Why Arcuate Wings are Important to the Nova Ray® Design

The Nova Ray® arcuate wing design solves long-time industry struggles with cable drag in strong currents. The patented wing design eliminates the phenomenon known as "Dutch Roll Instability," a problem experienced by flat wing designs. Anyone who has flown an old fashioned kite and watched it roll side-to-side has experienced this phenomenon. The Nova Ray® inventors eliminated "Dutch Roll" by incorporating the "arcuate" form wing with a rudder. The result is true axis flight and stability in currents.

The arcuate-shaped wings of the Nova Ray® counteract the lifting force of the umbilical (also described at the tether or cable). Therefore, the speed of the boat (or other vessel) or current has little effect on the operational stability of the Nova Ray®. The wings increase cable use efficiency and reduce the amount of cable necessary to operate or tow at depth.

The physical dynamics of the arcuate (bow-shaped) wing creates a stable instrumentation platform and allows for maneuverability. This increases system effectiveness in high currents and cross currents when towed or using thruster power.

The Nova Ray's® unique hydrodynamic features effectively use water flow rather than resistance to maintain operational control under changing operating modes. The patented arcuate wing is stable under tow or with the vehicle's own thruster power.

Under thruster power, the wings operate just as a high-winged airplane would in free flight. Under tow, the arcuate wing, combined with the seamless shift in the center of rotation from the cable pull, produces a stable configuration.

The challenge with towing any device is maintaining reasonable control. Traditionally, underwater towable vehicles (UTV) and the "box like ROVs" use frames layered with flotation foam. Thrusters are then added to an already non-hydrodynamic design in order to combat currents and other hydrodynamic forces.

Nova Ray's® arcuate wing configuration is remarkably stable in turbulent currents and provides true axis flight. There is little tendency for the vehicle to rock in shifting currents. The wings, combined with other secondary control surfaces, tend to counter any destabilizing forces. The close proximity of the thrusters to the control surfaces allows for very tight maneuvering. The overall result is an ROV system that can do more and perform where other underwater systems cannot.