Watercraft Control System Position-Linked Data Logging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maritime environment's diversity makes it challenging to grasp the usage environment, type of automatic control function, and operational patterns of a marine propulsion device, which complicates troubleshooting and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for controlling a watercraft that includes a data communication module, a position sensor, and a controller, which collect and send functional, trouble, and operational information to an external computer, associating these with the watercraft's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic control function is implemented in marine propulsion device, then watercraft can be controlled automatically at predetermined positions, but it becomes difficult to grasp the usage environment and operational patterns due to maritime environment diversity
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively collects and stores operational data including usage environment information, automatic control function status, and operational patterns before troubles occur. This preliminary data collection enables later analysis of how the marine propulsion device is used in diverse maritime environments without requiring real-time monitoring intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
A data collection and communication system acts as an intermediary between the marine propulsion device and external computers. This intermediary captures operational information including automatic control function usage and transmits it to external computers for analysis, enabling remote grasping of usage environments without adding complexity to the control system itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If marine propulsion device operates in diverse maritime environments, then versatility is improved, but troubleshooting becomes more difficult due to inability to grasp operational patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by collecting operational data from the marine propulsion device and transmitting it to external computers. This feedback loop provides information about actual operational patterns and usage environments, enabling remote analysis and improved troubleshooting capabilities without affecting the device's adaptability to diverse maritime environments.
Solution Approach 2:
Operational data including environmental conditions and operational patterns are collected and stored in advance during normal operations. When troubles occur, this pre-collected data is available for immediate analysis, enabling faster and more accurate troubleshooting across diverse maritime environments without requiring on-site data collection.
3Ease of operation
If operational data is collected and transmitted to external computer, then user convenience is enhanced through better insights, but device complexity increases due to additional communication module
Solution Approach 1:
The data communication module serves multiple functions: it collects operational data, transmits it to external computers, and supports various types of information exchange. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive data collection and communication capabilities that enhance user convenience through better operational insights.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a data communication module, a position sensor, and a controller. The position sensor is operable to detect a position of a watercraft. The controller is configured or programmed to send at least one of functional information, trouble information, or operational information to an external computer through a data communication module. In the functional information, an automatic control function of a marine propulsion device and the position of the watercraft when the automatic control function is used are associated with each other. In the trouble information, a trouble in the marine propulsion device and the position of the watercraft when the trouble occurred are associated with each other. In the operational information, an operational pattern performed by a user for the marine propulsion device and the position of the watercraft when the operational pattern is performed are associated with each other.