VESSEL MANEUVERING METHODS AND SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A method for maneuvering a marine vessel powered by a propulsion system, the method comprising:
- accepting inputs to an electronic navigation device;
generating a desired track based on the inputs, wherein the desired track includes a series of waypoints, each waypoint in the series of waypoints being associated with a respective heading; and
sending position and orientation information corresponding to each waypoint and its associated heading to a control module;
wherein, based on the position and orientation information, the control module generates steering and thrust commands that are required to maneuver the marine vessel from a current waypoint and heading in the series to a following waypoint and heading in the series; and
wherein, according to the steering and thrust commands, the propulsion system thereafter propels the marine vessel along the desired track to each waypoint and its associated heading in succession.
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Abstract
A method for maneuvering a marine vessel powered by a propulsion system includes accepting inputs to an electronic navigation device and generating a desired track based on the inputs. The desired track includes a series of waypoints, each waypoint in the series of waypoints being associated with a respective heading. The method also includes sending position and orientation information corresponding to each waypoint and its associated heading to a control module. Based on the position and orientation information, the control module generates steering and thrust commands that are required to maneuver the marine vessel from a current waypoint and heading in the series to a following waypoint and heading in the series. According to the steering and thrust commands, the propulsion system thereafter propels the marine vessel along the desired track to each waypoint and its associated heading in succession. A corresponding system is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for maneuvering a marine vessel powered by a propulsion system, the method comprising:
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accepting inputs to an electronic navigation device; generating a desired track based on the inputs, wherein the desired track includes a series of waypoints, each waypoint in the series of waypoints being associated with a respective heading; and sending position and orientation information corresponding to each waypoint and its associated heading to a control module; wherein, based on the position and orientation information, the control module generates steering and thrust commands that are required to maneuver the marine vessel from a current waypoint and heading in the series to a following waypoint and heading in the series; and wherein, according to the steering and thrust commands, the propulsion system thereafter propels the marine vessel along the desired track to each waypoint and its associated heading in succession. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A navigational system for a marine vessel, the navigational system comprising:
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an electronic navigation device; a control module in signal communication with the electronic navigation device; and a vessel propulsion system in signal communication with the control module; wherein the electronic navigation device generates a desired track including a series of waypoints, each waypoint in the series of waypoints being associated with a respective heading; wherein the control module receives position and orientation information corresponding to each waypoint and its associated heading from the electronic navigation device; and wherein, based on the position and orientation information, the control module directs the vessel propulsion system to propel the marine vessel along the desired track to each waypoint and its associated heading in succession. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification