Method and electronic system for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat of the type comprising a power controlled motor, a group of sails and a first plurality of sensors of the wind conditions and of the motion conditions of the boat, the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in detecting a plurality of typical parameters of the wind conditions through the first plurality of sensors, verifying whether the plurality of typical parameters of the wind conditions so detected satisfies a predetermined set of extreme conditions for hoisting or lowering the group of sails, selecting at least one driving mode of the boat selected from a plurality of driving modes of the boat, when the group of sails is hoisted, and controlling the power controlled motor on the basis of the selected driving mode of the boat.

1 . A method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat of the type comprising a power controlled motor, a group of sails and a first plurality of sensors of the wind conditions and of the motion conditions of said boat, said method being characterized in that it comprises the phases consisting of:
 detecting a plurality of parameters typical of the wind conditions by means of said first plurality of sensors;   verifying whether the plurality of parameters typical of the wind conditions so detected satisfies a predetermined set of extreme conditions for hoisting and lowering said group of sails;   selecting at least a driving mode of said boat, chosen from a plurality of driving modes of said boat, when said group of sails is hoisted;   controlling said power controlled motor on the basis of the selected driving mode of said boat.   
     
     
         2 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said plurality of parameters typical of the wind conditions comprises the actual speed of the wind and the angle of incidence of the wind, and in that said predetermined set of extreme conditions comprises a minimum value of the actual speed of the wind and a range of variability of the angle of incidence of the wind comprised between a minimum value and a maximum value. 
     
     
         3 . The method or controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, after said verification phase and before said selection phase, also comprises a phase consisting in generating a signal for warning a user and/or for actuating control means of said group of sails for hoisting or lowering said group of sails. 
     
     
         4 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said plurality of driving modes of said boat comprises at least:
 a driving mode at a guaranteed minimum navigation speed;   a driving mode at a guaranteed minimum navigation time;   a driving mode at a guaranteed minimum travel distance.   
     
     
         5 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 4 , characterized in that, in case said power controlled motor comprises an electric motor with generator functionality, said driving plurality of modes of said boat also comprises a driving mode with a minimum speed of electric power generation wherein said minimum speed of electric power generation is greater than said guaranteed minimum navigation speed. 
     
     
         6 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 4 , characterized in that, in case said power controlled motor be of the hybrid thermal-electric type, said plurality of driving modes of said boat also comprises a driving mode at an optimized energy efficiency of said power controlled motor. 
     
     
         7 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 4 , characterized in that, in case said selected driving mode be said driving mode at a guaranteed minimum navigation speed, it comprises the steps consisting on:
 setting the value of said guaranteed minimum navigation speed;   detecting the navigation speed of said boat by means of said first plurality of sensors;   comparing the detected navigation speed of said boat with said set guaranteed minimum navigation speed;   wherein   if the detected navigation speed of said boat is lower than said set guaranteed minimum navigation speed, said control step of said power controlled motor comprises generating a power request signal for said power controlled motor on the basis of the current value of the parameters typical of the wind conditions.   
     
     
         8 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 7 , characterized in that, if the detected navigation speed of said boat is greater than said set guaranteed minimum navigation speed, said control step of said power controlled motor comprises minimizing the energy consumption of said power controlled motor. 
     
     
         9 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 8 , characterized in that when said power controlled motor comprises an electric motor, said minimizing consists in turning off said electric motor, and in that, when said power controlled motor comprises a thermal motor, said minimizing consists in guaranteeing a minimum rotation speed of the shaft of said thermal motor. 
     
     
         10 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 5 , characterized in that it also comprises the steps consisting in:
 setting the value of said minimum speed of electric power generation;   comparing the detected navigation speed of said boat with said minimum speed of electric power generation;   wherein   if the navigation speed of said boat is greater than the minimum speed of electric power generation, said control step of said power controlled motor comprises actuating the generator functionality of said electric motor.   
     
     
         11 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 4 , characterized in that, in case said selected driving mode be said driving mode at a guaranteed minimum navigation time, it comprises the steps consisting in:
 setting the value of said guaranteed minimum navigation time;   setting a value of a minimum navigation speed;   detecting the energy capacity of said power controlled motor by means of a second plurality of sensors;   controlling the coherence of the values of said guaranteed minimum navigation time and of the minimum navigation speed set with respect to the detected energy capacity;   wherein, in case of a positive result of the coherence control, said control step of said power controlled motor, comprises generating a power request signal regulated on the basis of said plurality of parameters typical of the wind conditions, of the value of said guaranteed minimum navigation time and of said energy capacity.   
     
     
         12 . The method for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 4 , characterized in that, in case said set driving mode be said driving mode at a guaranteed minimum travelled distance, it comprises the steps consisting in:
 setting the value of said guaranteed minimum travel distance;   setting a value of a minimum navigation speed;   detecting the energy capacity of said power controlled motor by means of a second plurality of sensors;   controlling the coherence of the values of said guaranteed minimum travel distance and of minimum navigation speed set with respect to the detected energy capacity;   wherein, in case of a positive result of the coherence control, said control step of said power controlled motor comprises generating a power request signal regulated on the basis of said plurality of parameters typical of the wind conditions, of the value of said guaranteed minimum travel distance and of said energy capacity.   
     
     
         13 . An electronic system for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat of the type provided with a power controlled motor, a group of sails and a first plurality of sensors of the wind conditions and of the motion conditions of said boat, said electronic system being characterized in that it comprises:
 a central processing and control unit connected to said first plurality of sensors,   means for memorizing a plurality of driving modes of said boat connected to said central processing and control unit,   interface means for a user connected to said central processing and control unit for selecting at least one driving mode of said boat from said plurality of driving modes of said boat,   means for generating a signal for warning a user and/or for actuating control means of said group of sails for hoisting or lowering said group of sails, connected to said central processing and control unit;   means for controlling said power controlled motor on the basis of the selected driving mode of the boat and of the parameters typical of the wind conditions and of the motion conditions of said boat detected by said first plurality of sensors, said means for controlling being connected to said central processing and control unit.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic system for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat of the type provided with a power controlled motor according to  claim 13 , wherein said power controlled motor comprises an electric motor with generator functionality, characterized in that it also comprises a selector block, coupled with said power controlled motor and with said processing and control unit, said selector block being capable of selectively actuating the propulsion or generation function of said electric motor. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic system for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat of the type provided with a power controlled motor according to  claim 13 , characterized in that it also comprises means for the energy optimization connected to said central processing and control unit and coupled with said power controlled motor. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic system for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat of the type provided with a power controlled motor according to  claim 15 , characterized in that it also comprises a second plurality of sensors of the energy capacity of said power controlled motor, connected to said central processing and control unit. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic system for controlling the propulsion modes of a boat according to  claim 13 , wherein said boat comprises a mobile centreboard, characterized in that it also comprises means for regulating the sails and/or control means of the centreboard coupled with said group of sails and with said mobile centreboard of said boat respectively, said means for regulating the sails and said control means of the centreboard being coupled with said central processing and control unit.