Systems and methods for controlling deployable devices on a boat

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a deployable device on a boat. The deployable device is movable by a drive mechanism. The method includes receiving a command to deploy the deployable device to a desired position; obtaining a controlling parameter for the drive mechanism based on the desired position; driving the drive mechanism to move the deployable device based on the controlling parameter; receiving, from a position sensor, an output corresponding to a real-time position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism; and driving the drive mechanism to move the deployable device to a final position based on the output of the position sensor and the desired position. The system comprises a controller including a memory and a processor being configured to perform the method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling a deployable device on a boat, the system comprising a controller, the controller including:
 a memory having stored thereon executable instructions; and   a processor in communication with the memory and, when executing the instructions, configured to:
 receive a command to deploy the deployable device to a desired position, the deployable device being movable by a drive mechanism between a fully non-deployed position and a fully deployed position, the desired position being one of the fully non-deployed position, the fully deployed position, and a position between the fully non-deployed position and the fully deployed position; 
 obtain a controlling parameter for the drive mechanism based on the desired position; 
 drive the drive mechanism to move the deployable device based on the controlling parameter; 
 receive, from a position sensor, an output corresponding to a real-time position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism, the position sensor measuring a position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism; and 
 drive the drive mechanism to move the deployable device to a final position based on the output of the position sensor and the desired position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling parameter is at least one of a duration, an amperage, and a voltage of an electrical current applied to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory has further stored thereon a function or a look-up table of the desired position and the controlling parameter, and the processor is configured to obtain the controlling parameter based on the function or the look-up table. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory has further stored thereon a function of the desired position and a duration of an electrical current applied to the drive mechanism, and the controlling parameter is the duration of the electrical current applied to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired position is a percentage of deployment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to, when the desired position is the fully non-deployed position or the fully deployed position, drive the drive mechanism for an additional period of time after driving the drive mechanism to move the deployable device to the final position based on the controlling parameter. 
     
     
         7 . A boat comprising:
 the control system of  claim 1 ;   the deployable device movably attached to the boat, the deployable device being movable between the fully non-deployed position and the fully deployed position;   the drive mechanism connected to the deployable device and configured to move the deployable device; and   the position sensor configured to measure the real-time position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The boat of  claim 7 , further comprising a hull, the deployable device being movably attached to the hull. 
     
     
         9 . The boat of  claim 8 , wherein, when the desired position is a deployed position and the deployable device is moved to the desired position, at least a portion of the deployable device is configured to interact with water flowing past the hull as the boat moves through the water. 
     
     
         10 . The boat of  claim 7 , wherein the deployable device is one of a surf device and a trim device. 
     
     
         11 . The boat of  claim 7 , wherein the drive mechanism is an actuator, the actuator being one of an electrical actuator and an electro-hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The boat of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator includes an extendable rod, and the position measured by the position sensor is a position of the extendable rod. 
     
     
         13 . The boat of  claim 7 , wherein the controlling parameter is at least one of a duration, an amperage, and a voltage of an electrical current applied to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling a deployable device on a boat, the method comprising:
 receiving a command to deploy the deployable device to a desired position, the deployable device being movable by a drive mechanism between a fully non-deployed position and a fully deployed position, the desired position being one of the fully non-deployed position, the fully deployed position, and a position between the fully non-deployed position and the fully deployed position;   obtaining a controlling parameter for the drive mechanism based on the desired position;   driving the drive mechanism to move the deployable device based on the controlling parameter;   receiving, from a position sensor, an output corresponding to a real-time position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism, the position sensor measuring a position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism; and   driving the drive mechanism to move the deployable device to a final position based on the output of the position sensor and the desired position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the controlling parameter is at least one of a duration, an amperage, and a voltage of an electrical current applied to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein obtaining the controlling parameter is based on a function or a look-up table of the desired position and the controlling parameter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the controlling parameter is the duration of the electrical current applied to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising driving, when the desired position is the fully non-deployed position or the fully deployed position, the drive mechanism for an additional period of time after driving the drive mechanism based on the controlling parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the desired position is a position between the fully non-deployed position and the fully deployed position. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory machine-readable media for controlling a deployable device on a boat, comprising:
 instructions stored on the non-transitory machine-readable media, the instructions configured to, when executed, cause a processor to:
 receive a command to deploy the deployable device to a desired position, the deployable device being movable by a drive mechanism between a fully non-deployed position and a fully deployed position, the desired position being one of the fully non-deployed position, the fully deployed position, and a position between the fully non-deployed position and the fully deployed position; 
 obtain a controlling parameter for the drive mechanism based on the desired position; 
 drive the drive mechanism to move the deployable device based on the controlling parameter; 
 receive, from a position sensor, an output corresponding to a real-time position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism, the position sensor being configured to measure a position of one of the deployable device and the drive mechanism; and 
 drive the drive mechanism to move the deployable device to a final position based on the output of the position sensor and the desired position.