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System for controlling navigation of a fishing boat

  • US 5,884,213 A
  • Filed: 03/22/1996
  • Issued: 03/16/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling the navigation of a fishing boat between a plurality of waypoints representing successive positions along a navigation route, the system comprising:

  • a first input device for generating waypoint signals;

    a position detector for generating signals representative of the actual position of the fishing boat;

    an electric trolling motor coupled to the fishing boat and producing a thrust to propel the fishing boat;

    a steering actuator coupled to the electric trolling motor and configured to control the orientation of the electric trolling motor in response to a steering control signal;

    a heading detector for generating signals related to the actual heading of the fishing boat; and

    a control circuit coupled to the first input device, the position detector, the steering actuator and the heading detector, the control circuit being configured to determine the plurality of waypoints based upon the waypoint signals generated by the first input device and to determine the actual position of the fishing boat based upon the signals generated by the position detector, the control circuit being further configured to determine a desired heading based upon a desired waypoint and the actual position of the fishing boat, and to generate the steering control signal to steer the fishing boat toward the desired waypoint based upon the desired heading and the actual heading of the fishing boat, wherein the control circuit steers the fishing boat between the plurality of waypoints representing the successive positions along the navigation route.

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