System and method for controlling a marine vessel through a waterway
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a processor configured to be disposed onboard a marine vessel, the processor also configured to obtain a trip plan that includes designated operational settings of the marine vessel for a trip along a waterway;
a propulsion system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the propulsion system configured to generate propulsion to move the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan; and
a directional system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the directional system configured to steer the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan, wherein the propulsion system propelling the marine vessel and the directional system steering the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan reduces at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the marine vessel relative to the marine vessel being propelled or steered according to one or more plans other than the trip plan,wherein the processor is configured to monitor at least one of a direction of water current flow in the waterway, a speed of the water current flow, a direction of wind movement, or a speed of the wind movement along a portion of a designated path of the trip plan, andwherein the one or more processors are configured to generate the trip plan such that the marine vessel travels in a common direction as the at least one of the direction of water current flow or the direction of wind movement for at least a portion of a designated path of the trip plan when one or more of the speed of the water current flow or the speed of the wind movement exceeds a designated threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling a marine vessel includes a processor, a propulsion system, and a directional system. The processor is disposed onboard the marine vessel and obtains a trip plan that includes designated operational settings of the marine vessel for a trip along a waterway. The propulsion system is communicatively coupled with the processor and generates propulsion to move the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan. The directional system is communicatively coupled with the processor and steers the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan. Operating the propulsion system and the directional system according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan reduces at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the marine vessel relative to the marine vessel being propelled or steered according to one or more plans other than the trip plan.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a processor configured to be disposed onboard a marine vessel, the processor also configured to obtain a trip plan that includes designated operational settings of the marine vessel for a trip along a waterway; a propulsion system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the propulsion system configured to generate propulsion to move the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan; and a directional system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the directional system configured to steer the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan, wherein the propulsion system propelling the marine vessel and the directional system steering the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan reduces at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the marine vessel relative to the marine vessel being propelled or steered according to one or more plans other than the trip plan, wherein the processor is configured to monitor at least one of a direction of water current flow in the waterway, a speed of the water current flow, a direction of wind movement, or a speed of the wind movement along a portion of a designated path of the trip plan, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to generate the trip plan such that the marine vessel travels in a common direction as the at least one of the direction of water current flow or the direction of wind movement for at least a portion of a designated path of the trip plan when one or more of the speed of the water current flow or the speed of the wind movement exceeds a designated threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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obtaining a trip plan that includes designated operational settings of a marine vessel for a trip along a waterway; monitoring at least one of a direction of water current flow in the waterway, a speed of the water current flow, a direction of wind movement, or a speed of the wind movement along a portion of a designated path of the trip plan; controlling a propulsion system of the marine vessel to generate propulsion to move the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan; and controlling a directional system of the marine vessel to steer the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan, wherein the propulsion system propelling the marine vessel and the directional system steering the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan reduces at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the marine vessel relative to the marine vessel being propelled or steered according to one or more plans other than the trip plan, wherein obtaining the trip plan includes generating the trip plan such that the marine vessel travels in a common direction as the at least one of the direction of water current flow or the direction of wind movement for at least a portion of a designated path of the trip plan when one or more of the speed of the water current flow or the speed of the wind movement exceeds a designated threshold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system comprising:
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a processor configured to be disposed onboard a marine vessel, the processor also configured to obtain a trip plan that includes designated operational settings of the marine vessel for a trip along a waterway; a propulsion system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the propulsion system configured to generate propulsion to move the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan; and a directional system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the directional system configured to steer the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan, wherein the propulsion system propelling the marine vessel and the directional system steering the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan reduces at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the marine vessel relative to the marine vessel being propelled or steered according to one or more plans other than the trip plan, wherein the processor is configured to monitor at least one of a direction of water current flow in the waterway, a speed of the water current flow, a direction of wind movement, or a speed of the wind movement along a portion of a designated path of the trip plan, and wherein the processor is configured to periodically compare an actual location of the marine vessel with a designated location of the trip plan and to modify the trip plan when a difference between the actual location and the designated location exceeds a designated threshold, further wherein a frequency at which the processor periodically compares the actual location to the designated location is based on the at least one of the direction of water current flow, the speed of the water current flow, the direction of wind movement, or the speed of the wind movement.
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26. A method comprising:
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obtaining a trip plan that includes designated operational settings of a marine vessel for a trip along a waterway; monitoring at least one of a direction of water current flow in the waterway, a speed of the water current flow, a direction of wind movement, or a speed of the wind movement along a portion of a designated path of the trip plan; controlling a propulsion system of the marine vessel to generate propulsion to move the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan; controlling a directional system of the marine vessel to steer the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan, wherein the propulsion system propelling the marine vessel and the directional system steering the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan reduces at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the marine vessel relative to the marine vessel being propelled or steered according to one or more plans other than the trip plan; periodically comparing an actual location of the marine vessel with a designated location of the trip plan; and modifying the trip plan when a difference between the actual location and the designated location exceeds a designated threshold, further wherein a frequency at which the processor periodically compares the actual location to the designated location is based on the at least one of the direction of water current flow, the speed of the water current flow, the direction of wind movement, or the speed of the wind movement.
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Specification