Foot pedal for a trolling motor assembly

A trolling motor system, comprising:

• a trolling motor assembly comprising a propulsion motor and a propeller, wherein the propulsion motor is variable speed and configured to rotate the propeller at a desired speed in response to an electrical signal;
• a navigation control device comprising a user input assembly defining a top surface that is configured to receive a user's foot thereon, wherein the user input assembly includes a switch that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the switch is biased to one of the open position and the closed position, and wherein power is supplied to the propulsion motor when the switch is moved from one of the biased open position to the closed position and the biased closed position to the open position, and the switch is configured to detect user activity related to controlling the speed of the propulsion motor;
• and
• a processor, the processor configured to:
• determine the desired speed based on user activity detected by the switch of the user input assembly;
• generate a speed input signal, the speed input signal being an electrical signal indicating the desired speed;
• and
• direct the propulsion motor, via the speed input signal, to rotate the propeller via the propulsion motor at the desired speed based on the speed indicated in the speed input signal.

A user input assembly for controlling a trolling motor assembly comprising a propulsion motor and a propeller, wherein the propulsion motor is variable speed and configured to rotate the propeller at a desired speed in response to an electrical signal, wherein the user input assembly comprises:

• a switch that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the switch is biased to one of the open position and the closed position, and wherein power is supplied to the propulsion motor when the switch is moved from one of the biased open position to the closed position and the biased closed position to the open position, and the switch is configured to detect user activity related to controlling the speed of the propulsion motor;
• and
• a processor, the processor configured to:
• determine the desired speed based on user activity detected by the switch of the user input assembly;
• generate a speed input signal, the speed input signal being an electrical signal indicating the desired speed;
• and
• direct the propulsion motor, via the speed input signal, to rotate the propeller via the propulsion motor at the desired speed based on the speed indicated in the speed input signal.

A method for controlling a trolling motor assembly comprising a propulsion motor and a propeller, wherein the propulsion motor is variable speed and configured to rotate the propeller at a desired speed in response to an electrical signal, the method comprising:

• receiving user activity to a switch of a user input assembly, wherein the switch is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the switch is biased to one of the open position and the closed position, and wherein power is supplied to the propulsion motor when the switch is moved from one of the biased open position to the closed position and the biased closed position to the open position, and the switch is configured to detect user activity related to controlling the speed of the propulsion motor;
• determining the desired speed based on the user activity detected by the switch of the user input assembly;
• generating a speed input signal, the speed input signal being an electrical signal indicating the desired speed;
• and
• causing the propulsion motor, via the speed input signal, to rotate the propeller via the propulsion motor at the desired speed based on the speed indicated in the speed input signal.