The LCS – A Smaller Ocean?

Fuel Efficiency, Innovation, Marine Propulsion, Military Ships,

Testing Fuel Consumption the Hard Way

LittoralCombatShip

7th Fleet suggests the Littoral Combat Ships, particularly LCS-1, would be more suitable for service in a smaller ocean, where it is not so far between fueling points, according to the US Government Accountability Office report GAO-14-749, Jul 30, 2014.

Fleet users expressed uncertainty about LCS’s
potential capabilities and attributes, or how they
would best utilize an LCS in their theater. Several
7th Fleet officials told us that they thought the LCS
in general might be better suited to operations in
the 5th Fleet theater (headquartered in Bahrain)
than to 7th Fleet due in part to the smaller area of
responsibility in 5th Fleet that would make range
less of a consideration.

In its first service with the 7th Feet, the LCS proves to have

  • excessive fuel consumption and
  • inadequate range.

Here is the most modern ship in the US Navy using fixed-jet technology, which cannot benefit from modern electronic controls to reduce energy consumption. Such controls have long been common on household appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, and toasters.

An IntelliJet-based system would make this type of ship much more practical by reducing its mid-range fuel consumption.  And the whole IntelliJet ship could be modeled and tested in computer simulation to accurately predict its performance in any scenario that it might find in the fleet.  Then the same files could be used to quickly generate pilot production parts for demonstration.

The “Jet Propelled Brick”

Innovation, Military Ships

Efficient propulsion can’t overcome bad hull design.

The most extreme example of this may be the Amphibious Assault Vehicle, commonly referred to as a “jet propelled brick”.

I even took a shot at redesigning the brick as a submersible vehicle that would be more efficiently propelled and would offer better performance as an armored vehicle.  I presented a peer reviewed paper on the subject at ASNE Day 2012. See below.

Amphibious Assault Vehicle approaching beachWith the demise of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), the requirement for getting troops from ships over-the-horizon to shore in an environment of changing threats remains.

The ever greater availability of surface-to-surface missiles is effectively moving the horizon well beyond the historical 12-mile planning distance. The evolving Improvised Explosive Devices (IUDs) are driving Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) designs to heavier armor, which makes them lower and slower in the water, and easier to target.

Even an EFV planing over the surface at 30 kts might be detected and targeted with small missiles.

To mitigate these threats, the AAV of the future must be more effectively armored and designed for increased stealth. In my paper I explore the development of such a solution, the Submersible Amphibious Assault Vehicle (SAAV), and its appeal in an environment of economic constraints.

Amphibious Assault VehiclePresentation:
 Adapting AAVs to Changing Threats

Submersible Amphibious Asssault Vehicles (SAAVs).pdf

 

 

Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle

Marine Jet Variable Power Transmission

Boat Manufacturing, Boating Industry, Fuel Efficient Boats, Innovation, Jet Boats, , ,

Never Bet Against a MicroController

Race car with computational fluid dynamicsMarine propulsion has lagged behind other transportation products because it has failed to integrate new technologies to produce innovative benefits in sustainability, safety, reliability, operating costs, manufacturing costs and lifetime ownership costs.

These failures stem from routine reliance on familiar methods of product design, development and manufacturing.  Doing it the same old way is comfortable, but produces too much of the same old results.

Simulation for Performance & Efficiency

Example of computational fluid dynamics image courtesy of Pointwise

Example of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Image Courtesy of Pointwise. www.pointwise.com

How different would it be if marine propulsion design was not limited by these familiar product design, development, and manufacturing processes?

Let’s say the design process made maximum use of computational methods and simulation to define the mechanical dimensions and requirements of the optimum propulsion system over the expected range of operating speeds and loads.

If motor efficiency, lower emissions, and longer operating life require a variable power transmission as they do in trucks, buses and cars, why not make that part of the design?  

It seems natural that such a system would be best made using design, development and manufacturing methods commonly used for autos, trucks, and large construction equipment.

Fortunately, these methods and services are highly developed, widely available, and ever more economical, which makes this whole approach more practical than traditional methods.

Why Not Boats?

Electronically controlled components, similar to those long found in aircraft, automobiles, and even home appliances, can enhance marine propulsion.

These controls, programming methods, and associated development services are readily available.  This development path is highly automated for very large markets, so is the fastest, most exact, and most economical one available.

The only remaining question is
why has it taken so long for marine propulsion to get here?

Have Sterndrives Run Their Course?

Innovation, Sterndrives

Is the Sterndrive at the End of its Product Life?

The boating industry has relied on small evolutionary changes to justify the higher cost of new boats. This has been a losing struggle. Sterndrive boat sales, the heart of the industry, have dropped to 20% of their 1996 levels and are recovering poorly, even with the improving economy.

Sport Jet Sales Chart

Example of disruptive innovation in an otherwise flat mature boat market. This is the SportJet boat segment, starting in 1991.

Innovative Propulsion Fuels Sales Booms
Historically, the industry’s sales booms have been fueled by disruptive propulsion innovations, like outboards, sterndrives, and jets. These innovations enabled boats with new features and benefits to meet the unsatisfied needs of consumers.

For example, look at how the market has rewarded disruptive innovations in an otherwise flat mature market.  This is the SportJet-boat segment, starting in 1991.

Consumer Demand  The opportunity is now available to do this again on a larger scale.  JD Power surveys have long shown unsatisfied demands for improved performance, fuel-economy, operating costs, safety, and ease of operation, which have not been met by the industry’s evolutionary innovations. Commercial markets are looking for better sustainability and reduced operating costs.

The Basis for New Products – IntelliJet uniquely meets these demands by incorporating electronic control of power transmission and other methods commonly used in aircraft and autos.  Like the SportJet, IntelliJet is the basis for new products with much more consumer value than used boats or conventional new boats.

With the economy rising out of the recession, this IntelliJet disruptive innovation is poised to enable the sale of a lot of motors and boats. Remember that sterndrive boat sales peaked at 150,000 in a pattern similar to the one above six years after the end of the last big recession of 1982.

This is a concrete example of an immediate opportunity to innovate.

Too Many Used Recreational Boats

Boat Manufacturing, Boating Industry, Innovation, Sterndrives

Many boat manufacturers have the same problems:

  • Excess capacity,
  • High mfg costs,
  • Too many used boats, and
  • Too much cutthroat competition for new boat sales by
  • Too many competitors.  

The following slide from the 2013 Boating Industry State of the Industry webinar shows the scope of the problem:

Slide from the Boating Industry and Marine Retailers of the Americas MDCE Webinar 2012 showing New 15+ Powerboat sales

The only path to significant profitability is a proprietary advantage in a class of boats that has no direct competitors, a class of boats that offers unique benefits that are prized by a significant segment of boat buyers.  

IntelliJet offers a unique combination of performance, fuel economy, safety, sustainability, reliability, and convenience, which answer needs cataloged in JD Power and industry surveys.

IntelliJet Marine, Inc. logo