoil-borne, the control system is configured to:
receive, from the at least one sensor, sensor data;
based on the received sensor data, determine:
(a) that at least one takeoff parameter does not satisfy a takeoff-parameter threshold condition; and
(b) a representation of at least a portion of a body of water that comprises the water that flows past the at least one hydrofoil;
after the determination that the at least one takeoff parameter does not satisfy the takeoff-parameter threshold condition, control the at least one hydrofoil to generate downwards hydrofoil lift that maintains the at least one hydrofoil at least partially submerged in the water; and
based on the determined representation of the at least the portion of the body of water, change one or more of a speed, altitude, heading, or attitude of the craft.