Systems and methods for setting engine speed using a feed forward signal
First Claim
1. A method for setting an engine speed of an internal combustion engine in a marine propulsion system to an operator-selected engine speed, wherein a feedback controller maintains the engine speed at the operator-selected engine speed, the method comprising:
- predicting a position of a throttle valve of the engine that is needed to provide the operator-selected engine speed;
determining a feed forward signal that will move the throttle valve to the predicted position based on an external operating condition of the marine propulsion system;
providing the feed forward signal to the throttle valve, bypassing the feedback controller, to move the throttle valve to the predicted position;
after moving the throttle valve to the predicted position, controlling the engine speed with the feedback controller so as to obtain the operator-selected engine speed; and
adapting the feed forward signal by iteratively adding or subtracting a fraction of an integral term output by the feedback controller so as to more accurately predict the position of the throttle valve that is needed to provide the operator-selected engine speed when the external operating condition is present.
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Abstract
A method for setting an engine speed of an internal combustion engine in a marine propulsion system to an operator-selected engine speed includes predicting a position of a throttle valve of the engine that is needed to provide the operator-selected engine speed, and determining a feed forward signal that will move the throttle valve to the predicted position. After moving the throttle valve to the predicted position, the method next includes controlling the engine speed with a feedback controller so as to obtain the operator-selected engine speed. The feed forward signal is determined based on at least one of the following criteria: an operator-selected control mode of the marine propulsion system; and an external operating condition of the marine propulsion system. A system for setting the engine speed to the operator-selected engine speed is also described.
59 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for setting an engine speed of an internal combustion engine in a marine propulsion system to an operator-selected engine speed, wherein a feedback controller maintains the engine speed at the operator-selected engine speed, the method comprising:
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predicting a position of a throttle valve of the engine that is needed to provide the operator-selected engine speed; determining a feed forward signal that will move the throttle valve to the predicted position based on an external operating condition of the marine propulsion system; providing the feed forward signal to the throttle valve, bypassing the feedback controller, to move the throttle valve to the predicted position; after moving the throttle valve to the predicted position, controlling the engine speed with the feedback controller so as to obtain the operator-selected engine speed; and adapting the feed forward signal by iteratively adding or subtracting a fraction of an integral term output by the feedback controller so as to more accurately predict the position of the throttle valve that is needed to provide the operator-selected engine speed when the external operating condition is present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A marine propulsion system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve; an input device for inputting an operator demand corresponding to an operator-selected engine speed; an electronic control unit that predicts a position of the throttle valve that will provide the operator-selected engine speed and that determines a feed forward signal that will move the throttle valve to the predicted position; and a feedback controller that controls a speed of the engine so as to obtain the operator-selected engine speed after the throttle valve has been moved to the predicted position; wherein the electronic control unit determines the feed forward signal based on an external operating condition of the marine propulsion system; wherein the electronic control unit adapts the feed forward signal by iteratively adding or subtracting a fraction of an integral term output by the feedback controller so as to more accurately predict the position of the throttle valve that is needed to provide the operator-selected engine speed when the external operating condition is present; and wherein the electronic control unit provides the feed forward signal to the throttle valve, bypassing the feedback controller, to move the throttle valve to the predicted position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification