# US 2026/0184408 A1 · System and method for identifying when a water-sports participant has fallen > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0184408 A1 - Document ID: US20260184408A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/540,161 - Filed: 2026-02-13 - Published: 2026-07-02 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-02 - Assignees: MasterCraft Boat Company, LLC - Applicants: MasterCraft Boat Company, LLC - Inventors: Michael J. Uggeri; David F. Ekern; Chad A. Lynema; Zach C. Gordon; Colin J. Schweigert; Abhijeet Vaidya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260184408A1 ## CPC - B63C 9/0005: {by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat (alarms responsive to presence of persons in a body of water in general G08B21/08)} - B63B 34/60: Arrangements for towing, e.g. for use with water-skis or wakeboards - B63B 34/70: Arrangements on vessels specially adapted for generating waves for surfing, wakeboarding or the like, e.g. ballast tanks - G06V 40/103: {Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition} - G08B 21/08: responsive to the presence of persons in a body of water, e.g. a swimming pool; responsive to an abnormal condition of a body of water - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A boat, boat systems, and methods to determine when a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include an image sensor and an image processor communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The image sensor is configured to capture at least one image of the environment aft of the stern of the boat. The image processor is configured to execute a rider-down analysis that includes analyzing, using an object recognition process executed by the image processor, an image to be analyzed to determine if a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include a controller configured to execute a rider-down action when the water-sports participant has fallen. The controller may execute the rider-down action when the image processor determines that the water-sports participant has fallen based upon the rider-down analysis. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A boat comprising: a propulsion system including a propulsion motor and a propulsor; an audio system including at least one speaker and an audio source; and a controller operatively coupled to the audio system, the controller being configured to monitor the propulsion system to detect a rapid deceleration and to pause playing the audio from the audio source when the controller detects the rapid deceleration. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The boat of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to reduce a volume output by the at least one speaker when the controller detects the rapid deceleration. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The boat of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to mute the audio system when the controller detects the rapid deceleration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The boat of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to monitor a speed of the propulsion motor, and wherein the controller detects the rapid deceleration when the speed of the propulsion motor decreases by a predetermined amount in a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The boat of claim 24, wherein the predetermined amount is at least 1000 revolutions per minute. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The boat of claim 24, wherein the predetermined period of time is one second or less. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The boat of claim 21, wherein the propulsion system includes a control lever operatively controlling a speed of the propulsor, and wherein the controller monitors the propulsion system by detecting a position of the control lever. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The boat of claim 27, wherein the controller detects the rapid deceleration when the control lever is placed in a neutral position. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The boat of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to detect the rapid deceleration when a speed of the boat decreases below a threshold speed. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The boat of claim 29, wherein the threshold speed is less than 15 mph. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The boat of claim 29, wherein the controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to a selected water sport of a plurality of water sports, the controller setting the threshold speed based on the selected water sport. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The boat of claim 31, wherein the selected water sport is wake surfing, and the threshold speed is from 4 mph to 8 mph. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The boat of claim 31, wherein the selected water sport is wakeboarding, and the threshold speed is less than 15 mph. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) The boat of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to a selected water sport, wherein the controller is configured to pause playing the audio from the audio source when the controller detects the rapid deceleration only when the water sport is selected, and wherein the controller does not pause playing the audio from the audio source when the water sport is not selected. ### Claim 35 A boat comprising: a hull having a stern; a propulsion system including a propulsion motor operatively coupled to a propulsor; an audio system including at least one speaker and an audio source configured to provide audio to the at least one speaker; and a controller coupled to the propulsion system and the audio system, the controller being configured to: monitor the propulsion system to detect a decrease in speed of the propulsion motor over a predetermined period of time, and adjust the audio system when the controller detects the decrease in speed of the propulsion motor over the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The boat of claim 35, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the audio system by pausing playing of audio from the audio source. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The boat of claim 35, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the audio system by reducing a volume output by the at least one speaker. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The boat of claim 35, wherein the decrease in speed of the propulsion motor is a predetermined amount over the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The boat of claim 35, wherein the controller is configured to detect the decrease in speed of the propulsion motor when a speed of the boat decreases below a threshold speed. ### Claim 40 (depends on 35) The boat of claim 35, wherein the controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to a selected water sport, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the audio system when the controller detects the decrease in speed of the propulsion motor only when the water sport is selected, and wherein the controller does not adjust the audio system when the water sport is not selected.