Ride Control of Surface Effect Ships using Distributed Control

Abstract A ride control system for active damping of heave and pitch accelerations of Surface Effect Ships (SES) is presented. It is shown that distributed effects due to a spatially varying pressure in the air cushion result in significant vertical vibrations in low and moderate sea states. To achieve a high quality human comfort and crew workability it is necessary to damp these vibrations using a control system which accounts for distributed effects due to spatial pressure variations in the air cushion. A mathematical model of the process is presented, and collocated sensor and actuator pairs are used. The process stability is ensured using a controller with appropriate passivity properties. Sensor and actuator location is also discussed. Performance of the ride control system is shown by power spectra of the vertical accelerations obtained from full scale experiments with a 35 m SES.