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The system works with
diesel, gas, electric and hybrid systems, incorporates clean technology and
electronic controls, and is applicable to
generally any submerged,
planing and
semi-planing hull, including V-shaped hulls.
This includes commercial vessels, military
ships, patrol and rescue boats, amphibians, yachts, rigid inflatables, recreational boats,
and unmanned vessels. |
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Boats and ships are commonly
propelled by propellers or water jets. Both of these came into common use
before modern control systems: Propellers were used on the Monitor and the
Merrimac in 1865; water jets became common in the 1960s.
In the meantime, aircraft
jet propulsion has demonstrated the advantages of variable propulsion
geometry under computer control.
The venerable SR-71 on the
left incorporates controllable inlets, several internal flow controls, and a
controllable nozzle. IntelliJet Marine, Inc. has detailed the adaptation of
similar features to boat propulsion in four US patents and in a technical
paper presented at the Advanced Naval Propulsion Symposium 2008.
The benefits of these
features are on the wish list of military, commercial, and recreational
boaters. They include substantial improvements in safety, fuel-economy,
acceleration, maneuverability, ease of operation, and reliability. |
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