Trolling Motor Stall Feedback via Current Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Trolling motors are prone to damage when attempting to turn in hazardous conditions such as shallow water with obstacles, leading to potential stalling of the steering assembly, which existing systems fail to adequately prevent.
Innovation Solution
A trolling motor system that includes a user input assembly with a foot pedal and feedback device providing haptic, audible, or visual alerts when the motor housing is about to stall, using sensors to detect orientation and current draw to prevent further rotation and potential damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the trolling motor housing is rotated in hazardous conditions (shallow water with obstacles), then the motor may become stuck or damaged, but stopping rotation prevents damage to the steering assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors current draw from the trolling motor and compares it against threshold values. When the current exceeds the threshold (indicating a stall condition), the system provides feedback to the user through the user interface to stop rotating the motor housing, thereby preventing damage to the steering assembly while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of stall conditions by monitoring current draw before actual damage occurs. By detecting when the current approaches or exceeds the threshold, the system alerts the user in advance, allowing them to stop rotation before the steering assembly suffers mechanical damage.
2Productivity
If the steering assembly continues to rotate when stalled, then further rotation is wasted and potentially damaging, but the system lacks awareness of stall conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback to the user interface when a stall condition is detected through current monitoring. This feedback mechanism informs the user that the motor housing is stalled, preventing further wasted rotation and potential damage, thereby optimizing productivity while maintaining system awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously monitors its own operational state by detecting current draw from the trolling motor. This self-service capability allows the system to independently determine when a stall condition exists without external intervention, eliminating information loss about system status.
Data Source
AI summary
An example trolling motor assembly that includes a shaft with an attached trolling motor and a foot pedal is provided herein. Deflection of the foot pedal causes a corresponding rotation in a direction the trolling motor is oriented. A feedback device is coupled with the foot pedal and configured to provide at least one of haptic, audible, or visual feedback to indicate to a user that rotation of the direction of the trolling motor has stalled or is about to stall. In some cases, the feedback device may be present in a handheld remote control device. Example determination that rotation of the direction of the trolling motor has stalled or is about to stall may occur when the user directed rotation input and the actual orientation of the trolling motor are out of sync and/or when a current draw from a motor for rotating the trolling motor is too large.