Development of a mobile software and hardware complex for measuring the power of outboard motors

The article is devoted to the development of a mobile software and hardware complex for measuring the power of outboard motors in full-scale operating conditions of small vessels. The relevance of the work is due to the systematic underestimation of the rated power by the manufacturers of outboard motors, which increase the risks of accidents. To solve this problem, the staff of the scientific, educational and production laboratory for outboard motors of the Department of Water Transport Operations and Industrial Fisheries of the Astrakhan State Technical University conducted research and development works, which included the development of a mobile device for measuring the power of outboard motors in field conditions. The device is based on the principle of operation and mathematical model used in the previous project of the department — the stationary rig "Small experience pool" (utility model patents RU 196596 U1, 03/06/2020 and RU 182049 U1, 08/01/2018 [1;2]). The main objectives of the scientific work were the development of a mobile software and hardware complex for measuring the power of outboard boat motors; creation of a physical model of the device; software development; experimental testing on the basis of a model basin and field tests in the waters of the Volga River; carrying out the processing of test results, comparing the data obtained with the declared power of outboard motors and preparing a preliminary and final report on the R&D carried out. In the course of the work, all the tasks were solved and, within the framework of the R&D contract, a device was created with which it was possible to determine the power of both outboard and stationary power plants of small ships. This article describes the composition of the device, the climatic conditions of use, the test program for outboard motors using the device, and some test results.

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