Active Helm Pad Vibration Cancellation Using Accelerometer Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles, particularly watercraft, experience significant vibrations due to forces from uneven water, causing operator fatigue, as existing strain reduction components lack active vibration cancellation and increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A system with a helm pad on the helm deck, equipped with a motor and lift mechanism, controlled by a processor using accelerometer measurements to determine counter torque values, actively adjusts the helm pad's position to counteract vibrations, combining passive and active damping for improved comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If passive damping systems (foam pads) are used to reduce vibration perception, then operator comfort is improved, but the system lacks active vibration cancellation capability and increases manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The helm pad is transformed from a static passive damping element to a dynamic active vibration cancellation system. The lift mechanism enables the helm pad to move vertically in response to real-time vibration signals detected by accelerometers, allowing the system to actively counteract vibrations rather than merely passively absorbing them.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates accelerometers that continuously monitor vibrations on the helm deck and feed this information to the control system. The control system processes these signals and adjusts the lift mechanism accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that actively cancels vibrations in real-time.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple strain reduction components (air bladders, mechanical shock) are added to reduce vibrations, then operator comfort is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the helm pad, lift mechanism, motor, and control system into an integrated vibration cancellation unit. This merged system replaces multiple separate strain reduction components (air bladders, mechanical shock absorbers) with a single unified active damping system that achieves the same or better vibration reduction效果 with fewer overall components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical strain reduction components (air bladders, mechanical shock absorbers) with an electro-mechanical system consisting of a motor-driven lift mechanism controlled by electronic sensors and a control algorithm. This substitution simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining or improving vibration reduction performance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing passive damping systems are used, then manufacturing costs increase, but active vibration cancellation is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a motor-driven lift mechanism to change the vertical position of the helm pad dynamically, rather than relying on passive mechanical components. By controlling the motor's torque and speed parameters based on accelerometer feedback, the system achieves active vibration cancellation that can be manufactured at lower cost than complex passive damping systems.
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 effectively reduces operator perception of vibrations and shocks, providing a smoother ride and adjustable comfort settings, while potentially lowering manufacturing costs by integrating both passive and active damping.
Implementation Method 1
a first accelerometer disposed on the helm pad and configured to measure acceleration of the helm pad and a second accelerometer disposed on a vessel hull associated with the helm pad configured to measure acceleration of the vessel hull
Implementation Method 2
determine a counter torque value based on the first accelerometer measurement and the second accelerometer measurement; selectively control the lift mechanism according to the counter torque value using the brushless servo motor
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cancelling vibration includes receiving, from a first accelerometer, a first accelerometer measurement; receiving, from a second accelerometer, a second accelerometer measurement; determining a counter torque value based on the first accelerometer measurement and the second accelerometer measurement; and selectively controlling a lift mechanism according to the counter torque value using a motor, the motor being in mechanical communication with the lift mechanism and the lift mechanism being configured to allow a platform to travel in one of a first direction and a second direction.