Ship Propulsion Control for Direction-Switching Turns

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ship maneuvering systems face challenges in accurately controlling ship movements during turns due to time lags in propulsion direction changes, leading to unwanted rotation and misalignment with the operator's intended azimuth.

Innovation Solution

A control device that coordinates the propulsion units to switch propulsion directions while stopping the generation of propulsion in units that do not change direction, synchronizing the propulsion forces to maintain accurate ship maneuvering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If propulsion units switch direction during turning, then the ship can change heading, but time lag in direction change causes unwanted rotation and misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveship maneuvering accuracyVSAvoidpropulsion direction switching time lag

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device stops propulsion generation in advance before the propulsion unit switches direction. This preliminary action prevents the time lag during direction switching from causing unwanted rotation, as the propulsion force is already stopped before the switching completes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device monitors the switching state of propulsion units and dynamically adjusts propulsion generation based on real-time feedback. When a propulsion unit is switching direction, the control device detects this state and stops propulsion generation from other units accordingly, preventing misalignment during the transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If one propulsion unit switches direction while another continues generating propulsion, then turning can continue, but the ship rotates uncontrollably during direction changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturning speedVSAvoidship rotation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control device uses feedback from the propulsion unit switching state to control propulsion generation. When one unit is switching direction, the control device stops propulsion in other units to maintain rotational stability, then resumes when switching completes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts propulsion generation based on the real-time state of propulsion units. Propulsion generation is stopped during switching periods and resumed after switching completes, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250296672A1Control device and control method

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

The control device causes the first propulsion unit to generate a propulsion in the forward direction and the second propulsion unit to generate a propulsion in the backward direction, thereby turning the ship. The control device performs at least one of the first control, and the second control. The first control is configured by causing the second propulsion unit to switch the direction of the propulsion force to be generated from the backward direction to the forward direction, and causing the first propulsion unit to stop the generation of the propulsion force. The second control is configured by causing the first propulsion unit to switch the direction of the propulsion force to be generated from the forward direction to the backward direction, and causing the second propulsion unit to stop the generation of the propulsion force.