Marine Vessel Course Control With Speed-Based Strategy Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual compensation for vessel displacement in marine vessels is prone to errors, especially when operators are unfamiliar with the vessel or under adverse weather conditions, leading to unexpected vessel movements.
Innovation Solution
A method and control unit for marine vessels with two or more drive units that automatically adjust the vessel's heading and speed to maintain a requested straight-line course, switching between low and high speed control strategies based on current vessel speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual compensation for vessel displacement is performed by the operator, then the vessel can be controlled in straight line movement, but the risk of selecting wrong control strategy increases leading to unexpected vessel movements
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically determines and switches between high speed and low speed control strategies based on monitored vessel speed, eliminating the need for operator intervention in strategy selection. The system serves itself by autonomously adapting control parameters to current operating conditions, thereby preventing errors from incorrect strategy selection while maintaining reliable straight line movement control
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vessel speed and uses this feedback to automatically switch between control strategies. When vessel speed exceeds a threshold, the system transitions from low speed to high speed control strategy, and vice versa. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the appropriate control strategy is always applied without requiring operator judgment or skill
2Reliability
If automatic control strategy switching is implemented, then control reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adapts its behavior by switching between two distinct control strategies (high speed and low speed) based on real-time vessel speed conditions. The system transitions from a static control approach to a dynamic one where control parameters automatically adjust to match current operating conditions, improving reliability without requiring complex multi-strategy decision-making logic
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes control parameters (switching between high speed and low speed control strategies) based on the vessel speed parameter. A simple threshold-based parameter change mechanism determines which control strategy to apply, avoiding the need for complex algorithms while maintaining reliable control across different operating conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An operating command indicating a requested vessel direction and plotting a course represented by a reference line for the requested vessel direction from an initial position is registered. It is then monitored if the vessel has deviated from the reference line and if a deviation from the reference line is detected, then a value for current vessel speed is detected. The detected vessel speed value is compared to a predetermined reference speed value to determine if the current vessel speed value is within a high speed interval or a low speed interval relative to the reference speed value. Depending on the determined speed interval the vessel is controlled according a low speed control strategy; or a high speed control strategy in order to move the vessel from a current vessel heading to the reference line and the requested vessel direction.