Watercraft Automatic Anchoring Control System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling anchored watercraft lack the ability to actively correct for slippage and incorrect anchoring, leading to safety concerns and increased effort for crew members.
Innovation Solution
A control system comprising a controller and measuring means on the watercraft, which measures pulling forces, lateral forces, and rope position to automatically adjust the watercraft's orientation and anchoring to maintain stability and prevent slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anchor alarms and monitoring devices are used to detect slippage, then safety monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and crew effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple monitoring functions (pulling force measurement, lateral force measurement, rope position detection, GPS positioning) into a single integrated control system that automatically processes data and triggers corrective actions, eliminating the need for separate alarm devices and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects anchoring issues, determines corrective actions, and executes them through automated drive and steering control, enabling the watercraft to self-correct anchoring problems without requiring crew intervention or additional manual monitoring devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If the watercraft drifts around the anchor on a long anchor chain, then anchoring flexibility is improved, but position measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures the actual position of the watercraft using GPS and compares it with the desired position relative to the anchor, using this feedback to automatically adjust drive and steering commands to maintain accurate positioning even when drifting on a long anchor chain
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it monitors position, calculates drift, determines corrective actions, and executes automated steering and propulsion control, making the system adaptable to various anchoring scenarios while maintaining measurement accuracy
3Adaptability or versatility
If anchor chain length is increased to allow drifting, then anchoring versatility is improved, but anchor load measurement and slippage detection become less accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement methods (such as physical indicators on the anchor chain) with electronic sensing systems that use force sensors, GPS positioning, and computational algorithms to accurately measure anchor load and detect slippage regardless of chain length
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes data from multiple sensors (force measurement, position GPS, rope position detection) to indirectly but accurately determine anchor load and slippage conditions, maintaining measurement precision even with extended anchor chains
4Reliability
If automatic control systems are implemented to correct anchoring issues, then safety and stability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates force measurement sensors, position detection systems, GPS receivers, and automated drive/steering control into a single unified control system that processes all inputs and executes corrective actions automatically, reducing the need for separate complex subsystems
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically detects anchoring problems, determines appropriate corrective actions based on pre-programmed logic, and executes them through automated control of the watercraft's drive and steering means, eliminating the need for additional manual intervention systems or complex human-machine interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a watercraft (1) with automatic control, where, automatically, a force, in particular, a pulling force on a fastening rope is measured and a controlling of the drive and/or a steering means is provided to counteract the force or, e.g., to limit the same.