Marine Auto-Range Map Overlay for Fuel Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel gauges in marine vehicles provide limited information, hindering efficient fuel management during trips, as they do not account for various environmental and navigational factors that affect the range of the watercraft.
Innovation Solution
A marine electronics device that determines current conditions such as fuel level, location, wind, currents, and cartographic data to generate a map overlay indicating possible destinations within the watercraft's range, considering factors like water depth, speed limits, and no wake zones, allowing users to visualize and plan their route effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traditional fuel gauge is used to indicate remaining fuel, then the driver can see fuel level, but the information provided is limited and does not help efficiently manage fuel usage during trips
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments fuel management information into multiple dimensions: remaining fuel level, calculated range under different conditions, and multiple possible destinations. This breaks down the single fuel gauge reading into actionable segments that help drivers make informed decisions about route planning and refueling timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds spatial and conditional dimensions to fuel information by displaying multiple possible destinations on a map overlay, each representing a different fuel management scenario. This transforms the one-dimensional fuel level indicator into a multi-dimensional decision support tool that shows range under various speed and condition assumptions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple factors (wind, current, speed, fuel level) are considered to calculate accurate range, then the range information becomes more accurate, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional processing approach where a single computational engine handles multiple factors (fuel level, wind, current, speed) and generates multiple scenarios (different destinations, different speed assumptions). This universal processing framework achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into one integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts calculation parameters based on real-time conditions, varying the weight and impact of different factors (wind, current, speed) depending on their current values. This allows accurate range calculation across diverse conditions without requiring separate complex systems for each scenario.
3Loss of information
If real-time conditions (wind, current, tide) are monitored to update range, then the information remains current and useful, but the energy consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic updates of range calculations based on changing conditions rather than continuous real-time processing. By monitoring factors like wind, current, and tide at scheduled intervals and recalculating range when significant changes occur, the system maintains information currency while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring and processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods are provided herein for performing marine auto-ranging. Marine auto-ranging may include the functionality to determine current conditions associated with a watercraft (e.g., remaining fuel, location, speed, wind, current, etc.) and determine a range for the watercraft and, in turn, possible destinations for the watercraft that are within range on a map. A marine electronic device may be configured to display a map and overlay the map with an indication of how far a watercraft could travel based on such current conditions, such as a highlighted or shaded geographical area around a current location of the watercraft on the map.