US 12,116,139 B2
Hydrofoil equipped seaglider takeoff
Michael Klinker, Hollis, MA (US); Daniel Cottrell, Centreville, VA (US); William Bryan Baker, Cohasset, MA (US); Andrew Gregg, Roslindale, MA (US); and Andrew Levin, Cambridge, MA (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. 17/885,463.
Prior Publication US 2024/0158091 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 13/16 (2006.01); B63B 1/24 (2020.01); B63B 79/00 (2020.01); B64C 3/16 (2006.01); B64C 35/00 (2006.01); B64D 27/357 (2024.01)
CPC B64D 27/357 (2024.01) [B64C 3/16 (2013.01); B64C 13/16 (2013.01); B63B 1/24 (2013.01); B63B 79/00 (2020.01); B64C 35/007 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A craft comprising:
at least one hull;
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 upwards hydrofoil lift during a first mode of operation 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:
determine upwards aero lift generated by the at least one wing;
while the upwards aero lift is below a threshold lift, 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
after determining that the upwards aero lift corresponds to the threshold lift, control the at least one hydrofoil to increase or decrease the downwards hydrofoil lift generated by the at least one hydrofoil.