Marine Drive Steering Clearance Control for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steering systems for marine drives face issues with moving components that risk collision or interference with adjacent parts of the propulsion system or marine vessel, leading to increased wear and potential damage, and the need to maintain clearances and prevent external objects from entering the operational envelope.
Innovation Solution
A steering control system that includes sensors to detect the position of marine drives and obstructions, determining minimum clearances, and setting operational parameters such as pivot speed and actuation force to prevent collisions by limiting actuator control based on clearance values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the steering assembly operates with high pivot speed and actuation force to improve responsiveness, then the steering response time is reduced, but the risk of collision with adjacent parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering control system dynamically adjusts operational parameters including pivot speed and actuation force based on real-time clearance measurements. The system transitions from static parameter settings to dynamic adaptation, modifying steering behavior according to the proximity of marine drives to obstructions, thereby resolving the contradiction between fast response and collision avoidance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where sensors continuously monitor the position of marine drives relative to obstructions, and the controller adjusts operational parameters based on this feedback. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain high pivot speeds when clearances are adequate while automatically reducing speed when obstructions are detected, thus achieving both responsiveness and safety
2Reliability
If the steering assembly maintains large clearances to prevent collisions, then the reliability improves, but the steering effectiveness and maneuverability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts clearance requirements based on operational context. Rather than maintaining fixed large clearances that limit maneuverability, the system adjusts operational parameters in real-time, allowing aggressive steering when clearances are adequate and conservative operation when obstructions are present, thus maintaining both reliability and steering effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The controller modifies operational parameters such as pivot speed and actuation force based on measured clearance values. When clearances are sufficient, the system operates with parameters that maximize steering effectiveness. When clearances decrease below thresholds, parameters are adjusted to prioritize collision prevention, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining safety margins and preserving maneuverability
3Reliability
If sensors and control systems are added to detect clearances and adjust operations, then the collision risk is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical clearance maintenance mechanisms with electronic sensing and control. Instead of using physical stops, guards, or mechanical limiters that would add complexity, the invention uses sensors to detect clearance and electronic control to adjust operational parameters, achieving collision prevention with simpler overall system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The steering control system is self-regulating, automatically detecting clearances and adjusting its own operational parameters without external intervention. The system monitors its own state through sensors and autonomously modifies pivot speed and actuation force, eliminating the need for complex external monitoring and control infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling steering for a marine vessel includes sensing at least one position of at least one drive assembly on the marine vessel, wherein each drive assembly includes a marine drive, a mounting assembly configured to pivotably support the marine drive, and a steering assembly configured to pivot the marine drive about its respective steering axis. The method further includes determining a minimum clearance between the drive assembly and an obstruction based on the at least one sensed position and setting at least one operational parameter for the steering assembly based on the minimum clearance, wherein setting the at least one operational parameter includes setting a maximum pivot speed for pivoting the marine drive about its steering axis and a maximum actuation force for pivoting the marine drive about its steering axis. The steering assembly is then controlled based on the at least one operational parameter.