Water vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024253752-A1
Application number	US-202318161796-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 30, 2023
Priority date	Jan 30, 2023
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A water vehicle includes: a water vehicle body; a control target mounted on the water vehicle body and controlled to operate the water vehicle body; and processing circuitry configured to acquire requested values used to operate the water vehicle body and generate, based on the requested values, command values to be output to the control target. The processing circuitry switches a control mode between a towing mode in which the water vehicle tows a towed target and a non-towing mode in which the water vehicle does not tow the towed target. When the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates, based on the requested value, a second command value that is the command value different from a first command value that is the command value generated based on the requested value when the control mode is the non-towing mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A water vehicle comprising:
a water vehicle body; a control target mounted on the water vehicle body and controlled to operate the water vehicle body; and processing circuitry configured to acquire requested values used to operate the water vehicle body and generate, based on the requested values, command values to be output to the control target, wherein: the processing circuitry switches a control mode between a towing mode in which the water vehicle tows a towed target and a non-towing mode in which the water vehicle does not tow the towed target; and when the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates, based on the requested value, a second command value that is the command value different from a first command value that is the command value generated based on the requested value when the control mode is the non-towing mode.

2 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry generates the second command value such that a maximum speed of the water vehicle when the control mode is the towing mode becomes lower than a maximum speed of the water vehicle when the control mode is the non-towing mode.

3 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotational frequency sensor that detects a rotational frequency of a traveling driving source of the water vehicle body, wherein
when the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates the second command value such that the rotational frequency detected by the rotational frequency sensor becomes lower than a predetermined maximum rotational frequency set for a case where the control mode is the non-towing mode.

4 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory storing a map showing the command values corresponding to the requested values, wherein:
when the control mode is the non-towing mode, the processing circuitry generates, as the first command value based on the requested value, the command value corresponding to the requested value in the map; and when the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates, as the second command value based on the requested value, a value obtained by correcting the command value corresponding to the requested value in the map such that the obtained value becomes smaller than the command value corresponding to the requested value in the map.

5 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a tow sensor that detects whether or not the water vehicle is towing the towed target, wherein
the processing circuitry switches the control mode between the towing mode and the non-towing mode based on information detected by the tow sensor.

6 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a user input interface that receives operation of a rider, wherein
the processing circuitry switches the control mode between the towing mode and the non-towing mode in accordance with the operation of the rider with respect to the user input interface.

7 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a water vehicle communicator that communicates with a target communicator attached to the towed target, wherein
the processing circuitry determines a towed state of the towed target based on a signal received from the target communicator by the water vehicle communicator or based on a communication state between the water vehicle communicator and the target communicator.

8 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an informer mounted on the water vehicle body, wherein
when the processing circuitry determines that the towed target is not being towed any more, the processing circuitry outputs a determination result through the informer.

9 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixture which extends upward from the water vehicle body and to which one end portion of an extending structure used to tow the towed target is fixed; and a seat which is located in front of the fixture and on which a rider is seated, wherein a height of an upper end of the fixture is higher than a height of an uppermost surface of the seat.

10 . The water vehicle according to claim 9 , further comprising a cover located behind the seat and covering at least a part of the fixture from a front side.

11 . The water vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the cover includes:
a cover main body supported by the water vehicle body; and a pad located on a surface of the cover main body, the surface facing forward.

12 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a user input interface that receives operation of a rider, wherein
the processing circuitry changes a reduced amount of the second command value from the first command value in accordance with the operation of the rider with respect to the user input interface.

13 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a steering sensor that detects turning operation of turning the water vehicle body by a rider, wherein:
the control target is a traveling driving source that generates driving power by which the water vehicle body travels; and when the control mode is the towing mode, and the steering sensor detects the turning operation, the processing circuitry generates the second command value different from the first command value, based on the requested value.

14 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a position sensor that detects a geographical position of the water vehicle body; and an informer, wherein: when the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry determines based on the position detected by the position sensor whether or not the water vehicle body is located within a predetermined warning region; and when the processing circuitry determines that the water vehicle body is located within the warning region, the processing circuitry outputs predetermined warning information through the informer.

15 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a water vehicle speed sensor that detects a speed of the water vehicle, wherein:
the control target is a traveling driving source that generates driving power by which the water vehicle body travels; and when the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates the second command value such that the speed detected by the water vehicle speed sensor becomes a predetermined speed or less.

16 . The water vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotational frequency sensor that detects a rotational frequency of a traveling driving source of the water vehicle body, wherein
when the control mode is the towing mode, the processing circuitry generates the second command value such that the rotational frequency detected by the rotational frequency sensor becomes lower than a predetermined rotational frequency.

17 . A water vehicle comprising:
a water vehicle body; a fixture which extends upward from the water vehicle body and to which one end portion of an extending structure used to tow the towed target is fixed; and a seat which is located in front of the fixture and on which a rider is seated, wherein a height of an upper end of the fixture is higher than a height of an uppermost surface of the seat.

18 . A water vehicle comprising:
a water vehicle body; a traveling state detection sensor that detects a traveling state of the water vehicle; an informer mounted on the water vehicle body; and processing circu

Assignees

• Kawasaki Motors Ltd

Inventors

• Nakamura Yuki
• Araki Toshio

Classifications

• B63B79/40 Primary

  for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed, routing or maintenance schedules · CPC title

• B63B34/10

  Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters (water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46); Accessories therefor · CPC title

• B63B79/10

  using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers · 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

• B63B34/60 Primary

  Arrangements for towing, e.g. for use with water-skis or wakeboards · CPC title