Automatic Vessel Steering With Unlockable Manual Emergency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatically navigable marine vessel steering systems fail to navigate during emergency situations when the automatic vessel steering mode is fixed, rendering the vessel unnavigable.
Innovation Solution
A vessel steering system with a boat controller that can shift from automatic to manual mode upon receiving an unlock key, allowing a qualified operator to take control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vessel steering mode is fixed in the automatic vessel steering mode to ignore third-party operations, then the automatic navigation reliability is improved, but the adaptability to emergency situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel steering system dynamically switches between automatic and manual modes based on operational needs. The boat controller automatically transitions from automatic vessel steering mode to manual vessel steering mode when third-party operation is detected, enabling the system to adapt its control characteristics in real-time while maintaining reliability in normal conditions and providing manual override capability in emergency situations.
2Extent of automation
If the vessel steering system operates in automatic mode only, then the automation level is improved, but the ease of operation in emergencies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel steering system provides self-service through automatic navigation under normal conditions, eliminating the need for continuous manual operation. However, it also enables manual service when needed by automatically switching to manual vessel steering mode upon detecting third-party operation, ensuring both high automation during routine operations and immediate manual controllability during emergencies.
3Device complexity
If the vessel steering mode remains fixed in automatic mode, then the system complexity is reduced, but the loss of operational flexibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel steering system achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both automatic and manual vessel steering modes within a single integrated system. The boat controller automatically detects third-party operation and switches between modes, allowing the system to perform both automatic navigation and manual control functions without requiring separate independent systems, thus maintaining relatively low complexity while preserving full operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A marine vessel includes a vessel steering system including a boat controller configured or programmed to include an automatic vessel steering mode and a manual vessel steering mode as vessel steering modes. When a password to release a locked state is input to a multifunction display in a locked state where the vessel steering mode is fixed in the automatic vessel steering mode, the boat controller is configured or programmed to shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode.