MEMS Technology Adds Stability to Boating

Capsizing at sea can be a harrowing experience. Once a boat capsizes your property is not only at risk, but more importantly, so is your life. As a prepared sailor the one thing you must know is how to prevent capsizing.

To your rescue comes MEMS based marine electronic technology. MEMS, an acronym for micro electromechanical systems, are used in all types of marine electronic devices. MEMS devices can be found in not only in satellite phones and GPS systems, but also inclinometers and numerous other marine instruments.

MEMS technology is one of the most fascinating science frontiers of today. MEMS technology has been used to build rotary engines that have volume less than 1 cubic millimeter and miniaturized vehicles that mimic an insect’s ability to walk on water (surface tension).

Besides being a way to build miniature mechanical systems, MEMS are used to measure almost any type of mechanical and electrical parameter. And they can be used to make these measurements at the macro, micro and nanotechnology levels At the macro level, inclinometers based on MEMS devices are used to measure the tilt of your boat as it heaves-ho through heavy seas.

At the micro level, MEMS are be used in your GPS phone to detect life saving radio waves and satellite signals. At the nanotechnology level MEMS based marine electronics are used to detect dangerous water contamination, keeping your water and our seas clean and safe. .

Because of the versatile nature of MEMS devices, MEMS based marine electronic technology is heralding a new era in boating design. Boat designers are taking a tip from automobile designers. And just like automobile designers, they are unpacking their MEMS tool kits to build electronic stability systems.

In cars, MEMS-based electronic stability systems enable today’s drivers to avoid deadly accidents. And that’s because electronic stability systems are designed to automatically correct critical steering, braking and acceleration mistakes.

Similarly in boats, automatic sailing systems are being worked on not only to automatically correct for poorly performed sailing maneuvers, but even allow for total automated sailing.

And this work has yielded results. There are now a number of automated sailing systems on the market. And these sailing systems are attracting an intense interest from the boating community.

And what is attracting boaters is the fact that these systems greatly simplify the entire sailing process. So much so that sailboats that once required a large crew to man, can be manned by crews of just one or two.

Another benefit that older and younger sailors alike appreciate the most about automated sailing systems is the elimination of the physical labor of sailing. And that’s because automated sailing systems work with motors, pulleys and levers to do all sorts of manual tasks, like manipulating booms and grinding winches.

Furthermore, automatic sailing systems are one of the best ways to get a sailing education. Watching how these systems respond to shifts in wind speed and direction allows for you to quickly learn the ropes of manual sailing. And learn without requiring you to lift a single mast or touch a rope. Simply, manipulate a joystick.

The greatest benefit of all though is that these electronic sailing systems combined with electronic stability systems will enable the design of boats that are not only very difficult to capsize, but very likely impossible to capsize. And that is something that will rock any sailor’s boat.