Introduction: My personal passion for wingfoiling and water sports led to this project. Here is an image of me wingfoiling:
Francisco enjoying wingfoiling - the ultimate connection between engineering and the water.
The Problem: Hydrofoil sports require consistent wind speeds of at least 10-15 knots for an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, many days fall below this threshold, as demonstrated by the MIT Sailing Pavilion's wind data:
Example of insufficient wind days for hydrofoiling.
Imagine being able to hydrofoil whenever you want, regardless of wind conditions. This motivation inspired the creation of a towing vehicle for water sports.
Solution
Development: Several designs were analyzed, including drones and direct foil-mounted motors, each with its pros and cons. Ultimately, a floating towing vehicle was chosen for safety and functionality.
Concept from an Amazon patent for tow control.Electric foil designs - functional but less fun.Tow Jet concept - innovative but potentially hazardous.
Electric Tow Boogie: The concept involves designing a vehicle that makes hydrofoiling accessible and fun. Here’s a diagram:
Concept diagram of the Electric Tow Boogie.
Our plan is to make this solution much more affordable than the Tacoma eTow.
Commercial Alternatives: Commercially available equivalents, like the Tacoma eTow, exist but are prohibitively expensive, with a regular price of $14,950.00. This project aims to provide a significantly more affordable and customizable solution.
Plan:
Research motor, battery, and chassis specifications.
Order and assemble components.
Program and test electronics.
Build and refine the vehicle chassis.
Test the vehicle in water!
Assignment:
Plan and sketch a potential final project ✓
Implementation
bla bla
Midterm Assignment:
Post a system diagram for your project on your final project site ✓
List the tasks to be completed ✓
Make a schedule for doing them ✓
Meet with your local and global instructors to review your plans and weekly assignments ✓
