Watercraft speed control device

• US 20050176312A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enovation Controls, LLC (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Econtrols Incorporated
• Inventors: Guglielmo, Kennon H., Shouse, Kenneth R., Walser, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,229,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/2
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S

Abstract

An automatic speed control system that provides desired watercraft velocity over land. The coupled algorithms correct engine speed and torque using GPS and tachometer measurements, and the corrections are augmented and enhanced by velocity/speed and torque/speed relationships that are dynamically and adaptively programmed with real-time data collected during replicated operations of the watercraft in specified conditions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the velocity magnitude of a watercraft, said apparatus comprising:

a GPS device capable of obtaining a measurement of the velocity magnitude of said watercraft;

a first comparator capable of determining the velocity magnitude difference between said GPS velocity measurement and a predetermined velocity; and

a first algorithm capable of creating a first engine speed output correction proportional to said velocity magnitude difference, said first engine speed output correction being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a second algorithm capable of creating a second engine speed output corresponding to an input representative of said predetermined velocity, said second engine speed output representing a dynamic historical value of the speed of an engine propelling said watercraft at a velocity approximately equal to said predetermined velocity; and

a second comparator capable of summing said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm and said second engine speed output of said second algorithm, said sum capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a tachometer device capable of measuring the speed of an engine propelling said watercraft;

a third comparator capable of summing said tachometer speed measurement and said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm; and

a third algorithm capable of converting said sum of said tachometer speed measurement and said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm into a first engine torque output proportional to said sum of said tachometer speed measurement and said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm, said first engine torque output being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising:

a fourth algorithm capable of creating a second engine torque output corresponding to an input representative of said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm, said second engine torque output representing a dynamic historical value of the torque required to change the engine speed of an engine propelling said watercraft an amount approximately equal to said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm; and

a fourth comparator capable of summing said first engine torque output of said third algorithm and said second engine torque output of said fourth algorithm, said sum being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said second algorithm is capable of building a table of discrete data pairs of velocity magnitude and engine speed of said watercraft as said watercraft is repeatedly operated for calibration over a prevailing set of ambient conditions, said second algorithm being capable of determining interpolated and extrapolated data points among and extending from said data pairs collected during said calibration operation of said watercraft.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said fourth algorithm is capable of building a table of discrete data pairs of engine speed correction and torque required to produce said engine speed correction as said watercraft is repeatedly operated for calibration over a prevailing set of ambient conditions, said fourth algorithm being capable of determining interpolated and extrapolated data points among and extending from said data pairs collected during said calibration operation of said watercraft.

7. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said fourth algorithm is capable of building a table of discrete data pairs of engine speed and torque required to produce said engine speed as said watercraft is repeatedly operated for calibration over a prevailing set of ambient conditions, said fourth algorithm being capable of determining interpolated and extrapolated data points among and extending from said data pairs collected during said calibration operation of said watercraft.

8. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said second algorithm is capable of determining a condition of predetermined change in a predetermined parameter prior to updating said table.

9. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said fourth algorithm is capable of determining a condition of predetermined change in a predetermined parameter prior to updating said table.

10. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said fourth algorithm is capable of determining a condition of predetermined change in a predetermined parameter prior to updating said table.

11. An apparatus for controlling the velocity magnitude of a watercraft, said apparatus comprising:

a GPS device capable of obtaining a measurement of the velocity magnitude of said watercraft;

a first comparator capable of determining the velocity magnitude difference between said GPS velocity measurement and a predetermined velocity;

a first algorithm capable of creating a first engine speed output correction proportional to said velocity magnitude difference;

a second algorithm capable of creating a second engine speed output corresponding to an input representative of said predetermined velocity, said second engine speed output representing a dynamic historical value of the speed of an engine propelling said watercraft at a velocity approximately equal to said predetermined velocity;

a second comparator capable of summing said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm and said second engine speed output of said second algorithm;

a tachometer device capable of measuring the speed of said engine propelling said watercraft;

a third comparator capable of determining the engine speed difference between said tachometer speed measurement and said sum of said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm and said second engine speed output of said second algorithm;

a third algorithm capable of converting said engine speed difference between said tachometer speed measurement and said sum of said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm and said second engine speed output of said second algorithm into a first engine torque output proportional to said engine speed magnitude difference;

a fourth algorithm capable of creating a second engine torque output corresponding to an input representative of said sum of said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm and said second engine speed output of said second algorithm, said second engine torque output representing a dynamic historical value of the torque required to produce an engine speed of said engine propelling said watercraft approximately equal to said sum of said first engine speed output correction of said first algorithm and said second engine speed output of said second algorithm; and

a fourth comparator capable of summing said first engine torque output of said third algorithm and said second engine torque output of said fourth algorithm, said sum being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.