Portable object for regattas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101341-A1
Application number	US-201514874689-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 5, 2015
Priority date	Oct 10, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before the crossing of the start line, the method including a first step intended to permit the creation and storage of the start line in virtual form, and the determination of the instantaneous speed of the boat and its position with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race.

First claim

1 . A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before the crossing of the start line, the method comprising:
creating and storing the start line in virtual form, and determining the instantaneous speed of the boat and the position thereof with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race; simulating, prior to the race, at least one race start is-simulated by performing a pre-race test, to measure and store, at least once, a parameter that is the maximum speed or test speed of the boat, to deduce therefrom a maximum distance that could be travelled during the pre-race duration if the boat moved at said test speed and thereby to determine the position of a line called the maximum distance line; and starting, after positioning the boat between the maximum distance line and the start line, a countdown period having a duration during which, on the one hand, the distance line moves towards the start line at the test speed while the boat also moves towards the race line at a lower speed than the maximum test speed and during which, on the other hand, the actual motion parameters of the boat are compared to the movement of the distance line to provide indications on the closeness of the distance line to the boat to enable the boat to adjust the speed and/or route thereof so that when the distance line catches up with the boat, said boat is moving at the same speed as said distance line.

2 . The race start assistance method according to claim 1 , wherein, during the simulating, storage of the maximum speed occurs several times, the maximum speed of the distance line being the mean of the stored maximum speeds.

3 . The race start assistance method for a boat according to claim 1 , wherein the indications on how to proceed are in digital form or in visual form.

4 . A race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta, including a calculator, a satellite positioning means, a storage means, a means for entering information relating to a start line position in the calculator and/or the storage means, the device comprising:
means for pre-determining a maximum test speed; means for calculating a separation distance corresponding to the calculated maximum speed multiplied by a time corresponding to the duration of a pre-race; means for simulating the movement of a line called the distance line at the test speed; means for comparing the speed and the position of the boat with respect to the movement of the distance line; and means for providing indications as to the difference in speed and/or the distance between the boat and the distance line and display means.

5 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the device includes means for calculating the evolution of the speed of the boat so that the motion thereof coincides with an optimised motion with respect to the start line to be crossed.

6 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the device is integrated in a portable object, such as a mobile telephone or a tablet.

7 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 5 , wherein the device is integrated in a portable object, such as a mobile telephone or a tablet.

8 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the device is integrated in a watch.

9 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 5 , wherein the device is integrated in a watch.

10 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the display means are digital or visual.

11 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 6 , wherein the display means are digital or visual.

12 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 7 , wherein the display means are digital or visual.

13 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 8 , wherein the display means are digital or visual.

14 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 9 , wherein the display means are digital or visual.

15 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 10 , wherein the display means include at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

16 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 11 , wherein the display means include at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

17 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 12 , wherein the display means include at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

18 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 13 , wherein the display means include at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

19 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 14 , wherein the display means include at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

20 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 10 , wherein the display means include indicator lights having a first colour, one indicator light having a second colour and indicator lights having a third colour, so that the indicator lights having a first colour are illuminated in the event of a lag position, the indicator lights having a third colour are illuminated in the event of an ahead position and the indicator light having a second colour is illuminated in the event of an optimal position.

21 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 11 , wherein the display means include indicator lights having a first colour, one indicator light having a second colour and indicator lights having a third colour, so that the indicator lights having a first colour are illuminated in the event of a lag position, the indicator lights having a third colour are illuminated in the event of an ahead position and the indicator light having a second colour is illuminated in the event of an optimal position.

22 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 12 , wherein the display means include indicator lights having a first colour, one indicator light having a second colour and indicator lights having a third colour, so that the indicator lights having a first colour are illuminated in the event of a lag position, the indicator lights having a third colour are illuminated in the event of an ahead position and the indicator light having a second colour is illuminated in the event of an optimal position.

23 . The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 13 , wherein the display means include indicator lights having a first colour, one indicator light having a second colour and indicator lights having a third colour, so that the indicator lights having a first colour are illuminated in the event of a lag position, the indicator lights having a third colour are illuminated in the event of an ahead position and the indicator light having a second colour is illuminated in the event of an optimal position.

24 . The

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Faure Cedric

Classifications

• G01C21/10

  by using measurements of speed or acceleration (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01C21/203

  specially adapted for water-borne vessels · CPC title

• B63B49/00

  Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids (nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) · CPC title

• A63B71/0686 Primary

  Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means · CPC title

• B63B79/20 Primary

  using models or simulation, e.g. statistical models or stochastic models · CPC title