Method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
- determining a quantity of available fuel of said marine vessel;
determining a velocity of said marine vessel;
determining a current operating speed of an engine of said marine vessel;
determining a rate of fuel consumption of said marine vessel;
determining a range of said marine vessel as a function of said quantity of available fuel and said rate of fuel consumption;
determining a current location of said marine vessel;
selecting a desired location of said marine vessel;
determining a distance between said current location and said desired location;
comparing said range to said distance; and
determining, in situations where said distance is greater than said range, if an increase of said current operating speed of said engine will increase said range to a magnitude which is greater than said distance.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process is provided by which the operator of a marine vessel can invoke the operation of a computer program that investigates various alternatives that can improve the range of the marine vessel. The distance between the current location of the marine vessel and a desired waypoint is determined and compared to a range of the marine vessel which is determined as a function of available fuel, vessel speed, fuel usage rate, and engine speed. The computer program investigates the results that would be achieved, theoretically, from a change in engine speed. Both increases and decreases in engine speed are reviewed and additional theoretical ranges are calculated as a function of those new engine speeds. The operator of the marine vessel is informed when an advantageous change in engine speed is determined.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
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determining a quantity of available fuel of said marine vessel;
determining a velocity of said marine vessel;
determining a current operating speed of an engine of said marine vessel;
determining a rate of fuel consumption of said marine vessel;
determining a range of said marine vessel as a function of said quantity of available fuel and said rate of fuel consumption;
determining a current location of said marine vessel;
selecting a desired location of said marine vessel;
determining a distance between said current location and said desired location;
comparing said range to said distance; and
determining, in situations where said distance is greater than said range, if an increase of said current operating speed of said engine will increase said range to a magnitude which is greater than said distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
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determining a quantity of available fuel of said marine vessel;
determining a velocity of said marine vessel;
determining a current operating speed of an engine of said marine vessel;
determining a rate of fuel consumption of said marine vessel;
determining a range of said marine vessel as a function of said quantity of available fuel and said rate of fuel consumption;
determining a current location of said marine vessel;
selecting a desired location of said marine vessel;
determining a distance between said current location and said desired location;
determining if said range is less than said distance; and
determining, in situations where said distance is greater than said range, if a change of said current operating speed of said engine will increase said range to a magnitude which is greater than said distance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
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determining a quantity of available fuel of said marine vessel;
determining a velocity of said marine vessel;
determining a current operating speed of an engine of said marine vessel;
determining a rate of fuel consumption of said marine vessel;
determining a range of said marine vessel as a function of said quantity of available fuel and said rate of fuel consumption;
determining a current location of said marine vessel;
selecting a desired location of said marine vessel;
determining a distance between said current location and said desired location;
determining if said range is less than said distance;
determining, in situations where said distance is greater than said range, if a change of said current operating speed of said engine will increase said range to a magnitude which is greater than said distance; and
informing the operator of said marine vessel that said change of said current operating speed of said engine will increase said range to said magnitude which is greater than said distance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification