System and method for controlling course of a marine vessel
First Claim
1. A system for controlling a course of a marine vessel powered by a marine engine as it moves in a body of water, the system comprising:
- a steering wheel rotatable to a plurality of positions;
a steerable component comprising a pod drive, an outboard motor, a stern drive, a jet drive, or a propeller capable of producing a thrust vector coupled to the vessel and rotatable about a steering axis to affect a direction of movement of the vessel in response to rotation of the steering wheel in a manual steering mode;
a navigation system that determines a current global position and a current heading of the vessel;
a mode selection device configured to initiate an auto-waypoint mode of the system; and
a control module in signal communication with the steering wheel, the steerable component, the navigation system, and the mode selection device;
wherein, in response to initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the control module sets a virtual waypoint and sets a course for the vessel toward the virtual waypoint based on a current position of the steering wheel and the vessel'"'"'s current global position;
wherein the control module sets the virtual waypoint by projecting the vessel'"'"'s current global position out by a predetermined distance and at an angle from the vessel'"'"'s current heading the angle being based on the current position of the steering wheel; and
wherein the control module thereafter commands the steerable component to rotate automatically and independently of the current position of the steering wheel, so as to counteract external forces on the vessel due to wind, waves, current, or other environmental factors, to thereby maintain the vessel on the set course toward the virtual waypoint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling a course of a marine vessel powered by a marine engine as it moves in a body of water includes determining a current global position and a current heading of the vessel and initiating an auto-waypoint mode of a vessel course control system. In response to initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the method includes setting a course for the vessel based on a current position of a steering wheel of the system and the vessel'"'"'s current global position. The method thereafter includes automatically rotating a steerable component coupled to the vessel and rotatable to affect a direction of movement of the vessel so as to counteract external forces on the vessel and thereby to maintain the vessel'"'"'s set course.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for controlling a course of a marine vessel powered by a marine engine as it moves in a body of water, the system comprising:
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a steering wheel rotatable to a plurality of positions; a steerable component comprising a pod drive, an outboard motor, a stern drive, a jet drive, or a propeller capable of producing a thrust vector coupled to the vessel and rotatable about a steering axis to affect a direction of movement of the vessel in response to rotation of the steering wheel in a manual steering mode; a navigation system that determines a current global position and a current heading of the vessel; a mode selection device configured to initiate an auto-waypoint mode of the system; and a control module in signal communication with the steering wheel, the steerable component, the navigation system, and the mode selection device; wherein, in response to initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the control module sets a virtual waypoint and sets a course for the vessel toward the virtual waypoint based on a current position of the steering wheel and the vessel'"'"'s current global position; wherein the control module sets the virtual waypoint by projecting the vessel'"'"'s current global position out by a predetermined distance and at an angle from the vessel'"'"'s current heading the angle being based on the current position of the steering wheel; and wherein the control module thereafter commands the steerable component to rotate automatically and independently of the current position of the steering wheel, so as to counteract external forces on the vessel due to wind, waves, current, or other environmental factors, to thereby maintain the vessel on the set course toward the virtual waypoint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling a course of a marine vessel powered by a marine engine as it moves in a body of water, the method comprising:
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determining a current global position and a current heading of the vessel; initiating an auto-waypoint mode of a vessel course control system; in response to initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, a control module setting a virtual waypoint and setting a course for the vessel toward the virtual waypoint based on a current position of a steering wheel of the system and the vessel'"'"'s current global position, wherein setting the virtual waypoint comprises projecting the vessel'"'"'s current global position out by a predetermined distance and at an angle from the vessel'"'"'s current heading, the angle being based on the current position of the steering wheel; and automatically rotating a steerable component comprising a pod drive, an outboard motor, a stern drive, a jet drive, or a propeller capable of producing a thrust vector, which is coupled to the vessel and rotatable about a steering axis to affect a direction of movement of the vessel independently of the current position of the steering wheel so as to counteract external forces on the vessel due to wind, waves, current, or other environmental factors, and thereby maintaining the vessel on the set course toward the virtual waypoint. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification