Disabled Adventurers
843 Via Montanez, Camarillo, CA 93012 (805) 427-1128 Mark@DisabledAdventurers.com
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Disabled Adventurers 843 Via Montanez, Camarillo, CA 93012 (805) 427-1128 Mark@DisabledAdventurers.com |
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My design is a stand-alone fixture consisting of a wing that can be fastened to ANY kayak. At each end of the wing is a pontoon which rides above a fixed direction trolling motor. Each wing assembly would have two pontoons and two trolling motors. There is no need for a rudder or any mechanism to steer the trolling motors, as turning is accomplished by varying the speed of one or the other trolling motors. The Motor Control Program is entirely controlled by a single SIP&PUFF switch! The following files describe the system, and can be downloaded via the provided links: - MOTORWING.GIF is a drawing of the main unit, minus the control box and battery. - SNPCTRL.EXE is the actual control program that needs only the interface to the motor drive circuitry and an interface to an actual SIP&PUFF switch. All other functionality is complete. If you find this design viable, I will make the source code available and consult with your design team on adapting it to the hardware. Remember to enter the Startup Sequence first! See "The SNPCTRL.EXE Program" below for more info! - SANDPSWITCH.GIF illustrates a typical SIP&PUFF switch. - OP-PANEL.GIF is a schematic diagram for the Operator Display Panel. - MANOBSWITCH.GIF illustrates my Man-Overboard switch design. - PONTOON.GIF illustrates a design for a wooden pontoon. To download the Control Program, click on the SNPCTRL.EXE link, or type: www.DisabledAdventurers.com/SIPNPUFF/SNPCTRL.EXE into the Address Bar of Internet Explorer, press <Enter>, select Run or Save. To view the Main System Drawing: Click on the MOTORWING.GIF link. In IE, you may need to use the Graphic Control Button to return the image to its original size to see all the details of the drawings. This design has several great advantages over a single-motor system: 1: No need to develop a directional control system. Only the interface to the Speed Control needs to be designed, and it is the same for each motor. An inexpensive single-board (eg. DOS/C Stamp) computer would drive the analog inputs of the motor drive circuitry. Functionality is easily modified as a S/W change. 2: Designed as a stand-alone assembly, it could be made available for use on just about any kayak. The user does not need to buy another kayak, or any at all if they can rent one. The wing could be easily positioned in front of or behind the user. 3: The SIP&PUFF interface is fatigue free, and does not bring any electrical circuitry up to the user. All electrical and electronics components can be contained in a waterproof enclosure on top of the wing. Only the battery, and possibly an Operator Display Panel, would be separate, and could be positioned away from the wing and user, for instance, at the opposite end of the kayak. SAFETY FEATURES: 1. A Mercury Switch in the control unit to detect a capsize. 2. A Lanyard Switch to detect the rider falling off without capsizing. 3. A toggle switch on the Control Unit to ensure motors off during boarding, etc. 4. Guard screens around the propellers. 5. A "secret" system startup sequence. All switches can be debounced in the software. The SNPCTRL.EXE Program--Download and execute the SNPCTRL.EXE program.--The program runs best in full-screen mode. Press <Ctrl-Enter> to switch to full-screen. --Enter the Startup Sequence first! <P><S><S><S><P> --Pressing uncapitalized <s> and <p> simulates a short Sip and Puff for turning. --Pressing capitalized <S> and <P> simulates a long Sip and Puff for speed control. --Press <M> to simulate Man-Overboard or Capsize. Press <Esc> to exit the program. RULES IMPLEMENTED IN THE CODE: Small <s> and <p> simulate a short sip and puff. Capital <S> and <P> simulate a long sip and puff. Capital <M> simulates Man-Overboard, Capsize, or Motor Overload. Very long (held) sips and puffs are not simulated in this code. (See Actual Operating Code notes below) The maximum differential between the left and right motors is 5. Reverse motor speeds are limited to 5 (50% power). Hard turns slow the craft and move through turning on point. Changing speed when one motor is in reverse and the other is in forward causes both motors to stop until the next comand is given. When one motor is at stop, that motor waits for other motor to be at stop before proceeding in opposite direction with speed change command. Turns from or near stop are on point (one motor reverse, the other forward). In the Actual Operating Code: When ever both motors reach stop in very long speed change commands, the user must release the switch in order to issue further commands. For instance... The craft is set to fast forward and user holds a very long Sip: Both motors will decrease to stop and will not go into reverse until the user releases the Sip and then gives a further command. |
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