Boat Moving Center Estimation via Angular Acceleration Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the moving center of a boat equipped with an outboard motor are labor-intensive and time-consuming, lacking redundancy and requiring significant effort to establish a one-to-one relation with the boat, making them inefficient for operational improvements.
Innovation Solution
A moving center estimation method that involves setting a provisional center, applying a sample thrust, detecting angular acceleration, comparing it to a threshold, and iteratively adjusting the provisional center using dichotomy to converge on the actual center, allowing for automatic calibration and efficient estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods are used to determine the moving center, then the boat operation system can be established, but the determination requires considerable labor and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-calibration by using the boat's own outboard motors to apply sample thrust and the angular acceleration sensor to detect responses. The moving center estimation device automatically processes the data and determines the moving center without requiring external assistance or manual intervention, thereby reducing both labor and time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical calibration methods with an automated electronic system that uses sensors, processors, and algorithms. The angular acceleration sensor electronically detects boat rotation, and the processing device automatically calculates the moving center based on detected angular acceleration and sample thrust data, substituting labor-intensive mechanical adjustment with automated electronic computation.
2Reliability
If conventional methods are used to determine the moving center, then the boat operation system can be established, but the process lacks redundancy and requires one-to-one relation with the boat
Solution Approach 1:
The moving center estimation device is designed with universal applicability to accommodate different boat types and configurations. The system can handle various outboard motor arrangements (single or dual motors, different positions) by automatically adapting its calibration process. The processing device calculates the moving center based on actual detected angular acceleration responses, allowing the same system to be applied to multiple different boats without requiring boat-specific customization.
3Measurement precision
If iterative adjustment of provisional moving center is performed, then estimation accuracy is improved, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control where the processing device continuously monitors the angular acceleration detected by the sensor and compares it with expected values. Based on this feedback, the system iteratively adjusts the provisional moving center position until convergence is achieved. The feedback loop ensures that the estimation process automatically corrects itself, improving accuracy while the automated nature of the feedback mechanism prevents excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables accurate and simple estimation of the moving center, reducing calibration time and eliminating the need for precise absolute values, thus improving usability and applicability to existing boats.
Implementation Method 1
a sample thrust application step of applying a sample thrust having a predetermined magnitude and direction to the provisional moving center by driving the outboard motor
Implementation Method 2
an angular acceleration detection step of detecting a magnitude and direction of an angular acceleration generated in the boat by application of the sample thrust
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A provisional moving center (g1, g2) is set at a predetermined position in a neighborhood of an actual moving center (G) of a hull (2), a sample thrust (P) having a predetermined magnitude and direction is applied to the provisional moving center (g1, g2) by driving the outboard motor (3a, 3b), a magnitude and direction of an angular acceleration generated in the hull (2) by application of the sample thrust (P) is detected, the magnitude of the angular acceleration is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and a position of the provisional moving center (g2, g3) is changed and set so that the angular acceleration may converge in the threshold value, when the angular acceleration is larger than the threshold value.