Boat Steering Load Control for Low Battery Conditions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boat steering systems face issues with incomplete steering due to low battery charge, insufficient electric power, and varying steering loads during turns, especially in multiple outboard motor installations and high-load conditions, leading to potential response delays and cranking failures.
Innovation Solution
A boat steering system that includes a predictive determination unit to compare battery charge with thresholds, a steering load detector to calculate required output values, and a steering load controller to adjust output values and power distribution to ensure sufficient motor output power, along with a load power controller to increase battery charge or reduce load power as needed, based on running states and motor conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the steering motor operates with reduced output power due to low battery charge, then the battery charge amount is preserved, but the steering operation becomes incomplete and response delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of battery charge amount and predictive calculation of required steering power before executing steering operations. This allows the control unit to proactively adjust steering motor output or notify the operator in advance, preventing incomplete steering operations before they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors battery charge amount and compares it with threshold values, while also calculating required steering power based on boat running state and steering state. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of steering motor output to ensure complete steering operations while managing battery consumption
2Reliability
If the steering motor operates with reduced output power, then battery charge is preserved, but steering response time increases causing response delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the output power of the steering motor based on real-time battery charge amount and required steering power calculations. Rather than using fixed reduced power, the control unit optimizes motor output dynamically to maintain adequate response time while preserving battery charge
3Power
If electric power is generated independently by each boat propulsion device, then the system structure is simplified, but the total electric power available for steering becomes insufficient under high-load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines electric power from multiple boat propulsion devices to supply the steering motor. By merging power sources, the total available electric power for steering is increased, ensuring sufficient power availability even under high-load conditions such as multiple outboard motors operating simultaneously
4Use of energy by moving object
If the steering motor is controlled to reduce output power when battery charge is low, then battery charge is preserved, but the steering load control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically performs determination of battery charge amount, calculation of required steering power, and adjustment of steering motor output without requiring external intervention. The system serves itself by integrating these control functions into the existing steering control unit, minimizing additional complexity while improving battery charge management
Data Source
AI summary
A boat that allows effective steering even when the motor output power is decreased due to the low battery charge includes a first predictive determination unit arranged to compare an actual charge amount of a battery supplying an electric power to a steering motor or a predicted charge amount of the battery calculated from a predicted working current with a threshold predetermined in relation to running states; a steering load detector arranged to calculate a required output value of a steering motor necessary to steer an outboard motor while the boat is under way; and a steering load controller arranged to control the required output value to be decreased from the present output value when the first predictive determination unit determines that the threshold is larger than the battery charge amount.