Watercraft speed control device
AssigneeEControls, LLC
InventorsMichael W. Walser, Kennon H. Guglielmo, Kenneth R. Shouse, Joseph Grogan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic speed control system that provides desired watercraft velocity over land. The coupled algorithms correct engine speed and torque using inertia based measurements, 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.
Claims18
A system for controlling the velocity of a watercraft having an engine for propulsion, said system comprising:
- an inertia measurement device capable of obtaining a measurement of the acceleration of said watercraft;
- a control input device capable of accepting an input of a predetermined desired velocity of said watercraft and a predetermined desired acceleration of said watercraft;
- and
- a control module comprising an engine speed algorithm capable of creating a first engine speed output correction from said predetermined desired velocity, said predetermined desired acceleration, and said acceleration measurement;
- and said first engine speed output correction being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.
A system for controlling the velocity of a watercraft having an engine for propulsion, said system comprising:
- an inertia measurement device capable of obtaining a measurement of the acceleration of said watercraft;
- a control input device capable of accepting an input of a predetermined desired velocity of said watercraft and a predetermined desired acceleration of said watercraft;
- and
- a control module comprising:
- an acceleration comparator capable of determining the acceleration magnitude difference between said predetermined desired acceleration and said acceleration measurement;
- and
- an engine speed algorithm capable of creating a first engine speed output correction from said predetermined desired velocity and said acceleration magnitude difference;
- and said first engine speed output correction being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.
A system for controlling the velocity of a watercraft having an engine for propulsion, said system comprising:
- an inertia measurement device capable of obtaining a measurement of the acceleration of said watercraft;
- a control input device capable of accepting an input of a predetermined velocity of said watercraft;
- a control input device capable of accepting an input of a predetermined acceleration of said watercraft;
- a tachometer device capable of measuring the speed of said engine propelling said watercraft;
- a control module comprising an algorithm capable of creating a first engine torque output correction from said tachometer speed measurement, said predetermined velocity, said acceleration measurement, and said predetermined acceleration;
- and said first engine torque output correction being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.
A system for controlling the velocity of a watercraft having an engine for propulsion, said system comprising:
- an inertia measurement device capable of obtaining a measurement of the acceleration of said watercraft;
- a control input device capable of accepting an input of a predetermined velocity of said watercraft;
- a control input device capable of accepting an input of a predetermined acceleration of said watercraft;
- a tachometer device capable of measuring the speed of said engine propelling said watercraft;
- and
- a control module, comprising:
- an acceleration comparator capable of determining the acceleration magnitude difference between said predetermined desired acceleration and said acceleration measurement;
- and
- an algorithm capable of creating a first engine torque output correction from said tachometer speed measurement, said predetermined velocity, and said acceleration magnitude difference;
- and said first engine torque output correction being capable of causing said watercraft to be propelled at substantially said predetermined velocity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.