Joystick Steering for Trolling Motors Without Orientation Guesswork
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trolling motor steering systems require users to determine the orientation of the motor and manually adjust buttons or pedals to achieve desired directions, leading to frustration due to the need for precise timing and orientation knowledge.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with a joystick that allows direct steering commands without requiring knowledge of the motor's orientation, featuring a processor that generates commands based on joystick movement to rotate the trolling motor to the desired direction, and includes buttons for additional features like virtual anchors and autopilot control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If push buttons or foot pedals are used to steer the trolling motor, then the motor can be rotated to change direction, but the user cannot easily determine the orientation of the trolling motor and must make multiple adjustments to achieve the desired orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual feedback mechanisms including LED indicators and display screens that show the current orientation of the trolling motor relative to the watercraft. This allows the user to immediately see the motor's direction without making trial adjustments, directly resolving the information loss problem while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary orientation indicator system that mediates between the user's steering input and the actual motor orientation. This intermediary provides real-time visual information about the motor's direction, enabling the user to make informed steering decisions without directly observing the motor's position.
2Ease of operation
If push buttons are used to rotate the trolling motor, then the motor can be steered, but the user must continually hold down the button and release at the exact correct time to avoid overshoot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing the user with advance visual information about the motor's current orientation and the effect of upcoming steering commands. This allows the user to plan and execute steering actions more efficiently, reducing the time needed to achieve desired orientation while maintaining ease of control.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time visual feedback on motor orientation and steering progress allows the user to see when the desired orientation is approaching, eliminating the need for precise timing and button release. The feedback mechanism provides continuous information about the motor's movement toward the target direction.
3Measurement precision
If the joystick movement is directly correlated to desired directions, then steering accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases with processor and memory components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical steering mechanisms with an electronic joystick system that uses electrical signals and software processing. This substitution achieves high steering accuracy through digital signal processing while the overall system complexity is managed by integrating components into a unified electronic control architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for steering a trolling motor of a watercraft is provided. The device comprises a housing and a joystick attached to the housing, pivotably supported for movement from a neutral position in directions radial to an axis of the joystick. The movement from the neutral position generates a steering command for the trolling motor. The device has a transmitter within the housing and a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the joystick. The device may further include a memory including a computer program code. The computer program code is configured when executed by the processor to receive movement data from the joystick, generate a steering command from the movement data, and transmit the steering command to the trolling motor. The steering command causes the trolling motor to rotate to aim in the steer direction to cause the watercraft to travel based on the joystick movement.