Marine Gesture Control With Motion Filtering for Vessel Devices
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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 that filters out unintended movements and adapts to vessel motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional button or touchscreen-based control is used, then the marine devices can be operated, but the user's hands are occupied and manual interaction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical button pressing and touchscreen interaction with acoustic wave-based control. The acoustic sensor detects sound waves from user commands (e.g., voice commands or whistling) to control marine devices, eliminating the need for physical contact and freeing the user's hands for fishing activities.
2Ease of operation
If touch-based control is used, then the interface can be manipulated, but environmental factors like water, oils, and sunlight interfere with operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes acoustic wave detection for mechanical and optical touch interfaces. Acoustic sensors detect sound waves that penetrate water, oils, and other environmental contaminants without being blocked, providing reliable control in marine environments where traditional touch interfaces fail.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual interaction with mounted displays is required, then control functions can be accessed, but the user must reposition themselves causing distraction and loss of control
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the user to remain in their current position and control the marine device through acoustic commands. The acoustic sensor receives commands from the user's location without requiring them to move to or near the mounted display, maintaining both accessibility and stability.
4Device complexity
If conventional control interfaces are used, then the system structure remains simple, but the complexity of handling manual operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acoustic sensors and signal processing capabilities to replace complex manual manipulation of physical interfaces. While this adds electronic components, it simplifies the user interaction model from complex hand-eye coordination to simple acoustic commands, improving operational simplicity.
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 provides hands-free, intuitive control of marine devices, enhancing user experience by minimizing manual interaction and improving usability in challenging environments, allowing users to focus on activities like fishing while maintaining control of the vessel.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic sensor configured to detect a sound wave generated by a user input
Data Source
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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.