num="0037">A control system 11 controls the electric marine propulsion system 2, wherein the control system 11 may include a plurality of control devices, or controllers, configured to cooperate to provide the method of controlling the electric marine propulsion system described herein. For example, the control system 11 may include a central controller 12, and one or more motor controllers, trim controllers, steering controllers, battery controllers, power controllers, navigation controllers, etc. communicatively connected, such as by a communication bus or other communication link. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand in view of the present disclosure that other control arrangements could be implemented and are within the scope of the present disclosure, and that the control functions described herein may be combined into a single controller or divided into any number of a plurality of distributed controllers that are communicatively connected.

Each controller may comprise a processor and a storage device, or memory, configured to store software and/or data utilized for controlling and/or tracking operation of the electric propulsion system 2. The memory may include volatile and/or non-volatile systems and may include removable and/or non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information. The storage media may include non-transitory and/or transitory storage media, including random access memory, read only memory, or any other medium which can be used to store information and be accessed by an instruction execution system, for example. Such information may include a command table containing a set of adjustment commands based on measured or calculated values. An input/output (I/O) system facilitates communication between the control system 11 and connected devices, including facilitating communication of the environmental speed measurements by the environmental speed sensor(s) 70, 71.

Each electric motor 4 may be associated with a motor controller 14 configured to control power to the electric motor, such as to the stator winding thereof. The motor controller 14 is configured to control the function and output of the electric motor 4, such as controlling the torque outputted by the motor 4, the rotational speed of the motor 4, as well as the input current, voltage, and power supplied to and utilized by the motor 4. In one arrangement, the motor controller 14 controls the current delivered to the stator windings via the leads 15, which input electrical energy to the electric motor to induce and control rotation of the rotor.

In certain embodiments, various sensing devices 24, 26, 28, 29, 39, 49 may be configured to communicate with a local controller, such as the motor controller 14 or power controller 62 and/or other controllers in the control system 11. In other embodiments the sensors 24, 26, 28, 29, 39, 49 may communicate with the central controller 12 and the motor controller 14 may be eliminated. The system includes a vessel sensing system comprising one or more sensors or measurement systems configured to measure a speed over ground of the marine vessel and a heading direction of the vessel and provide such information to the control system 11. A GPS system 56 may also be configured to determine a current global position of the vessel, track vessel position over time, determine vessel speed over ground, and/or determine the vessels' direction of travel, or heading direction, and to provide such information to the controller 12 and/or other controllers in the control system 11. Alternatively, instead of a GPS system 56, the vessel may include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), or a GNSS/INS (inertial navigation system) configured to measure vessel speed over ground and/or heading direction of the vessel. Alternatively or additionally, the vessel 1 may be equipped with a heading sensor 78 configured to measure the vessels' heading. The vessel heading sensor 78 may include a compass, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and/or other elements configured to measure vessel position and/or movement. For example, the heading sensor may be part of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) or similar, such as IMU having a solid state, rate gyro electronic compass that detects the direction of the earth's magnetic field using solid state magnetometers and indicates the vessel heading relative to magnetic north.

Additionally, one or more environmental sensors 70 are configured to measure air and/or water speed around the marine vessel and such information may be provided to the controller 12. Referring also to FIG. 2, the environmental sensors include a water speed sensor 71 and an air speed sensor 72. The water speed sensor 71 may be a unidirectional sensor, such as a pitot tube or a paddle wheel, mounted to the hull under the waterline and configured to measure water speed in the direction of travel of the vessel and with respect to the vessel's hull, and thus to measure the vessel's speed-over-water. Similarly, the air speed sensor 72 may be a unidirectional sensor, such as a pitot tube or a paddle wheel, mounted to the vessel above the waterline, such as at a location at or near the highest point on the vessel that will not be protected or obstructed from measuring the air flow over the vessel. The air speed sensor 72 may be configured to measure air speed in the direction of travel of the vessel and with respect to the vessel, and thus to measure the vessel's speed-through-air.

In some embodiments, a plurality of air speed sensors 72 may be located at different locations on the marine vessel 1, wherein each is configured to measure air speed at its respective location. For example, one air speed sensor may be located at or near the front of the bow and a second air speed sensor may be located at or near the highest point on the marine vessel, such as atop the Bimini top or on the antennae tower. An aggregate airspeed value can then be determined based on the plurality of local measurements on the vessel, such as by averaging the plurality of local measurements or using other calculation techniques to determine a filtered airspeed value that is less influenced by local air disturbances, measurement error, etc. Similarly, an aggregate water speed value may be determined based on measurements from a plurality of water speed sensors 71 mounted at different locations on the vessel hull below the waterline.

Controllers 12 and 14 (and or the various sensors and systems) may be configured to communicate via a common communication link 34. The one or more communication links may be a wired link, such as a bus, or may be a wireless communication link, such as via any wireless protocol. In one embodiment, the communication link 34 is a CAN bus (e.g., configured as a CAN Kingdom Network), or alternatively may be a LIN bus. In some embodiments, one or more devices may be connected by dedicated communication link, such as a dedicated communication bus or link between controllers 12 and 14.

Sensors may be configured to sense the power, including the current and voltage, delivered to the motor 4 and/or voltage sensed at other locations within the system. For example, a plurality of voltage sensors 29, 39, 49 may be configured to sense voltage at various locations within the system. Voltage sensor 29 may be configured to sense the input voltage to the motor 4 and a current sensor 28 may be configured to measure input current to the motor 4. Accordingly, power delivered to the motor 4 can be calculated and such value can be used for monitoring and controlling the electric propulsion system 2, including for monitoring and controlling the motor 4 and ensuring the system 2 is operating within the capabilities of the electric motor 4. Alternatively or additionally, the system 2 may include a voltage sensor 39 at or near the connection point of the vessel system(s) to the power storage system 16 to sense the voltage at the location(s) of power input. Alternatively or additionally, a voltage sensor 49, or multiple voltage sensors, may be located to measure voltage powering one or more auxiliary devices 60. In certain embodiments, the voltage sensor 49 may comprise part of the power controller 62 for the auxiliary power system and/or may be configured to measure voltage at one or more converters, such as a DC-DC converter powering auxiliary electronics or other auxiliary devices.

In the depicted example, the current sensor 28 and voltage sensor 29 may be communicatively connected to the motor controller 14 to provide measurement of the voltage supplied to the motor and current supplied to the motor. Other voltage sensor(s) 39, 49 may be configured to provide voltage measurement outputs to the controller 12 and/or the motor controller 14. The motor controller 14 is configured to provide appropriate current and or voltage to meet the demand for controlling the motor 4. For example, a demand input may be received at the motor controller 14 from the central controller 12, such as based on an operator demand at a helm input device, such as the throttle lever 38. In certain embodiments, the motor controller 14, voltage sensor 28, and current sensor 29 may be integrated into a housing of the electric motor 4, and in other embodiments the motor controller 14 may be separately housed.

Various other sensors may be configured to measure and report parameters of the electric motor 4. For example, the electric motor 4 may include means for measuring and or determining the torque, rotation speed (motor speed), current, voltage, temperature, vibration, or any other parameter. In the depicted example, the electric motor 4 includes a speed sensor 24 configured to measure a rotational speed of the motor 4 (motor RPM). Alternatively or additionally, propeller speed sensor 26 may be configured to measure a rotational speed of the propeller 10. For example, the propeller speed sensor 26 and/or the motor speed sensor 24 may be a Hall Effect sensor or other rotation sensor, such as using capacitive or inductive measuring techniques. In certain embodiments, one or more of the parameters, such as the speed, torque, or power to the electric motor 4, may be calculated based on other measured parameters or characteristics. For example, the torque may be calculated based on power characteristics in relation to the rotation speed of the electric motor, for example.

At least one battery controller 20 is configured to monitor the power storage system 16. For example, the battery or each of a plurality of batteries in the power storage system 16 may have an associated a battery controller 20 configured to monitor various battery parameters, such as current, voltage, temperature, etc. and communicate those parameters within the control system, such as to the central controller 12 and/or the motor controller 14. For instance, each battery controller may be configured to periodically determine and communicate via the communication link 34 each of a charge level for the battery (e.g., battery state of charge and/or battery voltage), battery temperature, and battery state of health for each of its associated batteries, battery connection and operation status, as well as other parameters and operation information for the battery.

The central controller 12, which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a propulsion control module (PCM), communicates with the motor controller 14 and the battery controller 20 via communication link 34, such as a CAN bus. The controller also receives input from and/or communicates with one or more user interface devices in the user interface system 35 via the communication link, which in some embodiments may be the same communication link as utilized for communication between the controllers 12 and 14 or may be a separate communication link. The user interface devices in the exemplary embodiment include a throttle lever 38 and a display 40. In various embodiments, the display 40 may be, for example, part of an onboard management system, such as the VesselView™ by Mercury Marine of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Alternatively or additionally, the user interface devices may include a user's mobile device, such as a cell phone or other portable computing device running an application, such as VesselView Mobile™ configured to communicate with one or more controllers in the control system 11. A steering wheel 36 is provided, which in some embodiments may communicate with the controller 12 or other control device in the control system 11 to effectuate steering control over the marine drive 3, which is well-known and typically referred to as a steer-by-wire arrangement. Alternatively, as in the depicted embodiment, the steering wheel 36 is a wired steering arrangement where the steering wheel 36 is connected to a steering actuator that steers the marine drive 3 by a steering cable 37. Other steering arrangements, such as various wired and steer-by-wire arrangements, are well-known in the art and could alternatively be implemented.

The various parameters of the electric propulsion system are utilized for providing user-controlled or automatically effectuated vessel power control functionality appropriate for optimizing power usage. The system may be configured to control power usage by the electric propulsion system 2, for example so that power available and utilized to effectuate propulsion remains within calculated limits to provide consistent propulsion and operate the motors within the rated operation parameters. The system may be configured to operate in a variety of user-selectable power modes, or in various power modes that may be automatically selected by the control system 11 based on sensed parameters and/or operating conditions of the propulsion system 2.

The power storage system 16 may further be configured to power auxiliary devices 60 on the marine vessel 1 that are not part of the propulsion system 2. For example, the auxiliary devices may include a bilge pump, cabin lights, a stereo system or other entertainment devices on the vessel, a water heater, a refrigerator, an air conditioner or other climate/comfort control devices on the vessel, communication systems, navigation systems, or the like. Some or all these accessory devices are sometimes referred to as a “house load” and may consume a substantial amount of battery power. Additionally, other non-motor loads may be powered by the power storage system 16, such as steering, motor trim, trim tabs, and other devices relating to steering and/or vessel orientation control.

The power consumption by some or all of the auxiliary devices and/or non-motor loads may be monitored and/or controllable, such as by a power controller 62 associated with each controlled auxiliary device or a group of auxiliary devices (FIG. 1). The power controller 62 is communicatively connected to the controller 12 or is otherwise communicating with one or more controllers in the control system 11, in order to monitor and/or control power consumption by such auxiliary devices. For example, the power controller 62 may be configured to communicate with one or more power monitoring or other control devices via CAN bus or LIN bus, and to then control operation of the auxiliary device and/or power delivery to the auxiliary device according to received instructions. For instance, the system may be configured to reduce power delivery or prevent change in power deliver to the device(s) 60 during certain measurement periods, or to selectively turn off the auxiliary device(s) 60 by turning on or off power delivery to the device(s) 60 associated with the power controller 62 during the measurement period. For example, the power controller 62 for one or a set of auxiliary devices may include a battery switch controlling power thereto. The control system 11 may thus include digital switching system configured to control power to the various auxiliary devices, such as a CZone Control and Monitoring system by Power Products, LLC of Menomonee Falls, WI. Other examples of power control arrangements are further exemplified and described at U.S. application Ser. Nos. 17/009,412 and 16/923,866, which are each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As described above, the disclosed method and system are configured to monitor battery range based on environmental conditions, such as wind and current directions and magnitudes. In certain embodiments, the control system 11 may be equipped and configured to measure wind and current speeds (such as the system exemplified in FIG. 1) and determine one or more of the environmental vectors internally. Alternatively, the control system 11 may be configured to access the wind and/or current vector information externally, such as to access weather map data based on GPS information of the vessel and/or the vessel's travel path to the trip end location.

In one example, the system is configured sense the wind and/or current speeds in environment around the marine vessel and to determine wind and/or current vectors for one or more areas that the vessel occupies. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scenario illustrating a vessel travel path between a start location and a present location of the vessel—e.g., between location P1 and location P3 when the vessel is at location P3—which is in a known heading direction (e.g., measured by heading sensor 78 and/or determined based on GPS information). Air speed and/or water speed are measured by environmental speed sensors 71 and 72 along a first leg L1 between the start location P1 and a second location P2. For each air and/or water speed measurement, a corresponding speed over ground is determined for the marine vessel by a vessel speed sensor, such as by the GPS system 56 and/or based on GPS information therefrom. The speed over ground is subtracted from each air speed and water speed measurement to isolate a wind velocity and/or a current velocity for each measurement. Each wind velocity and/or a current velocity are then stored in association with, or relative to, the current heading direction of the marine vessel when the measurement was made.

At point P2, the vessel turns, changing heading direction by at least a threshold amount. Air speed and/or water speed are again measured by environmental speed sensors 71 and 72 along the second leg L2 between the second location P2 and a third location P3. Wind velocity and/or a current velocity are then determined for each air and/or water speed measurement by subtracting the corresponding speed over ground measurement.

A wind vector and/or a current vector are then calculated based on the corresponding first and second velocity values. The wind vector describes a magnitude and a direction of the wind and the current vector describes a magnitude and a direction of the current. The first and second velocity values are measured at known headings separated by a known angle, illustrated as 04 in FIG. 3. The heading direction of the first leg L1 and the heading direction of the second leg L2 must be sufficiently different such that differences in the wind and current can be reliably measured and sufficiently unaffected by measurement error. Thus, a threshold change in heading direction is required between the heading when the first velocity value is measured and the heading when the second velocity value is measured. To provide just one example, the threshold change in heading direction required between the first and second heading directions of the first and second legs L1 and L2 may be 10 degrees. However, the system 11 may be configured to implement smaller or lager thresholds, such as based on the resolution of the environmental speed sensor 71, 72, their placement, the number of speed sensors 71, 72 being used, etc. The control system 11 may be configured to wait for the threshold heading change to occur or to request that the user to temporarily change the heading by the threshold amount. Alternatively, where an autonomous navigation controller is implemented, the navigation controller may temporarily implement the heading change to perform the measurement.

In some embodiments, an aggregate wind velocity and/or an aggregate current velocity may be determined for each of the legs L1 and L2 and the wind and/or current vectors may be calculated based on the aggregate velocity values. For example, a first aggregate wind velocity and/or first aggregate current velocity may be determined the first leg L1, or a portion thereof, based on multiple wind velocity and/or current velocity calculations at locations along the leg L1 or portion of the leg L1. Similarly, a second aggregate wind velocity and/or second aggregate current velocity may be determined for the second leg L2, or a portion thereof, based on multiple wind velocity and/or current velocity calculations at locations along the leg L2 or portion of the leg L2. For example, the control system 11 may be configured to periodically measure one or both of wind and/or water speed, and thus to determine the wind velocity and/or current velocity at the same frequency. The multiple wind velocity and/or current velocity values determined along a leg where the vessel is traveling straight in a consistent heading direction (e.g., leg L1 or leg L2) may be averaged or filtered or otherwise utilized together to determine an aggregate wind velocity and/or aggregate current velocity for the leg L1, L2 or for a portion of the leg.

The area for which the wind vector and/or a current vector are calculated to represent is based on the locations at which the wind speed and/or water speed are measured. Where the velocity values are based on a single speed measurement at a single measurement location in each heading direction, the area for which the wind and current vectors are calculated is defined by the two measurement locations. Where aggregate values are used, and thus the velocity values are based on multiple speed measurements taken at multiple locations, the area the area for which the wind and current vectors are calculated is defined by all of the measurement locations.

In some implementations, the disclosed method and system for wind vector and/or current vector calculations may be repeated in a plurality of measurement areas to generate a plurality of corresponding wind vectors and/or current vectors. A map of wind and/or current vectors may then be generated containing the plurality of vectors for the corresponding plurality of areas, thus mapping the wind vectors and/or current vectors for a larger area where the vessel has traveled and through which the vessel may be making a return trip. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a map showing two measurement areas A1 and A2 defined based on the measurement locations, which could be one or more locations along each of the legs L1-L4 (which in this example complete a path back to the start location P1 but in other embodiments may be an open path with a different start and stop location). Wind vectors V are calculated for the first area A1 based on one or more measurements in the first measurement leg L1 and the second measurement leg L2. Wind vectors V are calculated for the second area A2 based on one or more measurements in the third measurement leg L3 and the fourth measurement leg L4.

Alternatively or additionally, the control system may be configured to communicate the map of vectors, such as via long range wireless communication networks such as cellular or satellite networks, or by radio communication, to a central receiver. Thereby, map vectors created by multiple different vessels can be aggregated together to cover a larger area and such maps may be communicated to or accessible by one or more devices operating with the control system 11, such as via a user's mobile device or an onboard management system.

In one embodiment, the wind vector and/or a current vector are calculated based on air speed, water speed, and speed over ground measurements according to the following equations. The calculation of a wind vector based on wind speed measurements is exemplified; however, the same equations apply equally to the calculation of a current vector based on current speed measurements.

A first wind velocity vector (AirVelocity1) is calculated based on a first measured air speed and a first speed over ground when the vessel is heading in a first heading direction. And then, once the vessel turns off of its initial heading by a threshold change in heading direction, the speed over ground and air speed are recorded again and a second wind velocity vector (AirVelocity2) is calculated. AirVelocity1 and AirVelocity2 are calculated as follows:

AirVelocity1=SensedAirSpeed1−SpeedOverGround1

AirVelocity2=SensedAirSpeed2−SpeedOverGround2

The two velocity vectors are then normalized into a North/South, East/West coordinate system. Using trigonometry from the wind speed vectors we can solve for each of a North wind value (“NWind,” which may be positive or negative to indicate the wind velocity in the North/South direction) and an East wind value (“EWind,” which may be positive or negative to indicate the wind velocity in the East/West direction) as follows:

$\begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} \sin θ1 = \frac{EW ind}{AirVelocity 1} & \cos θ 2 = \frac{EW ind}{AirVelocity 2} \end{matrix} \\ \begin{matrix} θ4 (calc from GPS) = θ2 + θ3 & θ3 = π - \frac{π}{2} - θ1 \end{matrix} \\ θ 1 = \frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2 \\ AirVelocity 1 * \sin (\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2) = EWind \\ AirVelocity 2 * \cos (θ 2) = EWind \\ AirVelocity 2 * \cos (θ 2) = AirVelocity 1 * \sin (\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2) \\ AirVelocity 2 * \cos (θ 2) = AirVelocity 1 * \sin (\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2) \\ AirVelocity 2 * \sin (\frac{π}{2} + θ 2) = AirVelocity 1 * \sin (\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2) \\ \frac{AirVelocity 2}{AirVelocity 1} = \frac{\sin (\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2)}{\sin (\frac{π}{2} + θ 2)} \\ \sin^{- 1} (\frac{AirVelocity 2}{AirVelocity 1}) = \frac{\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2}{\frac{π}{2} + θ 2} \\ \frac{π}{2} + θ 2 = \frac{\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2}{\sin^{- 1} (\frac{AirVelocity 2}{AirVelocity 1})} \\ \frac{π}{2} + θ 2 = \frac{\frac{π}{2} - θ 4 + θ 2}{\sin^{- 1} (\frac{AirVelocity 2}{AirVelocity 1})} \\ θ 2 - \frac{θ 2}{\sin^{- 1} (\frac{AirVelocity 2}{AirVelocity 1})} = \frac{\frac{π}{2} - θ 4}{\sin^{- 1} (\frac{AirVelocity 2}{AirVelocity 1})} - \frac{π}{2} \\ EWind = \frac{\cos θ 2}{AirVelocity 2} \\ NWind = \frac{\sin θ 2}{AirVelocity 2} \end{matrix}$

FIG. 5A depicts one embodiment of a method 200 of monitoring an environment around a marine vessel by calculating wind and current vectors. As described above, in some embodiments, just one of wind or current may be monitored and corresponding vector calculation performed. However, in FIG. 5 both wind and water speed are measured and thus both wind and current vectors are calculated. The trip is started at step 202. The system may be configured to trigger a trip start based on various indicators, such as first key up of at least one marine drive after a predetermined period of inactivity or upon user input to start a trip. A first air speed, a first water speed, and a first speed over ground are measured at step 204. For example, the first measurements may be performed at or near the location of startup, such as within a threshold distance of a start location of the trip. A first wind velocity vector and a first current velocity vector are then determined for the first heading direction at step 206 based on the speed measurements, such as by the calculation methods illustrated above. In some embodiments, wind and current vectors may be periodically determined as the vessel continues traveling in the first heading direction and aggregate first wind and current vectors may be determined for the first leg where the vessel was continually heading in the first direction.

The vessel heading is monitored to detect when a threshold change in vessel heading occurs. Once the threshold heading change is detected at step 208, second air speed, water speed, and speed over ground measurements are taken at step 210 as the vessel travels in the second heading direction. The system may be configured to determine that the vessel is traveling at a fixed heading (rather than in a turn) prior to taking the second measurements to avoid measurement error caused by the effects of the vessel turn dynamics. For example, the control system may be configured to determine that the second heading direction is maintained for a threshold time or a threshold distance before measuring the second air speed and/or the second water speed. A second wind velocity vector and a second current velocity vector are then determined for the second heading direction at step 212 based on the speed measurements, such as by the calculation methods illustrated above. In some embodiments, wind and current vectors may be periodically determined as the vessel continues traveling in the second heading direction and aggregate second wind and current vectors may be determined for the second leg where the vessel was continually heading in the second direction.

The wind vector and the current vector are then calculated for the area defined by the first and second measurement locations or the first and second legs for which aggregate measurements were determined. The wind vector and the current vector are determined based on the corresponding first and second velocity vectors and the first and second heading directions, such as by the calculation methods illustrated above. A wind and/or current map may then be generated containing the wind and/or current vector for the area. In some embodiments, a plurality of wind and/or current vectors are calculated for each of a plurality of areas and a map of the plurality of wind and/or current vectors is generated covering the plurality of areas. In some embodiments, interpolation can be utilized to bridge gaps between measurement areas to generate a cohesive map covering a larger area.

FIG. 5B depicts another embodiment of a method 300 of monitoring an environment around a marine vessel by calculating wind and current vectors that includes generating and displaying a map providing a visual representation of the environmental vectors thus showing the wind and/or current vectors calculated for the area(s) where the vessel has traveled. At step 220, the control system is configured to generate a map based on all wind vectors and all current vectors for the area(s) where the environmental vectors have been calculated by the system. For example, the wind and current vectors may be generated by the methods described in FIG. 5A. The map is displayed at step 222, such as on a display device 40 at the helm, on a user's mobile device via an application communicating with the control system, or on some other display device visible to the operator or other user of the vessel. Once a threshold heading change is detected at step 224, air speed, water speed, and speed over ground are measured at step 226 while the vessel is heading in a new heading direction, as is described herein. A wind velocity vector and/or a current velocity vector are then determined at step 228 for the new heading direction. At step 230, a wind vector and/or a current vector are calculated for the new measurement area. The map is then updated and stored at step 230 such that the environmental vectors, wind and or water, around the vessel can be monitored as the vessel moves through various marine areas. Such information can then be utilized by the control system for monitoring and controlling aspects of the propulsion system, as well as displayed and or communicated to provide users with information about the environment.

Where vector maps are generated, they can be used to calculate the direction-based battery range for a vessel. A battery range notice can then be generated advising a user of the battery range in one or multiple directions. In certain embodiments, the control system 11 may be configured to continually or periodically calculate a required battery power to get the vessel from the current location to the trip end location. For example, by default the trip end location may be automatically set to the start location of the trip, and thus the system is configured to regularly calculate and monitor the battery power required to get the vessel back home. Alternatively, the trip end location may be set, such as based on user input, to a specified GPS location and the control system 11 monitors the battery power required to get the vessel to the user-set destination. The required battery power is calculated based on the environmental vector, such as to account for the wind drag and/or the water drag, on the vessel when it is heading from the vessel's present location toward the trip end location. Thereby, an accurate battery range is determined that accounts for environmental factors such as wind and current. The required battery power is monitored against the current battery charge level and an assessment is made to determine whether the current battery charge level is sufficiently greater than the required battery power-thus, whether the power storage system has sufficient charge level to get the vessel to the trip end location.

The required battery power calculation accounts for all known environmental vectors, such as any wind vectors and/or current vectors along the path between the vessel's present location and the trip end location. Referring to the example scenario illustrated in FIG. 4, assuming that the trip end location is the start location P1, the control system 11 may be configured to periodically calculate the required battery power to return the vessel from its present GPS location (wherever the vessel is along legs L1, L2, L3 or L4) to location P1. For example, the path distance and path direction to P1 may be periodically determined at regular time intervals or distance intervals as the most direct path for the vessel from the present GPS location of the marine vessel to P1, which is set as the trip end location.

The required battery power accounts for the wind vector V, as well as any current vectors that are calculated or obtained by the control system 11. Additionally, the required battery power may be determined based on a current speed parameter of the vessel, thus assuming that the vessel maintains its current speed as it travels to the trip end location. The current speed parameter may be any parameter describing vessel speed, motor speed, or power being consumed by the propulsion motor, including speed over water of the marine vessel, a speed over ground of the marine vessel, a motor speed, or a motor current.

The required battery power is compared to the current battery charge level of the power storage system 16. The control system may be configured to help a user plan the trip so that sufficient battery power is reserved, and thus to generate a battery range notice based on a difference between the required battery power and the current battery charge level. For example, the control system 11 may be configured to determine a turnaround point for the vessel based on the difference between the required battery power and the current battery charge level and to advise a user of the location of the turnaround point relative to the vessel's present location. For example, the turnaround point may be calculated based on the current vessel heading and the current speed parameter, thus assuming that the vessel's current heading and speed parameter are maintained up to the turnaround point and that the vessel speed is maintained for the entire trip to the end location. In one embodiment, the trip end location is determined as the GPS location in the vessel's current heading direction where the required battery power is a threshold less than the current battery charge level.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 of monitoring battery range for battery-powered electric propulsion on a marine vessel. The trip is started at step 302. The system may be configured to trigger a trip start based on various indicators, such as first key up of at least one marine drive after a predetermined period of inactivity or upon user input to start a trip. A trip end location is set at step 304. For example, the trip end location may be automatically set as the GPS location at the time of trip start. Alternatively, the trip end location may be set by a user, such as a default “home” location or a trip-specific end destination location. For example, the trip end location may be set by a user via the display 40 or another user interface device, such as a mobile device, communicating with the control system 11.

One or more environmental vectors are then identified at step 306. For example, the environmental vector(s) may include a wind vector describing a magnitude and direction of wind in an area around the marine vessel or an area (e.g., defined based on GPS) through which the vessel has or will travel. Alternatively or additionally, the environmental vector(s) may include a current vector describing a magnitude and direction of water current in an area around the marine vessel or an area through which the vessel has or will travel.

A path is then defined at step 308 from the vessel's present GPS location to the trip end location. The path includes a path distance and path direction, such as defining the shortest water-based path between the present vessel location and the trip end location.

A required battery power is then calculated at step 310, which is the amount of power required to get the marine vessel from the present vessel location to the trip end location according to the path accounting for the environmental vectors. For example, the required battery power may be calculated assuming that a current speed parameter of the vessel is maintained. Alternatively, the required battery power may be calculated based on a fixed speed parameter assumption, such as assuming a fixed vessel speed or motor speed representing a reasonable average speed for the propulsion device. An exemplary calculation method for determining the required battery power is illustrated below.

The required battery power is compared to the current battery charge level at step 312. For example, the comparison may be conducted to monitor that the battery charge level is sufficiently greater than the required battery power and advise a user accordingly. For example, the control system 11 may be configured to determine whether the battery has sufficient power to safely cover the remainder of the trip. For example, the control system may determine whether the required battery power is at least a threshold less than the current battery charge level, wherein the threshold value is calibrated to provide a safety margin to account for unexpected environmental factors, the user taking an indirect route home, traveling faster than the assumed speed parameter, etc.

A battery range notice is generated at step 314 based on the battery range assessment and comparison to the current battery charge level. For example, the battery range notice may be configured to guide a user on reserving sufficient power to complete the trip to the end location, accounting for wind, current, waves, etc. For example, the battery range notice may include a distance to empty and/or a time to empty for the vessel traveling in the path direction—i.e., indicating and/or quantifying how far and long the vessel can travel in the path direction toward home. For instance, the battery range notice may include an indicator, such as a color indicator, advising a user whether they have sufficient battery power to get back to the end location. The indicator may be green when there is more than enough battery power to reach the end location, yellow when the required power is within a first threshold of the current battery charge level, and red when the required power becomes less than a second threshold away from the current battery charge level-thus indicating that the user is risking running out of battery power prior to reaching the end location. Alternatively or additionally, the battery range notice may be configured to advise a user of a turnaround location, such as a furthest distance in the vessel's current heading location that the vessel can travel away from the end location before needing to turn around and head home.

The following illustrates an exemplary method of calculating the required battery power. The drag on the vessel is determined based on the environmental vector(s), such as based on a wind vector and/or a current vector. The method compensates for the drag when the vessel returns home or changes direction, thus accounting for the environmental factors in the range estimation.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate force vectors and vessel area for calculating the drag of a marine vessel for determining the required battery power. FIG. 7 illustrates the air resistance vector 421 and the water resistance vector 422, which are forces opposing the thrust vector 426 representing the propulsion force generated by the marine drive(s). FIG. 8 illustrates the total cross-sectional area 430 of the vessel 1. A portion of the cross-section area is in air, the area in air 431, and a portion is in the water, the area in water 432. The area in air 431 includes the hull cross-sectional area 431a and a top area 431b that includes things like the helm housing (e.g., the helm console and windshield), the bimini top or other coverings, etc. The air resistance vector 421 is applied to the area in air 431 and the water resistance vector 422 is applied to the area in water 432. When the vessel is at a steady state velocity, the total force from the air and water resistance vectors 421 and 422 on the area in air 431 and the area in water 432, respectively, are equal to the propulsion thrust vector 426.

An area of the vessel in air is identified, which is an instantaneous area value calculated based on a vessel speed parameter (such as RPM or vessel speed). In some embodiments, the instantaneous area in air may also be calculated to account for trim position of the marine drive(s) and/or a measured vessel pitch. A frontal area in air