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Competition sailboats and large sailing yachts are now equipped with increasingly sophisticated on-board systems for analyzing trim at sea. Drawing on technology used in the automotive and cartography industries, two French companies now offer a system for visualizing the actual shape of a sail downwind: Exocet FlyingShape. This system, designed by MDS and Pixel sur Mer, is based on an on-board LiDAR device enabling 3D modeling of the sail during navigation.
An on-board LiDAR-based sail measurement system
Measuring the shape of a sail at sea remains a major challenge, as flow dynamics, material deformation and sea state make observation uncertain. To capture this geometry in real time, the Exocet FlyingShape system uses a series of LiDAR sensors that continuously scan the sail. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) measures distances with a laser beam, and is used here to reconstruct the sail's "envelope" in its actual state.
The data collected is then processed by an on-board computer, which reproduces the shape of the sail using precise parameters: trough depth, position of the trough, twist... This processing can be carried out live on board or a posteriori on land, as required.
Data processing: for whom and what?
The system is aimed primarily at three categories of users: regatta teams (Imoca, Ultim, TP52...), owners of sailing yachts and superyachts, and projects involving marine propulsion.
The data can be cross-referenced with the boat's performance models and the adjustments made during sailing. This enables trimmers to validate or correct their choices. Naval architects can refine their digital models, and sailmakers can adjust their designs. Measured performance can also be used to automate settings for intelligent steering.
Modular design, compatible with existing systems
The system is designed as a plug & play solution. It integrates with Pixel sur Mer's EXOCET ecosystem, in particular with Exocet Blue, and can also be connected to current navigation or data acquisition units. This modularity makes it easy to adopt on board, without having to overhaul existing on-board electronics.
MDS also offers software tools for offline data processing, opening up perspectives for performance analysis over several navigation campaigns.
Two complementary companies at the heart of the project
The genesis of the project goes back to their founders' collaborations on the America's Cup over twenty years ago. Pixel sur Mer, based in Lorient, specializes in high-tech onboard electronics, with expertise in measurement, automation and navigation. Its EXOCET range includes onboard solutions for flight control, data acquisition and intelligent piloting.
For its part, MDS, a spin-off from Benjamin Muyl Design, develops simulation and performance prediction tools, specializing in aero-hydrodynamics and naval architecture. The core software of the Exocet FlyingShape system is designed by MDS.
