Boat Steering Motor Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boat steering systems face inefficiencies and response delays due to insufficient electric power, especially when battery charge is low, leading to inadequate steering performance and potential faulty engine starts during heavy loads, high-speed travel, or abrupt steering.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a steering load detector, motor output detector, prediction determination unit, and electric power load control unit to assess and adjust the necessary electric power supply to the steering motor, ensuring effective steering by increasing power when needed and reducing load on other electric apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the steering motor output is reduced to match available battery power, then energy consumption is optimized, but steering performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the steering motor output based on real-time battery charge levels and steering load conditions. When battery charge is sufficient, the motor operates at full capacity for optimal steering performance. When battery charge decreases, the system adaptively reduces motor output to match available power while maintaining acceptable steering functionality, thus optimizing energy utilization without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors battery charge amount and steering load through sensors and feedback mechanisms. This feedback loop enables the control unit to real-time adjust motor output to match available power while ensuring steering requirements are met. The feedback system detects when power becomes insufficient and triggers appropriate responses to maintain the balance between energy conservation and steering reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electric power is allocated to multiple devices simultaneously, then system functionality is maintained, but steering response becomes delayed under heavy load
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that manages power distribution among multiple devices. It monitors the power consumption of support devices, PTT, engine starter, and other electrical components, and dynamically adjusts their operation to ensure sufficient power is available for steering. When steering power becomes insufficient, the control unit mediates by reducing or suspending non-critical device operations to prioritize steering motor power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service power management where the control unit automatically detects power insufficiency conditions and reallocates power resources without external intervention. When battery charge becomes low or power demand exceeds supply, the system autonomously adjusts the operation of various devices to ensure steering motor receives adequate power, maintaining steering response speed while preserving overall system functionality.
3Reliability
If battery charge amount is increased to maintain steering motor output, then steering performance is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates the power management function from the steering control function. Instead of increasing battery capacity, the invention extracts the power optimization task and assigns it to a dedicated control unit that independently manages power distribution. This separation allows the steering motor to receive adequate power when needed without requiring an oversized battery system, maintaining steering performance while avoiding the complexity of a larger power storage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of various devices dynamically based on battery charge levels and power availability. Rather than increasing battery capacity, the control unit adjusts parameters such as device operation modes, power consumption levels, and operational timing to ensure sufficient power is available for steering. This parameter-based approach maintains steering reliability while avoiding the complexity of hardware expansion.
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
The system enables efficient steering control by maintaining a constant motor output, ensuring propulsive force is secured even with reduced battery charge, thereby improving steering performance and preventing engine start failures.
Implementation Method 1
a steering motor arranged to steer the boat propulsion unit based on steering control of the boat propulsion unit operation controller
Data Source
AI summary
A boat includes a steering load detector arranged to calculate an output value of a steering motor necessary for steering an outboard motor in a traveling state, a motor output detector arranged to detect a possible output value that can be output by the steering motor, a prediction determination unit arranged to compare the necessary output value from the steering load detector with the possible output value from the motor output detector, and an electric power load control unit arranged to perform a control operation so as to increase a battery charge amount and/or to reduce the electric power load when the necessary output value is determined to be larger than the possible output value. As a result, the boat that can effectively perform steering when a motor output becomes small as a result of a reduced battery charge amount.