Marine Vessel Propulsion Device Positioning Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for maneuvering marine vessels often result in unnecessary movement of propulsion devices, leading to undesired rotation or yaw and surge, which can negatively impact handling and cause disturbances for passengers, as well as wear on steering components.
Innovation Solution
A system with programmable controllers that control marine propulsion devices to move into an unaligned position for transverse movement and remain in that position after the movement is achieved, reducing unnecessary alignment changes during longitudinal or rotational requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If propulsion devices are moved into unaligned position to achieve transverse movement, then transverse movement capability is improved, but unnecessary movement and wear on steering actuators occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational mode of propulsion devices based on the magnitude of requested longitudinal movement. For small longitudinal movements (below threshold), the system maintains the unaligned position from transverse movement rather than returning to aligned position, reducing unnecessary actuator cycles and wear while maintaining maneuverability.
2Productivity
If propulsion devices return to aligned position after transverse movement, then longitudinal movement efficiency is improved, but undesired rotation or yaw of the vessel occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically determines whether to return propulsion devices to aligned position based on the magnitude of subsequent longitudinal movement requests. When longitudinal movement is below a predetermined threshold, the system maintains the unaligned position to prevent undesired vessel rotation or yaw, thereby preserving orientation stability while still achieving the required longitudinal movement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If propulsion devices remain in unaligned position for small longitudinal movements, then vessel orientation stability is improved, but energy efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a threshold-based parameter change approach where the decision to maintain or return to aligned position depends on the magnitude of requested longitudinal movement. This parameter-based control strategy ensures that propulsion devices remain in unaligned position only when necessary (for small longitudinal movements), balancing orientation stability with energy efficiency by avoiding unnecessary position changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for maneuvering a marine vessel comprise a plurality of marine propulsion devices that are movable between an aligned position to achieve of movement of the marine vessel in a longitudinal direction and/or rotation of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal direction and an unaligned position to achieve transverse movement of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal direction. A controller has a programmable circuit and controls the plurality of marine propulsion devices to move into the unaligned position when a transverse movement of the marine vessel is requested and to thereafter remain in the unaligned position after the transverse movement is achieved. Methods of maneuvering a marine vessel comprise requesting transverse movement of the marine vessel with respect to a longitudinal direction and operating a controller to orient a plurality of marine propulsion devices into an unaligned position to achieve the transverse movement, wherein the plurality of marine propulsion devices remain in the unaligned position after the transverse movement is achieved.