Patent ID: 8155812

Claim:
An apparatus, relating to controlling deflections of materials of at least one large, dynamically-supported, elongated floatable structure having a plurality of dynamic support points, comprising: a) at least one first set of sensors associated with the materials and respectively spaced at respective sensor locations along at least one first length of the materials substantially parallel to at least one longitudinal axis of the structure; b) at least one controller structured and arranged to take dynamic support action responsive to outputs of said at least one first set of sensors; and c) at least one action system structured and arranged to perform the dynamic support action; d) wherein each respective sensor of said at least one first set of sensors is essentially adapted to measure respective relative inclination at a respective sensor location along the at least one first length of the materials; e) wherein each said sensor essentially provides information in relation to relative inclinations in respective portions of the structure to said at least one controller; f) wherein the dynamic support action taken by said at least one controller comprises minimizing of the relative inclinations; and g) wherein deflections in the materials of the respective portions are be controlled.