Detachable control module for a marine device

A detachable control module for controlling operation of a marine device, the detachable control module comprising:

• a module housing;
• a battery disposed within the module housing and configured to provide operating power to the detachable control module;
• a top portion defining a top surface;
• a plurality of control elements disposed on the top surface of the module housing, wherein the plurality of control elements provide additional control over functionality of the marine device through instruction signals sent over an established wired or wireless connection;
• one or more attachment features disposed on the module housing to removably attach the detachable control module;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive, based on user input being provided to at least one of the plurality of control elements, a signal indicative of the user input;
• determine, based on at least one of the user input or the plurality of control elements to which the user input was provided, a corresponding marine device and a corresponding instruction signal to send to the corresponding marine device;
• and
• cause transmission of the instruction signal to the corresponding marine device via the wired or wireless connection to cause the corresponding marine device to perform functionality associated with the at least one of the plurality of control elements to which the user input was provided.

A method for controlling operation of a marine device with a detachable control module, the method comprising:

• detecting user input provided to at least one of a plurality of control elements of the detachable control module, wherein the user input indicates a desire of the user to control operation of the marine device, wherein the detachable control module comprises one or more attachment features disposed on a module housing of the detachable control module to removably attach the detachable control module, and wherein the detachable control module comprises a battery disposed within the module housing and configured to provide operating power to the detachable control module;
• determining intended operation instructions based on the detected user input;
• generating by a processor in communication with the plurality of control elements, instruction signals containing operational instructions for the marine device based on the determined user input;
• transmitting the generated instruction signal to the associated marine device via a wired or wireless connection between the detachable control module and the marine device;
• and
• controlling functionality of the marine device by the executed selected operations based on the transmitted instruction signal for the marine device.