Marine Hull Propulsion Control for Wave Impact Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hull behavior control systems for marine vessels fail to adequately reduce damage and improve crew comfort when navigating waves, as they often result in excessive impact forces due to improper wave traversal techniques.

Innovation Solution

A hull behavior control system that uses a controller and memory to estimate wave movement and adjust propulsion force or hull posture to prevent excessive impact by reducing vessel speed or changing the hull's posture before traversing waves, thereby minimizing the impact force on the hull.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the steering device is controlled so that the bow or stern of the hull faces the waves, then the hull stability is improved, but the impact force on the hull when traveling over waves increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehull stabilityVSAvoidimpact force on hull

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device reduces propulsion force in advance before the hull reaches the wave crest, based on predicted wave conditions. This preliminary action prevents the hull from gaining excessive speed that would cause severe impact when landing on the water after riding the wave, while still maintaining the stabilizing effect of facing the waves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the propulsion force based on real-time wave conditions and predicted future wave states. By making the propulsion force variable rather than constant, the system can maintain hull stability through wave-facing orientation while reducing impact forces at critical moments when approaching wave crests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the propulsion force is reduced to lower vessel speed, then the impact force on the hull is reduced, but the productivity of the marine vessel decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact force on hullVSAvoidvessel speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device applies periodic reductions in propulsion force at specific intervals - only when approaching wave crests based on predicted wave conditions. Between these critical moments, the vessel maintains normal propulsion force and speed, thus achieving impact reduction without continuous productivity loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies propulsion force reduction only partially - specifically during critical moments when approaching wave crests - rather than continuously reducing speed. This partial action is sufficient to reduce impact forces while minimizing the effect on overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11964742B2Hull behavior control system and marine vessel

Publication Date: 2024.04.23 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A hull behavior control system includes a memory and at least one controller coupled to the memory. The at least one controller is configured or programmed to control a propulsion force of the marine vessel using a propeller of the marine vessel, obtain a water surface shape around the marine vessel, estimate movement of a wave based on the water surface shape, and reduce the propulsion force by controlling the propeller when it is determined that an impact force equal to or greater than a threshold value will act on the hull after the hull travels over the wave whose movement has been estimated.