Outboard Motor Control Device for Malfunction Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard motor control systems sacrifice propulsion force to maintain turning performance, leading to reduced running speed and complex control due to the need to fix the turning angle of all motors, including non-malfunctioning ones, when a motor malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
An outboard motor control device with a malfunction determination unit, turning angle control stop unit, turning angle range limitation unit, and non-interference control unit to identify and isolate malfunctioning motors, limit the turning angle range of functioning motors, and prevent interference, allowing continued operation at optimal speed and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the turning angle of all outboard motors is fixed when a motor malfunctions, then turning performance is secured, but propulsion force is sacrificed and running speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system segments the outboard motors into malfunctioning and normal groups, applying different control strategies to each group. The malfunctioning motor's turning angle control is stopped while normal motors continue to operate with optimized turning angles, allowing the system to maintain turning performance through normal motors without sacrificing their propulsion force.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fixing the turning angle of all motors (excessive action), the system applies turning angle control only to normal motors (partial action). This partial control is sufficient to maintain vessel turning performance while allowing malfunctioning motors to operate freely and contribute maximum propulsion force.
2Reliability
If the turning angle of all outboard motors is fixed when a motor malfunctions, then turning performance is secured, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system segments motors into malfunctioning and normal categories, applying simplified different control logic to each segment. This segmentation reduces overall control complexity by avoiding the need to manage turning angles for all motors uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of controlling turning angles for all motors (traditional approach), the system inverts the approach by stopping turning angle control for malfunctioning motors while maintaining it only for normal motors. This inversion simplifies the control logic by reducing the number of motors requiring active turning angle management.
3Reliability
If propulsion force is controlled according to the steering angle of the steering handle, then turning performance is maintained, but the control becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies propulsion force control only to normal motors rather than all motors. This partial control approach maintains turning performance through normal motors while simplifying the overall control system by excluding malfunctioning motors from complex coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
Malfunctioning motors operate autonomously without requiring complex coordinated control, contributing propulsion force based on their own operational characteristics. This self-service approach reduces the burden on the control system while still utilizing the malfunctioning motors' propulsion capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard motor control device is arranged to control a plurality of outboard motors. The outboard motor control device includes a malfunction determination unit arranged to determine whether any of the outboard motors is malfunctioning in turning angle control, a turning angle control stop unit arranged to stop turning angle control of an outboard motor determined as malfunctioning in turning angle control by the malfunction determination unit, a turning angle range limitation unit arranged to limit a turning angle range of other normally functioning outboard motor according to a turning angle of the outboard motor malfunctioning in turning angle control, and a turning angle control unit arranged to perform turning angle control of the normally functioning outboard motor in the turning angle range limited by the turning angle range limitation unit.