Trolling motor with wind sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10150551-B2
Application number	US-201615244387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2016
Priority date	Aug 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A wind sensor, such as a sonic anemometer, may be utilized to cause a trolling motor to activate to propel a watercraft toward a virtual anchor location, route, or destination, in response to detection of an occurrence or wind. In some instances, the trolling motor may be steered to a direction opposite a wind direction when activated. The trolling motor may also be oriented to a corrective direction based on a comparison of a current location to the virtual anchor location, route, or destination. Propelling the watercraft may also include determining a propulsion correction based on wind speed, wind direction, and/or watercraft characteristics. Depending on the configuration, the wind sensor may be integrated into the housing of the trolling motor.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A trolling motor for a watercraft, the trolling motor comprising:
a motor configured to cause the trolling motor to propel the watercraft when the trolling motor is attached to the watercraft and the motor is submerged;
a steering assembly configured to steer the trolling motor in a direction;
a wind sensor configured to measure wind data, wherein the wind sensor comprises a sonic anemometer;
one or more processors; and
a memory including computer program code stored thereon, wherein the computer program code is configured, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to:
receive an indication of a virtual anchor location, wherein the virtual anchor location is a location that a user of the watercraft desires for the watercraft to maintain,
receive wind data from the wind sensor indicating the occurrence of wind, and
in response to receiving the wind data, cause the trolling motor to activate to propel the watercraft toward the virtual anchor location.

2. The trolling motor of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the marine electronic device to:
compare current location data to the virtual anchor location,
determine a corrective direction in which to propel the watercraft from the current location to the virtual anchor location; and
cause the steering assembly to orient the trolling motor to the corrective direction.

3. The trolling motor of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the marine electronic device to:
determine a wind direction based on the wind data; and
cause the steering assembly to orient the trolling motor to a direction opposite the wind direction.

4. The trolling motor of claim 3 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the marine electronic device to:
compare current location data to the virtual anchor location and a current direction of the trolling motor;
determine a corrective direction in which to propel the watercraft from the current location to the virtual anchor location; and
cause the steering assembly to orient the trolling motor to the corrective direction.

5. The trolling motor of claim 1 , wherein the sonic anemometer comprises an ultrasonic anemometer.

6. The trolling motor of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the marine electronic device to:
determine a wind speed based on the wind data; and
determine a propulsion correction based on the wind speed, wherein the propulsion correction includes a speed for the motor to cause the trolling motor to overcome a wind force,
wherein causing the trolling motor to activate to propel the watercraft is based on the propulsion correction.

7. The trolling motor of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the marine electronic device to:
determine a wind speed and a wind direction based on the wind data;
determine a wind force based on the wind direction, wind speed, and watercraft characteristics; and
determine a propulsion correction based on the wind force, wherein the propulsion correction includes a speed for the motor to drive the trolling motor and a direction for the steering assembly to orient the trolling motor to overcome the wind force,
wherein causing the trolling motor to activate to propel the watercraft is based on the propulsion correction.

8. The trolling motor of claim 7 , wherein the watercraft characteristics include predetermined assumptions of a geometry of the watercraft or a displacement of the watercraft.

9. The trolling motor of claim 1 further comprising:
a control head,
wherein the sonic anemometer is mounted to the control head.

10. The trolling motor of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the marine electronic device to:
receive an indication of at least one of a route or a destination, and in response to receiving the wind data, cause the trolling motor to activate to propel the watercraft toward the route or the destination.

11. A propulsion system for a watercraft comprising:
a trolling motor comprising:
a motor configured to cause the trolling motor to propel the watercraft when the trolling motor is attached to the watercraft and the motor is submerged;
a steering assembly configured to steer the trolling motor in a direction; and
a wind sensor configured to measure wind data, wherein the wind sensor comprises a sonic anemometer; and

a marine electronic device including a processor and a memory, the memory including computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the marine electronic device to:
receive an indication of a virtual anchor location, wherein the virtual anchor location is a location that a user of the watercraft desires for the watercraft to maintain,
receive wind data from the wind sensor indicating the occurrence of wind, and
in response to receiving the wind data, cause the trolling motor to activate to propel the watercraft toward the virtual anchor location.

12. The propulsion system of claim 11 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the marine electronic device to:
compare the current location data to the virtual anchor location,
determine a corrective direction in which to propel the watercraft from the current location to the virtual anchor location; and
cause the steering assembly to orient the trolling motor to the corrective direction.

13. The propulsion system of claim 11 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the marine electronic device to:
determine a wind direction based on the wind data; and
cause the steering assembly to orient the trolling motor to a direction opposite the wind direction.

14. The propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the marine electronic device to:
compare the current location data to the virtual anchor location and a current direction of the trolling motor;
determine a corrective direction in which to propel the watercraft from the current location to the virtual anchor location; and
cause the steering assembly to orient the trolling motor to the corrective direction.

15. The propulsion system of claim 11 , wherein the sonic anemometer comprises an acoustic resonance anemometer or an ultrasonic anemometer.

16. The propulsion system of claim 11 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the marine electronic device to:
determine a wind speed based on the wind data; and
determine a propulsion correction based on the wind speed, wherein the propulsion correction includes a speed for the motor to cause the trolling motor to overcome a wind force,
wherein causing the trolling motor to propel the watercraft is based on the propulsion correction.

17. The propulsion system of claim 11 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the marine electronic device to:
determine a wind speed and a wind direction based on the wind data;
determine a wind force based on the wind direction, wind speed, and watercraft c

Assignees

• Navico Holding As
• Novico Holding As

Inventors

• Steward Lucas
• Burton Aaron
• Hovland Eirik

Classifications

• B63H20/007

  Trolling propulsion units (trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K) · CPC title

• G01P5/24

  by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting acoustical wave · CPC title

• B63H25/04

  automatic, e.g. reacting to compass · CPC title

• B63H2021/216

  using electric control means · CPC title

• B63H20/12

  Means enabling steering · CPC title