System and method for controlling handling of a marine vessel
First Claim
1. A system for controlling handling of a marine vessel, the system comprising:
- a steerable component coupled to the marine vessel and steerable to a plurality of positions so as to vary a direction of movement of the marine vessel;
a controller communicatively connected to an actuator of the steerable component;
a user input that provides to the controller an operator-initiated steering command to steer the steerable component to one of the plurality of positions; and
a sensor that provides to the controller an indication of an undesired course change of the marine vessel;
wherein the controller has a vessel direction control section which, in response to the indication of the undesired course change, outputs a command to the actuator to change a position of the steerable component from the one of the plurality of positions to automatically counteract the undesired course change;
wherein the vessel direction control section is active only when the operator-initiated steering command is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are for controlling handling of a marine vessel having a steerable component that is steerable to a plurality of positions to vary a direction of movement of the vessel. A controller is communicatively connected to an actuator of the steerable component and a user input device provides to the controller an operator-initiated steering command to steer the steerable component to one of the plurality of positions. A sensor provides to the controller an indication of an undesired course change of the marine vessel. The controller has a vessel direction control section that outputs a command to the actuator to change a position of the steerable component from the one of the plurality of positions so as to automatically counteract the undesired course change. The vessel direction control section is active only when the operator-initiated steering command is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for controlling handling of a marine vessel, the system comprising:
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a steerable component coupled to the marine vessel and steerable to a plurality of positions so as to vary a direction of movement of the marine vessel; a controller communicatively connected to an actuator of the steerable component; a user input that provides to the controller an operator-initiated steering command to steer the steerable component to one of the plurality of positions; and a sensor that provides to the controller an indication of an undesired course change of the marine vessel; wherein the controller has a vessel direction control section which, in response to the indication of the undesired course change, outputs a command to the actuator to change a position of the steerable component from the one of the plurality of positions to automatically counteract the undesired course change; wherein the vessel direction control section is active only when the operator-initiated steering command is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling handling of a marine vessel having a steerable component steerable to a plurality of positions so as to vary a direction of movement of the marine vessel, the method comprising:
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receiving an operator-initiated steering command; outputting a command to an actuator to steer the steerable component to one of the plurality of positions that corresponds to the operator-initiated steering command; receiving an indication of an undesired course change of the marine vessel from a sensor; determining if the operator-initiated steering command is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold; and in response to receiving the indication of the undesired course change and to the operator-initiated steering command being less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, outputting a command to the actuator to change the position of the steerable component from the one of the plurality of positions to automatically counteract the undesired course change. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification