Apparatus, method and computer program for controlling propulsion of marine vessel

1. An apparatus for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, comprising:

a vessel interface couplable with a vessel control system;

a control interface to control a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel controller, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil;

one or more memories including computer program code; and

one or more processors to execute the computer program code to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receiving a wheel operation status from the wheel controller;

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel controller to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model,

wherein the apparatus is caused to perform:

receiving the actual angular wheel position as a part of the wheel operation status;

receiving an actual wheel speed as a part of the wheel operation status, or generating the actual wheel speed based on a plurality of actual angular wheel positions;

receiving a reference angular foil position for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving a reference foil speed for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving a reference foil acceleration for each foil as a part of the foil operation status; and

generating the reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive using the feedforward model, whose inputs are the actual angular wheel position, the reference angular foil position, the actual wheel speed, the reference foil speed, and the reference foil acceleration, and the reference torque is modified by a position feedback torque describing a difference in torque between the reference angular foil position and the actual angular foil position, and by a speed feedback torque describing a difference in torque between the reference foil speed and the actual foil speed.

2. An apparatus for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, comprising:

a vessel interface couplable with a vessel control system;

a control interface to control a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel controller, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil;

one or more memories including computer program code; and

one or more processors to execute the computer program code to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receiving a wheel operation status from the wheel controller;

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives:

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel controller to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model,

wherein the apparatus is caused to perform:

receiving the actual angular wheel position as a part of the wheel operation status;

receiving the actual angular foil position for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving an actual foil speed as a part of the foil operation status, or generating the actual foil speed based on a plurality of actual angular foil positions;

receiving an actual foil torque for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving one or more parameters from the foil pitch function;

generating a reference foil speed, a reference angular foil position, and a reference foil acceleration for each foil based on the actual angular wheel position and the one or more parameters;

generating the reference torque for each foil based on the reference foil speed, the reference angular foil position, and the reference foil acceleration for each foil; and

adjusting the reference torque for each foil based on the actual foil torque of each foil.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is caused to perform:

adjusting the reference foil speed for each foil based on the actual foil speed of each foil;

adjusting the reference angular foil position for each foil based on the actual angular foil position of each foil; and

adjusting the reference foil acceleration for each foil using an acceleration feedforward model.

4. An apparatus for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, comprising:

a vessel interface couplable with a vessel control system;

a control interface to control a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel controller, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil;

one or more memories including computer program code; and

one or more processors to execute the computer program code to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

receiving a wheel operation status from the wheel controller;

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel controller to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model,

wherein the apparatus is caused to perform:

applying a second order derivative on the foil pitch function to generate a torque compensation command; and

multiplying the torque compensation command with a torque compensation constant to generate the reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is caused to perform:

receiving a steering command from the vessel control system instructing the foil wheel propulsion system to steer the marine vessel; and

generating, based on the steering command, wheel control data for the wheel controller and foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the wheel motor is an electric motor, and the wheel controller is a wheel drive configured to control electric energy sent to the electric motor.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the wheel motor is an engine, and the wheel controller is configured to electrically control the engine.

8. A method for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, the propulsion being at least partly implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel drive, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil, the method comprising:

receiving a wheel operation status from the wheel drive;

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model,

further comprising:

receiving the actual angular wheel position as a part of the wheel operation status;

receiving an actual wheel speed as a part of the wheel operation status, or generating the actual wheel speed based on a plurality of actual angular wheel positions;

receiving a reference angular foil position for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving a reference foil speed for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving a reference foil acceleration for each foil as a part of the foil operation status; and

generating the reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive using the feedforward model, whose inputs are the actual angular wheel position, the reference angular foil position, the actual wheel speed, the reference foil speed, and the reference foil acceleration, and the reference torque is modified by a position feedback torque describing a difference in torque between the reference angular foil position and the actual angular foil position, and by a speed feedback torque describing a difference in torque between the reference foil speed and the actual foil speed.

9. A method for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, the propulsion being at least partly implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel drive, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil, the method comprising:

receiving a wheel operation status from the wheel drive;

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model,

further comprising:

receiving the actual angular wheel position as a part of the wheel operation status;

receiving the actual angular foil position for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving an actual foil speed as a part of the foil operation status, or generating the actual foil speed based on a plurality of actual angular foil positions;

receiving an actual foil torque for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving one or more parameters from the foil pitch function;

generating a reference foil speed, a reference angular foil position, and a reference foil acceleration for each foil based on the actual angular wheel position and the one or more parameters;

generating the reference torque for each foil based on the reference foil speed, the reference angular foil position, and the reference foil acceleration for each foil; and

adjusting the reference torque for each foil based on the actual foil torque of each foil.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

adjusting the reference foil speed for each foil based on the actual foil speed of each foil;

adjusting the reference angular foil position for each foil based on the actual angular foil position of each foil; and

adjusting the reference foil acceleration for each foil using an acceleration feedforward model.

11. A method for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, the propulsion being at least partly implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel drive, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil, the method comprising:

receiving a wheel operation status from the wheel drive;

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model,

further comprising:

applying a second order derivative on the foil pitch function to generate a torque compensation command; and

multiplying the torque compensation command with a torque compensation constant to generate the reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a steering command from the vessel control system instructing the foil wheel propulsion system to steer the marine vessel; and

generating, based on the steering command, wheel control data for the wheel drive and foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of a method for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, the propulsion being at least partly implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel drive, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status;

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model;

receiving the actual angular wheel position as a part of the wheel operation status;

receiving an actual wheel speed as a part of the wheel operation status, or generating the actual wheel speed based on a plurality of actual angular wheel positions;

receiving a reference angular foil position for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving a reference foil speed for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving a reference foil acceleration for each foil as a part of the foil operation status; and

generating the reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive using the feedforward model, whose inputs are the actual angular wheel position, the reference angular foil position, the actual wheel speed, the reference foil speed, and the reference foil acceleration, and the reference torque is modified by a position feedback torque describing a difference in torque between the reference angular foil position and the actual angular foil position, and by a speed feedback torque describing a difference in torque between the reference foil speed and the actual foil speed.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of a method for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, the propulsion being at least partly implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel drive, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status;

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model;

receiving the actual angular wheel position as a part of the wheel operation status;

receiving the actual angular foil position for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving an actual foil speed as a part of the foil operation status, or generating the actual foil speed based on a plurality of actual angular foil positions;

receiving an actual foil torque for each foil as a part of the foil operation status;

receiving one or more parameters from the foil pitch function;

generating a reference foil speed, a reference angular foil position, and a reference foil acceleration for each foil based on the actual angular wheel position and the one or more parameters;

generating the reference torque for each foil based on the reference foil speed, the reference angular foil position, and the reference foil acceleration for each foil; and

adjusting the reference torque for each foil based on the actual foil torque of each foil.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of a method for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel, the propulsion being at least partly implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system, which foil wheel propulsion system includes a rotatable wheel powered by a wheel motor and controlled by a wheel drive, a plurality of rotatable foils attached perpendicularly to the wheel, each foil powered by a foil motor and controlled by a foil drive, a wheel sensor to measure an actual angular wheel position of the wheel, and a plurality of foil sensors to measure an actual angular foil position of each foil, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives;

receiving a command from the vessel control system;

generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status;

generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model;

applying a second order derivative on the foil pitch function to generate a torque compensation command; and

multiplying the torque compensation command with a torque compensation constant to generate the reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive.