2250 results about "Watercraft" patented technology

Visual methods and systems are described for detecting alertness and vigilance of persons under conditions of fatigue, lack of sleep, and exposure to mind altering substances such as alcohol and drugs. In particular, the intention can have particular applications for truck drivers, bus drivers, train operators, pilots and watercraft controllers and stationary heavy equipment operators, and students and employees during either daytime or nighttime conditions. The invention robustly tracks a person's head and facial features with a single on-board camera with a fully automatic system, that can initialize automatically, and can reinitialize when it need's to and provide outputs in realtime. The system can classify rotation in all viewing direction, detects' eye / mouth occlusion, detects' eye blinking, and recovers the 3D(three dimensional) gaze of the eyes. In addition, the system is able to track both through occlusion like eye blinking and also through occlusion like rotation. Outputs can be visual and sound alarms to the driver directly. Additional outputs can slow down the vehicle cause and / or cause the vehicle to come to a full stop. Further outputs can send data on driver, operator, student and employee vigilance to remote locales as needed for alarms and initiating other actions.

A light emitting diode lighting device and system that can be used for illuminating the interior and / or exterior of vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, signage or buildings is provided. It includes a voltage feedback constant current power supply circuitry and high power LEDs. The printed circuit assemblies are firmly mounted onto a continuous or semi-continuous mounting channel case that also works as a heat sink. By this means, it not only increases the reliability of the LED lighting tube but also it provides sufficient heat dissipation capability for the heat generated by the LEDs. Since the operating temperature of the LEDs is controlled and stays in cool condition, it dramatically increases the LED's lifetime and efficiency. The end caps of this LED lighting device are fully compatible with existing conventional fluorescent light fixtures and can directly replace those fluorescent lighting tubes in vehicles, mass-transit, watercrafts, aircrafts, signage or buildings with minimal modifications.

A light emitting diode lighting device and system that can be used for illuminating the interior and / or exterior of vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, signage or buildings is provided. It includes a voltage feedback constant current power supply circuitry and high power LEDs. The printed circuit assemblies are firmly mounted onto a continuous or semi-continuous mounting channel case that also works as a heat sink. By this means, it not only increases the reliability of the LED lighting tube but also it provides sufficient heat dissipation capability for the heat generated by the LEDs. Since the operating temperature of the LEDs is controlled and stays in cool condition, it dramatically increases the LED's lifetime and efficiency. The end caps of this LED lighting device are fully compatible with existing conventional fluorescent light fixtures and can directly replace those fluorescent lighting tubes in vehicles, mass-transit, watercrafts, aircrafts, signage or buildings with minimal modifications.

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.

The present invention relates to a moment-resistant structure, sustainer, and method of construction for deformably resisting episodic loads, particularly those of high intensity. The episodic loads may be due to earthquake, impact, or other intense episodic sources. The structure and sustainer may be in buildings, bridges, or other civil works, land vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, spacecraft, machinery, or other structural systems or apparati. Deformation capacity is enhanced by the use of multiple dissipative zones. Dissipative zones that function in a manner similar to plastic hinges are determined by one or more voids that are located in the web of a sustainer. The one or more voids are of a size, shape, and configuration to assure that the dissipative zones deform inelastically when a critical stress, i.e., a maximum allowable demand, is reached, thereby developing the action of a structural fuse, preventing the occurrence of stress and strain demands sufficient to cause fracture of the connection welds or adjacent heat-affected zones, i.e., preventing the stress and strain demands from exceeding the strength capacity of the connection welds or adjacent heat-affected zones. The sustainers may be removably connected to the remainder of the structure, facilitating their replacement after inelastic deformation. The structure, sustainer, and method of construction may be utilized in new construction and in the rehabilitation of existing construction. Mechanical equipment and utilities may pass through the voids.

A port light assembly for watercraft having an exterior frame comprising a finish ring and a spigot defining a port light opening. The spigot is inserted in a hole in a vessel hull from the exterior of the vessel. The spigot is configured to provide drains to keep water from pooling near the port light. The exterior frame is connected to an interior frame that is placed around the spigot from the inside of the vessel. An innermost frame, retaining a glass lens, is hingedly connected to the interior frame. The assembly includes a screen installable from inside the hull. The frames are constructed from plastic and reinforced by strips of non-corrosive metal. The assembly is adjustable for hull thickness. The assembly is installed without the use of caulk or adhesives, it provides a watertight seal between the exterior and interior of the vessel.

The invention discloses a nanometer compound water-based heat insulation anticorrosion paint used for metal and a preparation method thereof. The raw materials of the paint consists of the following components: tap water, watercraft acrylic resin, rustproofing pigment, reflection pigment and filler, hollow micro-beads, watercraft nanometer size, anti-settling agent, wetting and dispersing agent A,wetting and dispersing agent B, film-forming assistant, defoaming agent, flatting agent, anti-flash rustproofing agent and thickening agent. Watercraft polyacrylic emulsion is styrene-crylic acid copolymerization emulsion, pure crylic acid polymerization emulsion or organic silicon-crylic acid copolymerization emulsion. The wetting and dispersing agent A is block macromolecule copolymer, multivalence carboxylate polymer and / or synthetic macromolecule copolymer, and the wetting and dispersing agent B is anion wetting agent and / or nonionic wetting agnet. The product contains no organic solvent,heavy metal and other harmful substances, is extremely excellent in environmental conservation, integrates the functions of anticorrosion and heat insulation as a whole and is simple and convenient for construction, safe in storage and stable in performance.

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.

The present invention represents a procedure for compensating the heave movement of offshore cranes. The dynamic model of the compensation actuator (hydraulically operated winch) and the load hanging on a rope are derived. Based on this model, a path-tracking control unit is developed. To compensate the movement of the ship / watercraft caused by waves, the heave movement is defined as a time-varying disturbance and is analyzed with respect to uncoupling conditions. With a model expansion, these conditions are satisfied, and an inversion-based uncoupling control law is formulated. To stabilize the system, an observer is used for reconstructing the unknown state by means of a force measurement. Furthermore, the compensation efficiency can be improved by predicting the heave movement. There is proposed a prediction method in which no ship / watercraft models or properties are required. The simulation and measurement results validate the heave compensation method.

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.

Various embodiments relate to systems and methods for simultaneously switching input image streams to output devices, while providing optional image processing functions on the image streams. Certain embodiments may provide vision systems and methods suitable for use in vehicles, particularly windowless vehicles, such as armored ground vehicles, submerged watercraft, and spacecraft. Some embodiments may enable sharing of image streams (e.g., with one or more other vehicles), generation of panoramic views (e.g., from various camera feeds), intelligent encoding of image streams, and implementation of security features based on image streams.

An automatic timing measurement system that provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Algorithms based on inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed / position measurements are used to track position of a watercraft. Said position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. Algorithms are then used to allow the apparatus to automatically detect passage of a watercraft through mapped courses for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of said watercraft past key points in said course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course if “steer-by-wire” mechanism is available. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current. Furthermore, GPS is used as the key input to produce boat speed-based pull-up profiles.

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.

A surfboard-based powered water craft is propelled by gas or electric power plant. A water jet pump supplies water under pressure, which is exhausted through a steering nozzle. A steering shaft, carried by the surfboard-based body, pivots in response to movement of a steering arm. The steering arm pivots about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The weight of the power plant is carried forward the center, whereby a rider on top of the surfboard based body tends to balance the weight of the power plant.

A novel water craft, which may include a hull with a keel, having propulsion means extending below the water line. The propulsion means comprises a pair of flappers each adapted to oscillate through an arcuate path in a generally transverse direction with respect to the central longitudinal dimension of the watercraft. Means are operatively associated with the propulsion means for applying input force to the propulsion means. The flappers twist to form an angle of attack for providing forward thrust with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the watercraft while moving in both directions along the arcuate path.

Automatic homing systems are disclosed, operable between pairs of objects. One or both of the objects in the pair may be moving and / or unmanned. Examples of a pair of objects between which the inventive automatic homing systems may be operated are ground vehicles in leader-follower configuration, as well as aircraft, spacecraft, watercraft. The automatic homing systems are based on a relatively simple, elegant concept of rightness / leftness and a line-of-sight link between a respective leader vehicle and follower vehicle. Complex EO / IR cameras, LIDAR, RADAR, and / or SONAR-based sensor systems can be avoided. Convoys of vehicles in leader-follower configuration advantageously may be operated without needing human operators in the follower vehicles.

A running control device for a watercraft controls propulsion force and tilt angle of a propulsion device relative to the hull of the watercraft. The running control device also sets an optimum trim angle automatically. The running control device includes a propulsion force control section that controls the propulsion force of the propulsion device. The running control device also includes a tilt angle control section that controls the tilt angle of the propulsion device. A target propulsion force calculation module responds to first input information (e.g., watercraft velocity) to calculate a target propulsion force. An amount-of-operation calculation module responds to second input information to calculate an amount of operation of the propulsion device to produce the target propulsion force. The tilt angle control section includes a tilt angle calculation module that determines the tilt angle based on the propulsion force.

A web based insurance estimating system. The system includes a client computer that can launch client-side integrated processing software through a web-based application. The system also includes a server that generates information for a repair cost estimate web page. The repair cost estimate web page is displayed at the client computer. The repair cost estimate web page has properties that can be configured by a user at the client computer. The server can automatically populate fields of one or more web pages in response to a vehicle identification number entered by the user. The system can provide estimates for vehicles with less than four wheels such as motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft. One of the insurance damage web pages may graphically identify the location(s) of a paint code plate on a vehicle. The web page may also provide a list of selectable paint codes that allows the user to select a paint code for a vehicle.

A wake modifying system for modifying a wake produced by a watercraft traveling through water may include a rudder pivotally mounted to the watercraft for steering the watercraft, a fin pivotally mounted to the watercraft substantially along a centerline of the watercraft and forward the rudder, wherein the fin pivots about an upright axis to modify the wake produced by the watercraft traveling through the water, an actuator mounted within the watercraft and operably coupled to the fin for pivoting the fin relative to the centerline, and a controller mounted on the watercraft allowing an operator to control the actuator and selectively pivot the fin to a desired angle θd relative to the centerline.

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.

The invention provides a ship remote monitoring system, relating to a remote monitoring system, in particular to a ship remote monitoring system. The ship remote monitoring system can monitor the state of travelling ships and transmits the real-time information of the ship to the Internet by GPRS / CDMA network or satellite; the real-time information is then transmitted to shipping units such as maritime department and shipping company, etc. by the internet; furthermore, data is processed, disposed and analysed. The ship remote monitoring system has the advantages of extremely far transmission distance, stable system and even realizing global communication; the ship remote monitoring system is provided with a set of redundant independent GPS system which can position normally during the failure of AIS; the ship remote monitoring system is provided with a rich and practical visible interface and facilitates the intuitive transmission of the information of ship to corresponding business personnel.

The present invention is a wake control mechanism for watercrafts comprising flat or upwardly curved wake control plate(s) which is / are connected to the stern in a variety of ways, either fixed or adjustable, such that the water passing beneath and / or beside the transom is scooped upward by the plate(s) and the watercraft is therefore pushed deeper into the water causing a larger wake. Additionally the plate(s) may have walls so that the scooped water is held above water level thus adding weight and further increasing wake size. Adjustments to the plate(s) position may be used to control the shape as well as the size of the wake.

A dry storage box is held by a clamping device at a longitudinal location along the length of the small watercraft. Dry box provides water tight storage compartment with a hinged lid and latches for storing miscellaneous personal valuables and belongings. The clamped water tight box, in the event of capsize, remains secured to the gunwale, and thus valuables and belongings remain safe, dry and in one location. Incidentally provided are added buoyancy to the vessel in the event of a capsized condition, and when box is in normal use the longitudinal location allows free movement of the occupants about the small watercraft.

A vehicle or watercraft regeneration system includes at least one electric motor capable of generating electricity and a controller for the at least one motor; wherein the controller to optimize the efficiency of the regeneration. The controller can optimize efficiency by including comprises circuitry for biasing the electric motor during regeneration. Also provided is a regeneration system that further comprises an electricity storage device such as a battery, a capacitor, an electrolysis unit that generates hydrogen from water, and a flywheel. In addition, an efficiency enhancing system for a watercraft or vehicle includes at least one electric motor capable of generating electricity; a controller for the at least one motor; and an electrical connection between the at least one motor and the controller, where in the controller adjust one or more magnetic fields of the electric motor during regeneration to optimize the efficiency of the regeneration. Methods for increasing efficiency of regeneration of a watercraft of vehicle powered by at least one electric motor are also disclosed.

A watercraft has an engine and a remote controller. The engine has a throttle valve unit. The remote controller provides a command signal indicative of a position of the throttle valve unit. A watercraft velocity sensor senses an actual speed of the watercraft to provide an actual speed signal. A control data input device selectively provides a control device with a manual mode signal and a constant speed mode signal. The constant speed mode signal is accompanied by a target speed signal. The control device controls the throttle valve unit based upon the command signal in the manual mode. The control device controls the throttle valve unit in the constant speed mode such that an actual speed of the watercraft coincides with the target speed of the watercraft once a state of equilibrium is reached. The control device starts the manual mode in place of the constant speed mode without the manual mode signal if the command signal changes while the control device controls the throttle valve unit in the constant speed mode.

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.