Watercraft Drift Navigation With Boundary Return Autopilot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fishing technologies in watercraft require motorized activity to maintain position, disrupting the fishing experience and limiting the ability to drift through desirable fishing habitats.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows watercraft to drift through a defined boundary area using environmental conditions, alerting the user when exiting the boundary and automatically navigating back to the starting point, enabling uninterrupted fishing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If motorized activity is used to maintain position or follow a path, then position control and route following are improved, but the fishing experience deteriorates due to disruption and inability to drift naturally
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between motorized mode (for initial positioning and boundary return) and drift mode (for fishing). The autopilot engages the motor only when needed to return to the starting position after drifting out of the boundary area, otherwise allowing natural drift conditions to prevail.
Solution Approach 2:
The watercraft utilizes natural environmental forces (currents, wind) to drift through the boundary area and return to the starting position. The system monitors position and automatically triggers motorized return only when the watercraft exits the defined boundary, eliminating the need for continuous motorized control.
2Measurement precision
If the user manually monitors and repositions the watercraft, then positioning accuracy is improved, but time is lost and fishing continuity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the watercraft's position relative to the defined boundary area using GPS or other positioning systems. When the watercraft drifts outside the boundary, the system automatically engages the autopilot to return to the starting position, providing closed-loop feedback without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary area and starting position are pre-defined before drifting begins. The system has already determined the optimal drift path and return trajectory in advance, allowing immediate automated response when the boundary is exceeded, eliminating delays associated with manual calculation and decision-making.
3Stability of the object's composition
If continuous motor engagement is used to maintain predetermined position, then position stability is improved, but energy consumption increases and natural drift is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is engaged periodically only when the watercraft exits the boundary area and needs to return to the starting position. During the drift phase within the boundary, the motor remains disengaged, allowing natural drift conditions to prevail and minimizing energy consumption while maintaining positional stability only when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and method for providing navigational control of a watercraft are provided herein. The system comprises a display, processor and memory. The memory including computer program code is configured to cause presentation of a chart on the display including at least a portion of the body of water. The system further receives user input indicating initiation of a drift protocol, including indication of a boundary area for which the watercraft will drift through, and causes presentation of the boundary area on the chart. The system determines an instance when the watercraft drifts outside of the boundary area and provides an alert when the watercraft exits or nears the boundary area. The system determines a starting position corresponding to the boundary area and engages an autopilot to cause the watercraft to navigate to the starting position or provides instructions to enable the user to navigate the watercraft to the starting position.