Coordinated Trolling and Kicker Motor Control for Watercraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fishermen face challenges in controlling multiple motors on a watercraft independently, which leads to reduced fishing time, limited precision in watercraft movement, and increased battery drain.
Innovation Solution
A system that connects motors, such as a trolling motor and a kicker motor, to processors, allowing for coordinated operation based on selected modes (e.g., drift, economical, bait, cruise, rough conditions, drift sock) to achieve desired movement properties with high precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each motor is controlled independently by the user, then the user has direct control over each motor, but the user must devote significant time to controlling the motors and cannot focus on other tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent motor controls into a unified mode-based control system. Instead of requiring separate control of each motor, the system merges them into coordinated groups (e.g., group A and group B) that operate together under selected modes, significantly reducing the user's control time and cognitive load.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs self-service by automatically coordinating motor operations based on pre-programmed modes. Once the user selects a mode, the system autonomously manages the complex motor control tasks, freeing the user to focus on fishing activities without manual intervention in each motor's operation.
2Ease of operation
If each motor is controlled independently, then the user can adjust each motor separately, but the watercraft can only move with limited precision and cannot achieve complex movement properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges independent motor controls into coordinated groups that work together to achieve precise watercraft positioning and complex movement patterns. By combining the thrust vectors of multiple motors under unified control, the system achieves precision and complexity unattainable through independent motor control alone.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple motors operate independently, then each motor can function at its own power level, but the battery experiences increased drain limiting time on the water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power management across multiple motors into a unified system that optimizes total power consumption. By coordinating motor operations and selecting from pre-programmed modes, the system achieves the same watercraft performance with reduced overall battery drain compared to independent motor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters by selecting from different pre-programmed modes that optimize power distribution. Each mode configures motor power levels and coordination patterns to achieve specific performance goals while minimizing energy consumption, allowing adaptable power management without sacrificing versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for controlling operations of at least two motors on a watercraft on a body of water. The system comprises a kicker motor, a trolling motor, one or more processors, and memory including computer program code. The computer program code is configured to, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive an indication regarding a current mode of operation for the watercraft, determine, based on the current mode, a first setting for the kicker motor, and determine, based on the current mode, a second setting for the trolling motor. The computer program code is also configured to, when executed, cause the one or more processors to cause (i) the kicker motor to operate according to the first setting, and (ii) the trolling motor to operate according to the second setting so as to cause the watercraft to operate according to the current mode.