Scotty AI Explained - A simple walk through of what the AI does and Why we developed it plus feature

Safiery
8 Jan 202407:58

TLDRScotty AI is an innovative solution for optimizing alternator output power in various marine applications. It addresses common issues like overheating and power inefficiency by using an algorithm that focuses on the power response shape of the alternator. The AI system simplifies control, eliminates the need for complex wiring, and provides auto-tuning for specific alternators. It also offers bidirectional power features, ensuring smooth operation and safety, with the ability to reverse energy flow if needed. Scotty AI is compatible with different voltage systems and can be monitored and controlled through a high-resolution touch display and smartphone app, offering a smart and efficient way to manage power on boats.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 Scotty AI is an advanced system designed to optimize alternator output power, addressing issues with temperature, engine RPM, and other electrical loads.
  • 🚀 The AI algorithm focuses on the power response shape of the alternator, simplifying control and eliminating common problems associated with traditional systems.
  • 🌟 Scotty AI provides auto-tuning for specific alternators, enhancing performance and protecting the alternator from overheating, especially during high-load operations.
  • 🔋 It offers smooth operation as a solar backup, ensuring efficient energy management and utilization.
  • 📈 The system has a provisional International patent, indicating its innovative and unique approach to power management.
  • 🔌 Scotty AI is a simple, non-invasive solution that requires no field current cables, shunts, or modifications to the existing setup.
  • 🔒 It ensures safety by automatically opening the circuit in less than 25 milliseconds if a fault is detected in a 48v battery system.
  • 🌡️ The alternator temperature sensor is a crucial input for Scotty AI, which adjusts power bands automatically to maintain normal operating parameters.
  • 🔄 Scotty AI supports bidirectional power, allowing energy to flow both ways depending on the system's needs.
  • 📊 The system is compatible with Victron Energy's VE.Can and can read the CAN BMS directly or use a constant current/constant voltage charge strategy for lithium batteries.
  • 📱 Scotty AI features an over-the-air update capability, allowing for firmware updates through a smartphone, ensuring continuous improvement and compatibility.

Q & A

  • What was the primary issue with the early Scotty systems?

    -The primary issue was optimizing alternator output power, which varied with temperature, engine RPM, and other 12-volt loads at the engine.

  • How did the AI algorithm improve the alternator's performance?

    -The AI algorithm focused on the shape of the power response of the alternator and its internal regulator, simplifying control and eliminating the previously mentioned issues.

  • What are the key features of Scotty AI?

    -Key features include auto-tuning for specific alternators, protection from overheating, smooth operation as a solar backup, and a bidirectional power feature.

  • How does Scotty AI ensure safety in case of a fault in the 48v battery system?

    -Scotty AI will automatically open the circuit in less than 25 milliseconds, allowing the 12v or 24v alternator to continue driving critical loads, providing perfect redundancy.

  • What is the role of the alternator temperature sensor in Scotty AI's operation?

    -The alternator temperature sensor is a key AI input that helps Scotty AI to automatically set the Power Band back if the rate of change of temperature, current, and voltage are outside the normal operating band.

  • How does Scotty AI work with a CAN bus system?

    -Scotty AI sits on a CAN bus and can work with Victron Energy's VE.Can, not impacting the CAN bus and reading the CAN BMS directly if available.

  • What are the different models of Scotty AI available?

    -The models include the 1500-watt Scotty, the 3000-watt Scotty AI, and the Meteor model, each with different voltage capabilities and features.

  • How does the bidirectional power feature of Scotty AI work?

    -The bidirectional power feature allows energy to flow back through Scotty when the outboard motor is off, running all the 12-volt loads and charging the battery.

  • What is the purpose of the round touch display for Scotty AI?

    -The round touch display provides a high-resolution, IP67-rated interface for monitoring battery status, power on Scotty, high side and low side voltage, and adjusting idle power settings.

  • How can Scotty AI firmware be updated?

    -The firmware can be updated over the air through a smartphone, allowing for easy and convenient updates.

  • How does Scotty AI support the Meteor battery model?

    -The Meteor battery model is a plug-and-play set of dual bus voltage batteries, and when Scotty 1500 plugs into the front, it connects the high side bus to the low side, allowing for various voltage configurations.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to Scotty AI and its Functionality

This paragraph introduces Scotty AI, an advanced system designed to optimize the performance of alternators in various applications. It explains the development of Scotty AI, which was inspired by the need to address the inefficiencies and imperfections in traditional alternator tuning methods. The key issue was the variability of alternator output power due to factors like temperature, engine RPM, and other electrical loads. Scotty AI was developed to simplify control by focusing on the power response shape of the alternator's internal regulator. The AI system allows for auto-tuning specific to each alternator, protecting it from overheating and providing smooth operation, especially when used with solar backup. It also includes a provisional international patent and is noted to be smarter than its creator. The system's simplicity is highlighted, as it requires no modifications to the existing setup, and it can operate on a CAN bus without impacting it. The paragraph concludes with a mention of Scotty AI's ability to protect the alternator by automatically adjusting the power band if the temperature, current, and voltage exceed normal operating parameters.

05:01

🔋 Scotty AI Models and Features

This paragraph discusses the different models of Scotty AI, including the 1500-watt model capable of handling various voltage levels from 12V to 63V, and the Scotty 3000 AI, which supports voltages up to 48V. It also introduces the new Meteor model, a plug-and-play dual bus voltage battery system compatible with a range of voltages. The Meteor model features a high-side bus for higher voltage applications and a low-side bus for standard 12V systems. The paragraph highlights the convenience of the plug connection, which includes dual Mega fuses for safety. Additionally, it mentions the support for a round touch display, which is IP67 rated and can show battery status, power on Scotty, and idle power settings. The display also supports over-the-air updates for Scotty AI, allowing firmware updates through a smartphone. The paragraph ends with a note on the availability of numerous YouTube videos demonstrating Scotty AI installations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI (Artificial Intelligence)

AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn. In the context of the video, AI is used to optimize the performance of an alternator, making it smarter and more efficient. The AI, named Scotty AI, is capable of auto-tuning the alternator, protecting it from overheating, and ensuring smooth operation, as highlighted in the video's narrative.

💡Alternator

An alternator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, typically used in vehicles to recharge the battery while the engine is running. The video discusses the challenges of optimizing alternator output power, which varies with factors like temperature, engine RPM, and other electrical loads. Scotty AI addresses these issues by focusing on the power response shape of the alternator's internal regulator.

💡Auto-tuning

Auto-tuning refers to the automatic adjustment of a system's parameters to achieve optimal performance. In the video, Scotty AI performs auto-tuning for a specific alternator, allowing it to reach higher charge levels and maintain good shape. This feature is a key selling point, as it simplifies the control process and eliminates the need for manual adjustments.

💡Bidirectional Power Feature

This feature allows power to flow in both directions within a system. In the video, Scotty AI's bidirectional power feature is praised for its elegance and simplicity, enabling the alternator to charge the battery and, when needed, reverse the flow to power 12-volt loads. This is particularly useful in scenarios like the one described with the fishing boat, where the 36-volt system can both charge and power the trolling motor and other electronics.

💡CAN Bus

The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a communication protocol used in vehicles and other systems for transmitting data between devices. The video mentions that Scotty AI is compatible with the CAN bus and can read the CAN BMS directly, which means it can communicate with the battery management system without impacting the bus's performance.

💡Redundancy

Redundancy in systems refers to the duplication of critical components to ensure continued operation in case of a failure. Scotty AI provides redundancy by allowing the alternator to continue driving critical loads even if the 48-volt battery system develops a fault, as it can quickly open the circuit and let the alternator take over.

💡Temperature Sensor

A temperature sensor is a device that measures temperature and converts it into a readable format. In the context of the video, the alternator temperature sensor is a key input for Scotty AI. It monitors the rate of change in temperature, current, and voltage to ensure the alternator operates within the normal operating band, automatically adjusting the power band if necessary.

💡Master Slave Configuration

This configuration involves a primary device (master) that controls one or more secondary devices (slaves). The video describes a unique floating master developed for Scotty AI, allowing two Scotty AIs to work together on the same CAN bus, either independently or in tandem. This is beneficial for applications like catamaran motor sailing, where engines on port and starboard can be managed effectively.

💡Rebul Value

Rebul value likely refers to a specific parameter or setting within the charging strategy of Scotty AI. The video mentions that the charge strategy has a rebul value, which suggests it's a feature that contributes to the efficiency or safety of the charging process, although the exact nature of this value is not detailed in the script.

💡Touch Display

A touch display is an interactive screen that responds to touch inputs. The video highlights Scotty AI's support for a round touch display, which is high resolution and IP67 rated, suitable for use in marine environments. The display allows users to monitor battery status, power on Scotty, and adjust idle power settings, providing a user-friendly interface for system management.

💡Over-the-Air Update

Over-the-air (OTA) updates refer to the ability to remotely upgrade a device's firmware or software without needing physical access. The video mentions that Scotty AI supports OTA updates, allowing users to upgrade the firmware through their smartphones, ensuring that the system stays up-to-date with the latest improvements and features.

Highlights

Scotty AI is an advanced system designed to optimize alternator output power, addressing issues related to temperature, engine RPM, and other 12-volt loads.

The AI algorithm focuses on the power response shape of the alternator's internal regulator, simplifying control and eliminating previous problems.

Scotty AI provides auto-tuning for specific alternators, protecting them from overheating and ensuring smooth operation, especially when running hard or as solar backup.

The system has a provisional international patent and is acknowledged to be smarter than its creator, excelling in power extraction.

Scotty AI operates by placing an electrical load on the alternator, which has an internal regulator, making the process simple and requiring no modifications to the system.

In case of a fault in the 48v battery system, Scotty AI can safely open the circuit in less than 25 milliseconds, allowing the alternator to continue driving critical loads.

The alternator temperature sensor is a key AI input, and Scotty AI automatically adjusts the power band if the temperature, current, and voltage are outside the normal operating range.

Scotty AI can work on a CAN bus 250 board, allowing two Scotty AIs to operate independently or together, which is beneficial for catamaran motor sailing.

The system is compatible with Victron Energy's VE.Can and does not impact the CAN bus, reading the CAN BMS directly or using a constant current-constant voltage charge strategy for lithium batteries.

Scotty AI features bidirectional power, allowing energy to flow back through the system to run 12-volt loads, as demonstrated in a fishing boat setup with a 36v system.

The Scotty AI models include the 1500-watt version, capable of pulling up to 1580 watts at various voltages, and the 3000-watt version, designed for higher power needs.

The Meteor model is a plug-and-play set of dual bus voltage batteries, compatible with Scotty AI, offering a self-contained system with high and low side buses for various voltage needs.

Scotty AI supports a round touch display, which is IP67 rated and suitable for use on any boat's helm, providing real-time data on battery status and Scotty AI performance.

The firmware of Scotty AI is updatable through a smartphone, allowing for over-the-air updates and easy maintenance.

There are 700 videos on YouTube demonstrating Scotty AI installations and customer experiences, showcasing the practical applications and benefits of the system.