Enhanced system and method for controlling automatic deployment of boat fenders
View Patent ↗An enhanced system for controlling boat fenders wherein, based on a tidal range chart, a motion function is calculated for one or more boat fenders, which is loaded into a fender controller so that fenders are lifted or lowered to protect a boat over a period of time as boat rises and falls with water levels when stationed at a dock.
1. A system for controlling deployable fenders of a boat, based on a tidal range, the system comprising:
a fender basket configured to contain a boat fender in a stowed position and further configured to lower the boat fender from the stowed position into a deployed position capable of protecting the boat's hull, wherein the boat fender is attached to a line, the line being coupled to a winch, the winch being coupled to a motor; and
a boat fender controller comprising at least a processor and a memory and programmable instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor, the programmable instructions configured to:
calculate a motion function based on a tidal range where the boat fender is or will be deployed; and
control the motor to raise or lower the boat fender based on the motion function.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the boat falls below a predefined point, the programmable instructions stop raising or lowering the boat fender and the fender remain in a fixed position.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein an amount of energy required to execute raising and lowering of the fender is calculated, a battery charge remaining is checked, and a safe reserve of energy is determined and reported to a user.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein fender or boat vertical location relative to a dock is measured or observed.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boat fender controller is embedded as a component within a smartphone, a navigation plotter, a GPS device, a tablet, an automatic fender system, the boat itself or any other equipment on the boat.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein when a rub rail of the boat falls below a predefined point, the programmable instructions stop raising or lowering the boat fender and the boat fender remain in a fixed position; and
when the rub rail of the boat rises above the predetermined point, the programmable instructions resume raising or lowering the boat fender.
7. The system of claim 4 , wherein measurement is performed by a camera.
8. The system of claim 4 , wherein measurement is performed by a proximity sensor.
9. The system of claim 4 , wherein measurement is performed by a radio signal.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motion function is measured or observed.