MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio—Parker Hannifin Corp. said it has become an official supplier of Oracle Team USA, the defending champion of the America's Cup, and will design and implement hydraulic control systems on its racing yachts.
As the “Official Hydraulic Systems Hardware Supplier” to Oracle Team USA, Parker said in a news release that it will “customize proven aerospace and industrial technologies to a marine environment to help power the team's pursuit” of the 35th America's Cup, taking place in 2017.
Terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.
“We are excited to apply our expertise in flight control and motion control systems to help Oracle Team USA design these advanced yachts,” said Craig Maxwell, chief technology officer for Parker Hannifin, in the release.
“Similar to systems we produce for advanced commercial aircraft, the racing yachts in the America's Cup literally take flight when they lift out of the water on foils,” Maxwell said. He said Parker will “work with the team by leveraging our broad portfolio of technologies to provide precise control of the lifting surfaces and the wing (sail) required to produce optimum performance.”
The next America's Cup will be raced in the AC62 class—a foiling catamaran powered by a highly-efficient wingsail, Parker said. The boats “are light, extremely fast, and designed and built at the cutting-edge of technology,” according to the release.
The AC62 is expected to reach maximum speeds near 50 miles per hour, at up to three times the wind speed.
Parker said it will integrate its controls, hydraulics and actuators into a key motion and control system that helps the boat achieve stability as it lifts onto its foils and accelerates.