Event sensor

摘要

An automatic timing measurement system that provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a water course. Algorithms based on inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements and/or image processing techniques on images provided by one or more cameras are used to track position of a watercraft. The position estimates and image processing techniques are used to allow the locations of water courses to be mapped and memorized. Algorithms are then used to allow the system to automatically detect passage of a watercraft through mapped courses for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of said watercraft past key points in said course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course if “steer-by-wire” mechanism is available. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current. Furthermore, GPS is used as the key input to produce boat speed-based pull-up profiles.

主权项

1. A system for detecting a position of a watercraft, the system comprising:
a position observer subsystem including a position determination device and a camera; a computing device in communication with the position observer subsystem; and non-volatile storage coupled to the computing device and configured to be programmed with locational information describing at least one water course; wherein the computing device is configured to receive a position from the position determination device and an image from the camera as the position determination device and the camera moves through the at least one watercourse, determine that the position received from the position determination device is adjacent a first water course feature on the at least one water course described by the locational information, detect the first water course feature in the image, and use the first water course feature detected in the image to confirm the position of the watercraft adjacent to the first water course feature.