Handheld Joystick Steering for Orientation-Independent Trolling Motors
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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 awareness.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with a joystick that allows direct steering commands independent of the motor's orientation, using a processor to generate commands that correspond to joystick movements, enabling intuitive steering without requiring knowledge of the motor's current direction.
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 in specific directions, but the user cannot easily determine the orientation of the motor and must make multiple adjustments to achieve the desired direction
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the trolling motor's orientation using a sensor and provides real-time feedback to the user through a display showing the motor's current direction. This feedback loop allows users to see the motor's orientation without making multiple trial adjustments, directly resolving the information loss problem while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary determination of the motor's orientation using sensors before the user attempts to steer. By pre-acquiring orientation data and displaying it to the user, the system eliminates the need for users to make multiple trial adjustments, directly addressing the information gap that causes operational difficulty.
2Measurement precision
If push buttons are used to rotate the trolling motor, then the motor rotates in specific increments, but the user must hold down the button at the exact correct time to avoid overshooting the desired direction
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous visual feedback of the motor's orientation on a display while the user operates the push buttons. Users can see the motor's direction changing in real-time and stop button pressing at the exact desired orientation, eliminating the need for precise timing and making the operation much easier while maintaining rotation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the purely mechanical push-button rotation control with an electronic control system that uses sensors to detect motor orientation and provides visual feedback. This substitution transforms the manual trial-and-error mechanical operation into an informed electronic control process, resolving the contradiction between precision and ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the joystick generates steering commands based on movement from neutral position, then the trolling motor can be steered directly to the desired direction, but the system requires a processor and memory to process movement data and generate commands
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the joystick's inherent movement data from its neutral position as direct input for generating steering commands. The processor automatically processes this movement data and generates the corresponding motor orientation commands without requiring additional sensors or complex computation, achieving intuitive control while keeping the system relatively simple.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple push buttons are used to control trolling motor features, then various functions can be engaged or disengaged, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single joystick control that can generate multiple types of commands depending on its movement characteristics. The same joystick input mechanism serves both steering control and can be configured to control other motor features, reducing the need for multiple separate buttons and switches while maintaining versatility.
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.