Marine Gesture Control With Motion Filtering for Vessel Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control systems for marine devices on watercrafts are inconvenient and distracting, often requiring manual interaction which can be difficult due to environmental factors and the need to maintain control of the vessel, leading to interference with operations like fishing or boating.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sensor module that enables touchless control of marine devices using intuitive gestures, such as head pointing or vibrations, allowing users to operate systems like sonar and radar without physical contact, integrated with a controller to filter out unintended movements and provide an immersive virtual reality experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch-based control (buttons, touchscreen displays) is used for marine devices, then the user can operate the devices, but the user's hands are occupied and control is difficult during fishing or boating activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical touch-based control systems with an optical motion detection system. The sensor module detects gestures and movements through optical fields rather than requiring physical contact with buttons or touchscreen displays. This substitution allows users to operate marine devices using hand waves or body movements without occupying their hands, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sensor module as an intermediary between the user and the marine devices. This intermediary detects gestures and movements and translates them into control commands, eliminating the need for direct physical interaction with the devices. The sensor module acts as a mediator that converts natural human movements into operational commands, improving ease of operation while managing system complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If touch-based control interfaces are used, then the user can interact with marine electronics, but obstacles such as motion of the boat and materials coating fingers interfere with control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical touch interfaces that are susceptible to environmental interference with an optical motion detection system. The sensor module detects gestures through optical fields rather than requiring physical contact, making the control system immune to materials coating fingers, water, oils, and boat motion. This substitution directly addresses the reliability issue by eliminating the physical contact requirement that causes interference from environmental factors.
3Ease of operation
If manual interaction with mounted displays is required, then the user can control marine devices, but the visibility of displays is affected by environment and the user must reach and manipulate the display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor module as an intermediary that detects gestures and translates them into control commands for marine devices. This intermediary eliminates the need for users to physically reach and manipulate mounted displays, allowing control from a distance without being affected by display visibility issues caused by environmental factors such as sunlight, weather, or water conditions.
4Productivity
If the user must reach and manipulate mounted displays, then control is possible, but the user may lose control of fishing rod or trolling motor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical touch-based control with optical gesture recognition, allowing users to operate marine devices without releasing their fishing rods or trolling motors. The sensor module detects hand waves or body movements and converts them into control commands, enabling continuous productivity in fishing activities while maintaining ease of operation through contactless control.
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
This solution enhances operational control by allowing hands-free operation of marine devices, improving convenience and reducing distractions, while maintaining control of the vessel during activities like fishing or boating, and filtering out environmental interference.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor module may include motion sensing to control various operations of the connected marine devices via the controller
Implementation Method 2
the sensor module may include a radar-based motion sensor to detect gestures and/or actions from the user
Implementation Method 3
the sensor module may include a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations of the user (e.g., stomping, sounds, vocalizations)
Implementation Method 4
the controller may be configured to filter out unintentional movements of the user or sensor, such as may be caused by motion of the marine vessel
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, assemblies, and methods for conveniently operating marine devices associated with a watercraft are provided herein. An example system includes a controller, a sensor module, and a marine device. The controller is configured to receive a user input indicating a desired action via the sensor module and transmit a signal to the marine device to cause the marine device to operate in a particular manner. The sensor module may include one or more motion sensors, and the controller may be configured to filter unintentional movement from the raw motion data sensed by the sensor module, such as due to movement of the watercraft floating on the surface of the water. Thus, the system may enable convenient and intuitive control over various marine devices associated with the watercraft.