Energy-saving potential for surface vehicles by lift-off from the water surface through recycling the drag force of flapping foils

Key Points

• Flapping foils enable lift-off, leading to significant energy savings in surface vehicles.
• Energy savings of up to 30% were noted with flapping foils on vehicle performance.
• Assessment using drag force recycling mechanisms shows potential for improved vehicle efficiency.
• These findings suggest the need for further exploration of flapping foils in real-world vehicle design.