Watercraft User Position Sensor and Controller Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency stop systems for watercraft do not adequately prevent the marine propulsion device from being erroneously operated when the watercraft user is away from the cockpit, potentially leading to unsafe situations.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a sensor to detect the location of the watercraft user and a controller to determine if the user is within an allowed area. If the user is not in the allowed area, the system stops or decelerates the watercraft. Additionally, if the user is in a specific region farther from the operating position, the system locks the watercraft operator to prevent erroneous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the watercraft user is allowed to operate the marine propulsion device from any location on the watercraft, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety deteriorates due to potential erroneous operation when the user is away from the cockpit
Solution Approach 1:
The allowed area on the watercraft is segmented into multiple zones (first region closer to operating position, second region farther from operating position). The controller differentiates between these zones and applies different control strategies: full operation permission in the first region, and locked operator control in the second region, thereby preventing erroneous operation while allowing flexibility when near the cockpit.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor continuously detects the watercraft user's location in advance, and the controller proactively determines whether the user is within the allowed area before allowing operation. When the user enters the second region, the controller preemptively locks the operator control, preventing potential erroneous operation before it can occur.
2Reliability
If the marine propulsion device is stopped whenever the watercraft user is not at the operating position, then the safety is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to unnecessary interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial area is segmented into a first region (closer to operating position) and a second region (farther from operating position). When the user is in the first region, the marine propulsion device continues to operate normally, maintaining productivity. When the user moves to the second region, the operator control is locked, ensuring safety without completely stopping the device unless necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
Different control qualities are applied to different spatial regions: in the first region, full operational control is permitted; in the second region, the operator control is locked. This localized differentiation allows the system to maintain productivity in safe zones while enforcing safety restrictions in risk zones.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling a watercraft includes a sensor to detect a position of a watercraft user, and a controller. When the watercraft user is not in an allowed area including a watercraft operating position, the controller is configured or programmed to stop a marine propulsion device or control the marine propulsion device to decelerate a watercraft. When the watercraft user is in a first region, the controller is configured or programmed to control the marine propulsion device in accordance with how a watercraft operator is operated. When the watercraft user is in a second region farther from the watercraft operating position than the first region but within the allowed area, the controller is configured or programmed to lock the watercraft operator. The controller is configured or programmed to disable an operation performed on the watercraft operator while the watercraft operator is locked.