Marine Propulsion Buffer-Distance Control for Proximity Speed Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine vessel propulsion control systems fail to effectively limit velocity in the direction of an object based on proximity, leading to potential collisions due to lack of awareness of acceleration limits and environmental factors like currents and waves.
Innovation Solution
A propulsion control system that includes proximity sensors and a controller to calculate and maintain a buffer distance from objects, limiting user input authority and automatically adjusting velocity limits to prevent collisions by determining maximum acceleration and velocity based on object proximity and buffer distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the marine vessel operates with full propulsion control authority, then the vessel can achieve maximum speed and maneuverability, but the vessel may collide with objects due to lack of velocity limitation based on proximity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the velocity limit based on real-time proximity measurements to objects. As the vessel approaches an object, the velocity limit is automatically reduced, creating a dynamic constraint that adapts to the changing environmental conditions while maintaining safe operation
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity sensor system continuously provides feedback about the distance to nearby objects, which the controller uses to calculate and enforce appropriate velocity limits. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the vessel maintains safe distances while optimizing its speed and maneuverability
2Reliability
If the system automatically limits velocity based on proximity, then collision risk is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The controller integrates multiple functions including proximity data processing, velocity limit calculation, propulsion control, and collision prevention into a single control system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems while achieving comprehensive safety management
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically calculates and enforces velocity limits without requiring external intervention or complex operator judgment. The controller self-manages the safety constraints by processing sensor data and adjusting propulsion commands autonomously
Data Source
AI summary
A propulsion control system on a marine vessel includes at least one propulsion device configured to propel the marine vessel and at least one proximity sensor system configured to generate proximity measurements describing proximity of objects surrounding the marine vessel. A control system is configured to receive the proximity measurements, access a preset buffer distance surrounding the marine vessel, calculate a velocity limit for the marine vessel in one or more directions of the objects based on a difference between the proximity measurements and the preset buffer distance surrounding the marine vessel so as to progressively decrease the velocity limit as the marine vessel approaches the preset buffer distance from any of the objects, and control the at least one propulsion device such that a velocity of the marine vessel does not exceed the velocity limit in the direction of any of the objects.