Heading Control Using Multiple Autopilots

• US 20160334792A1
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navico Incorporated (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navico Holding A.S. (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Jopling, Kenton Sterling
• Granted Patent: US 9,594,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/007 Trolling propulsion units trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2020/003 Arrangements of two, or more outboard propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles

Abstract

Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: receive a selection of a desired location or desired bearing for a watercraft, receive a desired heading for the watercraft, determine a first set of instructions for a first autopilot corresponding to the desired location or desired bearing and the desired heading, determine a second set of instructions for a second autopilot corresponding to the desired location or desired bearing and the desired heading, transmit the first set of instructions to the first autopilot and the second set of instructions to the second autopilot. The first set of instructions and the second set of instructions cause the first autopilot and the second autopilot to navigate the watercraft to the desired location or on the desired bearing while maintaining the desired heading.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a selection of a desired location or desired bearing for a watercraft;

receive a desired heading for the watercraft;

determine a first set of instructions for a first autopilot corresponding to the desired location or desired bearing and the desired heading;

determine a second set of instructions for a second autopilot corresponding to the desired location or desired bearing and the desired heading;

transmit the first set of instructions to the first autopilot and the second set of instructions to the second autopilot, wherein the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions cause the first autopilot and the second autopilot to navigate the watercraft to the desired location or on the desired bearing while maintaining the desired heading.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the desired heading is a current heading of the watercraft.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first autopilot and the second autopilot are autopilots for one or more outboard motors, trolling motors, inboard motors, sterndrives, thrusters, jets, or pods.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first autopilot comprises an outboard motor autopilot and the second autopilot comprises a trolling motor autopilot.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions or the second set of instructions causes the first autopilot or the second autopilot to determine a steering movement, motor speed, motor rotational direction or motor orientation.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to receive a selection of a turn pattern for the watercraft, and wherein the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions correspond to the turn pattern.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the turn pattern comprises a square pattern, a zig-zag pattern, a circular pattern, a figure-eight pattern, a spiral pattern or a series of loops.

8. An apparatus for displaying marine electronic data, comprising:

one or more processors;

a screen configured to display marine data; and

memory having a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive a selection of a desired location and a desired heading for a watercraft;

determine a first set of instructions for a first autopilot corresponding to the desired location and the desired heading;

determine a second set of instructions for a second autopilot corresponding to the desired location and the desired heading;

transmit the first set of instructions to the first autopilot and the second set of instructions to the second autopilot, wherein the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions cause the first autopilot and the second autopilot to navigate the watercraft to the desired location while maintaining the desired heading.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the screen is a touchscreen and the touchscreen is configured to receive a selection of one or more headings, locations, waypoints, turn patterns, docking maneuvers, arcs, speeds, and bearings.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the screen is a touchscreen and the touchscreen is configured to receive a selection of an arc size, sweep duration or sweep direction for the watercraft.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the touchscreen is further configured to receive a selection of whether a sweep reverses or repeats, or stops after a predetermined number of turns, or remains on a predetermined position after a predetermined number of sweeps.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first autopilot and the second autopilot are connected to the apparatus by a wired or wireless network connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first autopilot and the second autopilot are autopilots for one or more outboard motors, trolling motors, inboard motors, sterndrives, thrusters, jets or pods.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first autopilot comprises an outboard motor autopilot and wherein the second autopilot comprises a trolling motor autopilot.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first set of instructions comprises a first calculated heading and the second set of instructions comprises a second calculated heading.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a range of headings for a watercraft;

receive a location of the watercraft;

determine a first set of instructions for a first autopilot corresponding to the desired range of headings;

determine a second set of instructions for a second autopilot corresponding to the range of headings;

transmit the first set of instructions to the first autopilot and the second set of instructions to the second autopilot, wherein the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions cause the first autopilot and the second autopilot to maintain the location of the watercraft and rotate the watercraft through the range of headings.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first autopilot and the second autopilot are autopilots for one or more outboard motors, trolling motors, inboard motors, sterndrives, thrusters, jets, or pods.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first set of instructions comprises a first calculated heading and the second set of instructions comprises a second calculated heading.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first set of instructions or the second set of instructions causes the first autopilot or the second autopilot to determine a steering movement, motor speed, motor rotational direction or motor orientation.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the range of headings comprises an arc size, sweep duration, or sweep direction for the watercraft.