24-10-2012, 01:06 PM
A Wake Absorber
ABSTRACT
A wake absorber, wherein an aquatic vehicle with a propulsor mounted on the vehicle and operative to propel the vehicle
through a water medium, has a wake absorber mounted on the vehicle aft of the propulsor. The wake absorber includes an
artificial muscle surface adapted to be impinged upon by a wake created by the propulsor. The wake absorber further includes
electrodes mounted on the artificial muscle surface. Pressure of the wake upon the muscle surface exercises a bending force
on the surface, which creates energy that is recovered by the electrodes as electrical power that can be digitized. Energy
removed from the muscle surface by the electrodes weakens the wake and renders the wake less pronounced visually and
acoustically.