Watercraft Pattern Sailing Control With Obstacle Path Intervention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watercraft maneuvering systems require significant user skill and attention to navigate predetermined patterns, especially when obstacles are present, and automatic steering systems lack effective obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A watercraft maneuvering control apparatus equipped with an obstacle sensor, pattern sailing commander, and a controller that computes an expected sailing area and suspends or cancels the pattern sailing when obstacles are detected, allowing for automatic obstacle avoidance and resumption of the sailing pattern when safe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic pattern steering is used to free the user from steering operations, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the user cannot respond to obstacles in time
Solution Approach 1:
The obstacle sensor and controller enable the watercraft to automatically detect and respond to obstacles without user intervention. The system monitors the sailing path in advance and autonomously suspends pattern sailing when obstacles are detected, allowing the watercraft to serve itself in avoiding collisions while maintaining automatic steering benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The obstacle sensor continuously provides feedback about the environment ahead of the watercraft. This feedback loop enables the controller to make real-time decisions about suspending or resuming pattern sailing, ensuring reliable obstacle avoidance while maintaining automatic operation
2Reliability
If the user manually monitors and intervenes in automatic steering to avoid obstacles, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to constant attention required
Solution Approach 1:
The system transfers the monitoring and intervention tasks from the user to the automated obstacle sensor and controller. The watercraft independently performs obstacle detection and decision-making, freeing the user from constant attention requirements while maintaining high reliability through automated safety mechanisms
3Reliability
If the obstacle detection range is extended ahead of the watercraft to improve safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors or larger sensor arrays
Solution Approach 1:
The obstacle sensor is positioned to detect obstacles in advance of the watercraft's current position, along the projected sailing path. This preliminary detection approach allows the controller to suspend pattern sailing before the watercraft reaches obstacles, achieving extended effective detection range through strategic sensor placement and timing rather than additional hardware
Data Source
AI summary
A watercraft maneuvering control apparatus for controlling a propulsion device of a watercraft includes an obstacle sensor to detect an obstacle around the watercraft, a pattern sailing commander operated by a user to provide a command to sail the watercraft in a sailing pattern, and a controller configured or programmed to control the propulsion device. The controller is configured or programmed to function as a pattern sailing controller to control the propulsion device to sail the watercraft in the sailing pattern, an expected sailing water area computer to compute an expected sailing water area when the watercraft is sailed in the sailing pattern, and a pattern sailing intervener to suspend or cancel the pattern sailing of the watercraft when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle interfering with the expected sailing water area.