Donald Macpherson News

From the standpoint of vehicle propulsion physics, an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) is little different from your personal ski boat or a tanker. It shares the Vessel-Propulsor-Drive system model, which allows a Propulsor to convert Drive energy into thrust for the purpose of moving a Vessel. The basic principles of thrust equilibrium and motion are common to all three, as are the translation of rotational energy into axial thrust by the central element of the system – the…

HydroComp NavCad, internationally recognized for resistance and propulsion prediction for naval architects, can also leverage analysis capabilities with features that support optimized hull form and propulsion system design. NavCad may be most well-known for its library of parametric-statistical hull form and propulsion system models (often called “1D” models). The recent introduction of the Premium Edition now brings a higher-order distributed-analytical (“2D”) hull form analysis to design optimization.

Hydrocomp’s ProCad facilitates in-house Process Control of Propeller Design and Manufacture. Maritime Tactical Systems Inc. (MARTAC) is a Florida-based company building next-generation unmanned vessels for military applications. In preparation for the “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) military exercises in Pearl Harbor this last July, MARTAC needed a new propeller design for their MANTAS series high-speed vessels. Unfortunately, their current supplier was not meeting delivery schedules for the high-quality surface-piercing propellers that they need…

A special version of HydroComp's intensive Propeller Workshops will be brought to Tampa before the start of IBEX 2014. The Mini-Workshop is a special version of HydroComp’s intensive Propeller Workshops for those involved in design, construction and operation of workboats and pleasure crafts. These two half-day educational seminars will focus on topics of Successful Pre-construction Propeller Selection (including principles of marine propulsion and initial propeller sizing) and…

HydroComp, Inc. began as a business venture in 1984 to meet the specific needs of naval architects and shipbuilders in the area of resistance and power predictions. Thirty years later, HydroComp has grown into a multifaceted corporation with clients from design to construction to academia in more than 60 countries. Founded in 1984 in New Hampshire, U.S. by Jill Aaron (Managing Director) and Donald MacPherson (Technical Director), HydroComp was a pioneer in the very specific area of applied hydrodynamics. This focus shaped a line of unique naval architectural software packages beginning with our flagship product NavCad, and which now include SwiftCraft, PropExpert, PropCad, SwiftTrial and most recently, PropElements.

KND Naval Design of Cape Town, South Africa successfully completed its first in class 10M Advanced Life Support Ambulance and Rescue vessel for Africa. This vessel was designed and built entirely in Cape Town. This project used HydroComp propulsion software to analyze and examine sea trial performance. Naval architect Kobus Potgieter captured a USA styled 1960’s retro ambulance look-and-feel for the boat. He also used “Batmobile” oversized fenders and flowing lines which can be seen in the vessel’s coach and shape of the hull.

HydroComp Inc. announced that it is participating in the IOWA Project. Recreating a model of a fully functioning historical battleship requires time, passion, and dedication. Donn McKinney’s passion will soon produce a fully operational and functional replica of four Iowa Class battleships ships: The U.S.S. Missouri (BB-63), U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61), U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62) and U.S.S. Wisconsin (BB-64). Several donors have teamed with McKinney on this project. HydroComp was called upon to assist with the recreation of the ship propellers.

Twenty-five years ago HydroComp was formed with a mission to provide naval architects and ship builders with resistance and propulsion analysis solutions. HydroComp was formed as a corporation in 1984 by Jill Aaron, Managing Director, and Donald MacPherson, Technical Director. This partnership continues to direct HydroComp's evolution and growth. HydroComp now serves software customers and consulting clients in over 50 countries. NavCad is still HydroComp's flagship product, with users in all corners of the world from design to construction to academia. In addition to NavCad, HydroComp's software products grew to include PropExpert, PropCad, and SwiftCraft programs for propeller sizing & analysis, propeller CAD, and resistance and powering.

The early 1980s witnessed the birth of the first generation Autohydro by Coastdesign Inc. (now called Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC)). Autohydro was one of a very few PC-based first principles stability and longitudinal strength programs available on the market of the day. Running in DOS, Autohydro quickly became world-renowned as a robust, dependable design and analysis tool for the creation of trim and stability books. Even today, some users of these early versions of Autohydro call ASC asking for advice. Since those early times, ASC has continued to improve Autohydro. The most recent release, Autohydro 6.0, includes many new features that hundreds of naval architects around the world rely on for their hydrostatic and strength calculations.