Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201029 | Facilitating navigation of vessels in specific water environments - A method of facilitating movement of a vessel in a specific navigation environment. Characteristics of the vessel are evaluated relative to conditions in the environment to define a navigation procedure. The procedure is described on a navigational chart that includes information from sources of navigation-related experience, e.g., sovereign governmental authorities, hydrographic offices, port authorities, communication authorities, vessel masters, operators and port pilots. The vessel is indicated as geographically referenced to points in the environment indicative of successive positioning of the vessel in accordance with the procedure. Using such procedures can streamline coordination among masters, operators and ports and can shorten time needed to plan and perform navigation in complex environments. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201030 | Stall detection - A control system for lift-generating means, the control system comprising:
| 08-21-2008 |
20080201031 | BOAT PROPULSION UNIT AND BOAT - A boat is capable of preventing shocks on gears in meshing engagement with each other and an abrupt movement thereof when a remote control shift lever is quickly rotated to reverse from a cruising mode. A control microcomputer is arranged to control the operation of a shift actuator based on the displacement of a remote control shift lever for remotely switching between forward, neutral, and reverse positions. The control microcomputer has a shift detector arranged to detect whether a shift operation from the neutral position to the forward position or the reverse position was made based on a signal from a lever position sensor arranged to detect the position of the remote control shift lever; and a switch control which does not drive a shift motor when a shift operation from the neutral position to the forward position or the reverse position is detected by the shift detector and the engine rotational speed detected by the engine rotational speed sensor is higher than a prescribed value, and drives the shift motor and controls a shift operating device to start shifting when the engine rotational speed decreases to a value equal to or smaller than the prescribed value. | 08-21-2008 |
20080243321 | Event sensor - An automatic timing measurement system that provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Algorithms based on inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements are used to track position of a watercraft. Said position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. Algorithms are then used to allow the apparatus to automatically detect passage of a watercraft through mapped courses for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of said watercraft past key points in said course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course if “steer-by-wire” mechanism is available. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current. Furthermore, GPS is used as the key input to produce boat speed-based pull-up profiles. | 10-02-2008 |
20080262666 | POWERED RIDING APPARATUS WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROLS AND OPTIONS - The present invention relates to a power riding apparatus with electronic options, a wireless user interface for control such apparatus, and a wave-information-system. One embodiment of the power riding apparatus is a surf board configured with a booster system. The booster system is electrically associated with an onboard controller. The onboard controller is in wireless communication with a user interface associated with a user. The user activates the user interface as desired to control the booster system and activate other board features such as: lighting system, repellant system, anti-theft system, entertainment system, recording system, and communication system. Embodiments of the invention include surf boards, water boards of all types, as wells as boards with wheels such as skate boards. | 10-23-2008 |
20080269968 | WATERCRAFT POSITION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM & METHOD - Movement of a watercraft/vehicle is precisely controlled for operations such as docking, remaining on-station, and rotating about the craft's center of mass. The system uses the primary propulsion units used to operate the watercraft under normal conditions without the need for thrusters. Two or more primary propulsion units are controlled to move the watercraft/vehicle forward/aft, laterally, obliquely lateral and may include rotation as desired. One propulsion unit produces reverse thrust and one propulsion unit produces forward thrust while the propulsion angles of the propulsion units are controlled. A variable length draglink simplifies operation of the system. An engine control unit and user interface generate signals to control the thrust magnitude and propulsion angles of the propulsion units. Movement sensors provide data to the control unit for improved control of the watercraft/vehicle. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269969 | Motorized Watercraft With a Control Device - The invention relates to a motorized watercraft with a control device ( | 10-30-2008 |
20080269970 | BOAT CONTROL SYSTEM AND BOAT - A boat control system detects a wire break status in a duplicated communication system. A hull of a boat is provided with a main remote control side ECU and a subremote control side ECU, and the subremote control side ECU communicates with an engine side ECU via the main remote control side ECU. Both of the remote control side ECUs are provided with storage buffers in which communication status confirmation data transmitted between nodes is stored. A broken wire detection section of the engine side ECU starts a determination when a system is started, and broken wire detection sections of both of the remote control side ECUs start a determination when communication status confirmation data is received from another node. Data indicating that communication is in an abnormal status is stored as an initial value in a main remote control data storage buffer. | 10-30-2008 |
20080281478 | Programmable Automatic Trim Control System For Marine Applications - A programmable automatic trim control system for marine applications preferably includes a controller, a control panel, at least one display device and a plurality of sensors. The controller receives input from the control panel and the plurality of sensors. Each display device shows various data from the controller. Each sensor monitors a single drive device, trim device or operational parameter. The controller further includes output ports connected to the drive devices and trim devices for the control thereof. The trim control system preferably includes a manual mode, a diagnostic mode, a program mode and an automatic mode. The positions and/or settings of the trim and drive devices and operational parameters are set in the program mode and recorded in the controller. Data stored in the controller is accessed and utilized by the trim control system when in the automatic mode. | 11-13-2008 |
20080294308 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME POLARS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for real-time creation of vessel performance models. Performance inputs are received from a set of sensors during a voyage of a vessel. The performance inputs are data associated with a performance of the vessel during the voyage. A real-time performance model is generated during the voyage using a subset of the performance inputs. A predicted value for velocity made good is identified for the vessel using the real-time performance model. | 11-27-2008 |
20080300742 | Hybrid remotely/autonomously operated underwater vehicle - Disclosed is an underwater vehicle that can be operated as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or as an autonomous vehicle (AUV). The underwater vehicle has a tether, which may be a fiberoptic cable, that connects the vehicle to a control console. The underwater vehicle has vertical and lateral thrusters, pitch and yaw control fins, and a propulsor, all of which may be used in an ROV-mode when the underwater vehicle is operating at slow speeds. The underwater vehicle may also be operated in a AUV-mode when operating at higher speeds. The operator may switch the vehicle between ROV-mode and AUV-mode. The underwater vehicle also has a fail-safe mode, in which the vehicle may navigate according to a pre-loaded mission plan if the tether is severed. | 12-04-2008 |
20080306642 | Remote controlled position sensing and auto-leveling boat lift controller - The present invention disclosure relates to boat lifts and in particular a boat lift preferably employing to a remote controlled, position sensing and auto-leveling boat lift controller. The controller is capable of monitoring the height of the lift relative to the surface of the water and the angle of the lift relative to horizontal level. The controller filters out the effects of wave action or other interfering conditions, obtaining precise measurements of the height and angle. The controller continuously maintains both height and angle at the position set by the operator. | 12-11-2008 |
20090030567 | Control device for watercrafts - A control device for watercrafts includes a control station having a control lever, a motor, and an actuator coupled to the motor. In one embodiment, the control lever is provided with a sensor for generating a main command signal that corresponds to or is related to a position and/or a displacement of the control lever. The control device further includes control electronics receiving as input at least the main command signal and further having at least a first analog transmission line and a second digital transmission line for transmitting command signals. The control electronics divide the main command signal in two different command signals, a first analog command signal and a second digital command signal, the first analog command signal being sent to the motor through the analog transmission line and/or the second digital command signal being sent to the actuator through the second digital transmission line. | 01-29-2009 |
20090037040 | Bidirectional wireless controls for marine devices - A marine device, such as a trolling motor, a trim tab, a downrigger or a sonar device, is operated based upon commands generated by a wireless remote control device. The marine device is connected to a controller that provides commands to the marine device. The controller communicates with the remote control through a bidirectional wireless communication link to receive commands and to provide status information on the operation of the motor. The remote control includes user inputs for generating commands that are sent wirelessly to the controller to control operation of the marine device. The remote control also includes a display for displaying real time status information that is received wirelessly from the controller. | 02-05-2009 |
20090043436 | Automatic Vessel Position Holding Control Method and Controller - An automatic vessel position holding control method for holding a vessel position and a vessel heading of a vessel on the ocean in order to reduce a positional deviation and a heading deviation sharply as compared with the conventional automatic vessel position holding control by performing feedforward control for estimating and then compensating at least one of a wave drifting force and a wave drifting moment that act on the vessel, wherein a vessel position holding control is performed that includes such controls as estimating waves entering the vessel from motion thereof, calculating at least one of the wave drifting force and the wave drifting moment from the estimated waves and performing feedforward control for at least one of the calculated wave drifting force and the calculated wave drifting moment. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048726 | Vessel performance monitoring system and method - Vessel operating data is collected and stored while training a monitoring system. The training process includes navigating along a first path while running at a constant RPM for each of multiple RPM settings. The step is repeated for an opposite heading. Data from one or more training runs is used to derive models of estimated vessel performance. A calibration process may be performed to determine performance degradation due to marine growth and/or propeller damage. During real time operation, vessel performance is monitored and displayed. An operator may compare actual performance versus estimated performance in generally real time using the training data and real time data. The operator may change course or RPM to improve performance, such as to improve vessel miles per gallon. | 02-19-2009 |
20090069962 | GUIDANCE OF MARINE VESSELS - A method for controlling the cruise of an autonomous vessel incorporates using a subsystem of a payload of the vessel functional in generating locational data relating to a target. A controller for controlling the cruise control subsystems determining the bearing and the velocity of said vessel. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076670 | Olivo-Cerebellar Controller - Non-linear control laws are disclosed and implemented with a controller and control system for maneuvering an underwater vehicle. The control laws change the phase of one Inferior-Olive (IO) neuron with respect to another IO. One control law is global, that is, the control law works (stable and convergent) for any initial condition. The remaining three control laws are local. The control laws are obtained by applying feedback linearization, while retaining non-linear characteristics. Each control law generates a profile (time history) of the control signal to produce a desired phase difference recognizable by a controller to respond to disturbances and to maneuver an underwater vehicle. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076671 | WATERCRAFT - A watercraft includes a plurality of watercraft operating devices arranged to adjust an amount and/or a direction of a propulsive force or a resistance provided to a prescribed position of the watercraft, operation devices arranged to operate the plurality of watercraft operating devices, actuators arranged to actuate the respective watercraft operating devices, and a control unit arranged to control an operation amount of each of the actuators based on an operational state of the operation devices. The control unit preferably includes a traveling state detecting device arranged to detect a traveling state of the watercraft, an operational state detecting device arranged to detect an operational state of the operation devices, a traveling plan estimating device arranged to estimate a traveling plan of an operator of the watercraft based on the traveling state and the operational state, and a watercraft operating device controlling device arranged to select one of the watercraft operating devices to be controlled from the plurality of watercraft operating devices, and arranged to control an operating amount of the actuator operating the watercraft operating device. | 03-19-2009 |
20090105894 | Outboard motor control apparatus - In an apparatus installed on a boat for identifying and controlling operation of an outboard motor selected by an operator and clamped to the boat from among outboard motors in different models prepared to be selectable by the operator, including a model having an analog device that produces analog signal and a model having a digital device that converts the analog signal produced by the analog device into a digital signal, it is discriminated whether the inputted signal is the analog signal inputted through the analog signal input/output or the digital signal inputted through the digital signal input/output, and the model of the selected outboard motor is identified based on the discriminated signal, thereby enabling to surely identify the model and control its operation. | 04-23-2009 |
20090138148 | Corrosion protection system - A system for corrosion protection is disclosed. The system includes at least one component subject to corrosion and forming a cathode element. An anode element is disposed proximate the at least one component. A reference element is provided proximate the at least one component and configured to provide a voltage signal. An engine control module is configured to control a marine engine, determine a real-time amount of current for protecting the at least one component from corrosion, and deliver the real-time amount of current to the anode element | 05-28-2009 |
20090157242 | Controlling Movement of a Vessel Traveling Through Water During a Seismic Survey Operation - To perform control of movement of a marine vessel traveling through water during a seismic survey operation, input information relating to factors that affect a speed of the marine vessel is received. The speed of the marine vessel is adjusted in response to the received information relating to the factors that affect the speed of the marine vessel. | 06-18-2009 |
20090171520 | MARINE VESSEL RUNNING CONTROLLING APPARATUS, AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel running controlling apparatus is applicable to a marine vessel which includes a propulsive force generating unit arranged to generate a propulsive force to be applied to a hull of the marine vessel, and a steering unit arranged to turn the hull. The marine vessel running controlling apparatus includes an operational unit to be operated by an operator of the marine vessel to control a steering angle of the steering unit, and a control unit arranged to update control information related to the steering angle of the steering unit with respect to an operation amount of the operational unit based on data acquired during travel of the marine vessel. | 07-02-2009 |
20090187297 | Integrated Vessel Monitoring and Control System - A vessel monitoring and control system. Data indicative of operational conditions for vessel systems is transmitted from the vessel to one or more remote sites and commands are received from the one or more remote sites for controlling the vessel systems. Multiple transmitting and receiving components are available on the vessel for communicating with a variety of different communications systems at the remote sites. | 07-23-2009 |
20090198395 | Rudder System - A rudder system for a kayak includes a rudder configured for pivotal attachment to the kayak and a propeller housed in and extending from the rudder. A battery is in electrical communication with the propeller to selectively power the propeller. The kayak system includes an input in electrical communication with the propeller to operatively actuate the propeller, the input being accessible from inside the kayak. A sensor is operatively coupled to the kayak to determine a relative speed thereof. A processor is in data communication with the sensor and propeller, the processor including programming to determine a necessary propeller speed. The processor is in data communication with the input so as to establish the desired relative speed of the kayak. The propeller includes at least two blades and the propeller motor is housed in the rudder. | 08-06-2009 |
20090210107 | METHOD OF MEASURING COUPLING RATIOS - There is provided a method of measuring coupling ratios in a marine vessel. The vessel includes: (a) a source of mechanical power; (b) a coupling system operatively coupled via a first input shaft to the source of power and operatively coupled via a second output shaft to one or more propellers of the vessel; and (c) a controller coupled to a user interface and also to the coupling system such that the user interface is operable via the controller to control a degree of power coupling occurring in operation through the coupling system. The first and second shafts are provided with first and second rotation rate sensors respectively coupled to the controller for generating first and second rotation rate signals indicative in operation of rotation rates of the first and second shafts respectively. The method involves measuring a ratio of the first and second signals when the coupling system is in a fully coupled state. | 08-20-2009 |
20090222154 | Automatic pilot module and system for automatically steering a sailboat for sailing in the presence of waves - A steering correction signal generator module (MC) for generating steering correction signals (SC) for an automatic pilot for automatically steering a sailboat comprises: an inlet (EM) for a signal (SM) indicating movement of the sailboat that is caused by waves; a processing unit (UE) for generating a steering correction signal (SC) on the basis of said signal (SM) indicating movement of the sailboat; and an outlet (SSC) for said steering correction signal (SC); in which module said steering correction signal (SC) is determined in a manner such as to cause the course of the sailboat to be corrected towards the direction from which the waves are coming in correspondence with their crests (CI, CII) and away from said direction in correspondence with their troughs (CR). The invention also relates to an automatic pilot system for automatically steering a sailboat, which system includes such a module (MC). | 09-03-2009 |
20090222155 | Propulsion system - A system for automatically controlling the speed of a battery powered electric propulsion motor driving a shaft connected to a propeller located on a sailing vessel. The system includes a user interface for selecting either a neutral, a regeneration or a forward thrust operating mode. The system also includes a controller configured to receive input from a motor speed sensor and a motor current sensor. The controller adjust the speed of the motor to the correct motor speed. The controller is configured so that in the neutral mode the correct motor speed is the speed required to substantially eliminate thrust on the shaft. | 09-03-2009 |
20090248227 | Multi-cylinder engine fuel control method, engine fuel injection amount control method and engine operation state discrimination method using the same, propulsion apparatus for multiple engines, and fuel injection control method during crash astern in marine engine with reduction and reversal device - Rotation recognition means for recognizing a revolution of a crankshaft based on the cylinders before the combustion cycle of a cylinder in question is provided. When the supply of fuel by injection from an injector to a certain cylinder of the six cylinders has become impossible, then control is performed to change the number of cylinders targeted by the rotation recognition means so as to recognize the revolution of the crankshaft for all six cylinders whose combustion cycles are consecutive prior to the combustion cycle of the cylinder in question, and to stop the supply of fuel from the injectors for supplying fuel to cylinders whose combustion cycles are equally spaced from the cylinder to which the supply of fuel is not possible, so that the spacing between the combustion cycles in the cylinders whose combustion cycles come before and after and sandwich the cylinder to which the supply of fuel is not possible becomes uniform. | 10-01-2009 |
20090265051 | ELECTRONIC PET AND PET INTERACTION SYSTEM THEREOF - An electronic pet and a system therewith are provided herein. The electronic pet includes a driving device, a sensing device used to sense light, sound and contact/non-contact stimulations from an external environment, a signal transceiver device used to transceive signals to and from devices other than the electronic pet, and a processor. The pet interaction system includes an electronic pet, a system sensing device used to sense a position of the electronic pet and a physiological status of a user, a dummy, a system signal transceiver device used to transceive signals to and from the electronic pet and the dummy, and a system processor. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271053 | Method and device for evaluating shafting alignment of ship - An evaluation map showing the allowable ranges (A) of the crank deflection and bearing loads determined according to the inclination of the crankshaft of an engine and the intermediate shaft is prepared beforehand. When the engine is installed in a ship, the inclination of the shafts within the allowable ranges can be easily known. While the ship is in service, the shafting alignment of the ship can be evaluated by merely measuring the inclination of the crankshaft and the intermediate shaft. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271054 | MANOEUVRE AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE OR AN INSTALLATION - A system for a vehicle is provided for allowing a user of the vehicle or installation to obtain advanced and up-to-date information about the surroundings of the vehicle or installation and the vehicle or installation itself. The system may be located on a marine vessel and it integrates information from a number of different information sources, located both on and off the vessel, en including information from advanced radar and sonar subsystems on the ship, information from conventional instruments and sensors and information from onshore and offshore installations and EO satellites accessed via a control centre onshore. The system may communicate with the control centre via a communication satellite and/or wireless Internet, if available. A data processing apparatus for processing and presenting the data is also provided. The data is received, processed and presented in three dimensions in space and updated in real time or near real time such that time provides a fourth dimension to the data. A graphical user interface for presenting the data is also provided. The graphical user interface provides functionality for reporting an error in the system if the end user's own observations do not match the presented data. Additionally, a system for collecting data comprising more than one ship, the control centre and means for the ships and the control centre to communicate is provided. The system comprises a catalogue and storage network for storing collected data. All data is stored with an associated quality measure of the data. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271055 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF VESSEL EMISSION MANAGEMENT - An emission management system ( | 10-29-2009 |
20090281685 | METHOD FOR ARRANGEMENT FOR CALIBRATING A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THRUST AND STEERING IN A WATERCRAFT - In a method for calibrating a system for controlling thrust and steering of a drive arrangement in a watercraft, the system includes an operating device adapted for indicating a requested direction of travel of the watercraft, the operating device being connected to a control unit for providing corresponding thrust and steering commands to the drive arrangement. The method includes receiving an activation command in the control unit, for beginning the calibration, detecting any movements of the operating device, storing values corresponding to the movements in the control unit together with corresponding thrust and steering values, and repeating the detecting step and the storing step until a termination command is received in the control unit, thereby using the stored values in subsequent operation of the operating device for indicating the direction of travel of the watercraft. An arrangement for calibrating a system for controlling thrust and steering of a drive arrangement in a watercraft is also provided. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281686 | Floating Dock Deflection Management Systems - This invention relates to a ready system for providing floating dock deflection management systems increasing operations efficiency and providing accurate, safe control to eliminate man-made accidents. This invention also relates to a ready system for providing floating dock deflection management systems providing information to safely operate at least one dry dock without over-stressing the metallurgy of the dry dock. | 11-12-2009 |
20090299556 | CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INFLUENCING THE ENGINE SPEED AND THE DEGREE OF SLIP OF A CLUTCH OF A SHIP DRIVE SYSTEM - A control device and method for influencing the rotation speed of an engine ( | 12-03-2009 |
20090319106 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MARINE PROPULSION UNIT - A control apparatus for a marine propulsion unit, which can activate an engine even when a computer system in an engine control unit is reset, includes a computer system arranged to actuate a starter motor using power from a battery on a hull in order to activate an engine, a reset state detection device arranged to detect a reset state of the computer system when the computer system is reset, and an analog circuit arranged to actuate the starter motor for a predetermined time period to activate the engine once the reset state is detected by the reset state detection device. | 12-24-2009 |
20100023191 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS RUNWAY INCURSION DETECTION - A wireless runway incursion system is disclosed. The wireless runway incursion system method may include a runway traffic management unit that manages aircraft traffic on and around an airport's runways, a plurality of wireless relay devices located between the runway access points and the runway traffic management unit that relay wireless signals to the runway traffic management unit, and a plurality of wireless runway incursion sensors that are located in proximity of at least one airport runway that detect metallic objects. If a metallic object is detected, the wireless runway incursion sensors that detect the metallic object send signals to the runway traffic management unit, the wireless signal being an indication that the metallic object is one of entering the runway and leaving the runway. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023192 | Relating to Control of Marine Vessels - A dynamic control system for a marine vessel having two or more waterjet units as the primary propulsion system of the vessel, for maintaining vessel position or velocity when in a dynamic control mode, comprises a position or velocity indicator to indicate vessel position or velocity or deviations in vessel position or velocity; such as a satellite-based positioning system indicator, or accelerometers as a relative position indicator, a heading indicator to indicate vessel heading from position heading or yaw rate or deviations in vessel heading or yaw rate, such as a compass as an absolute heading indicator or a yaw rate sensor as a relative heading indicator, and a controller to control the operation of the waterjet units to substantially maintain the vessel position or velocity, and vessel heading or yaw rate when the dynamic control mode is enabled. | 01-28-2010 |
20100030410 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SHIP PROPULSION SYSTEM COMPRISING A SURFACE PROPELLER - The invention relates to a method for controlling a ship propulsion system comprising a surface propeller in which the desired capacity is interpreted as the target rotational value, the rotational speed control deviation is calculated from the desired rotational value and the actual rotational value of the internal combustion engine and an injection quantity for the rotational control of the internal combustion engine is determined using the rotational speed control deviation on a rotational speed controller. According to said method the trim position of the surface propeller is controlled by means of an arrangement controller in accordance with the capacity reserve of the internal combustion engine and the actual trim position and the effective rotational speed, said trim position being determined from the rotational speed control deviation. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030411 | MARINE VESSEL CONTROL SYSTEM - A marine vessel control system that includes at least one primary marine propulsory mechanism providing a thrust vector and being movably attached to the vessel. An actuating system is coupled to the at least one primary marine propulsory mechanism manipulating the orientation of the thrust vector. At least one servo control is linked with the actuating system. At least one attitude sensor provides a signal that indicates the attitude of the vessel. A central control computer is operatively coupled to the actuating system, the servo control and the attitude sensor. The central control computer controls the actuation of the at least one primary marine propulsory mechanism's thrust vector in response to the signal from the attitude sensor indicating the attitude of the vessel. The attitude, stability and motion damping and at least one of the pitch, roll and yaw axes of the vessel is controlled. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036554 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A WATERJET-DRIVEN MARINE VESSEL - A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets, comprises a processor configured to receive a first vessel control signal including at least a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in a port direction, and that is configured to provide a set of actuator control signals coupled to and control the first and second reversing buckets. The processor is configured to provide the set of actuator control signals so as to maintain the first reversing bucket substantially in a first discrete position and the second reversing bucket substantially in a second discrete position as long as the first vessel control signal includes a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in the port direction. | 02-11-2010 |
20100049385 | MARINE VESSEL THEFT DETERRENT APPARATUS AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A theft deterrent apparatus in a marine vessel including a propulsion device having an engine coupled to a starter and a power generator, includes an authentication unit arranged to operate by receiving power from a battery that is arranged to supply power to the starter and accumulate power generated by the power generator, an operation control unit arranged to allow operation of the propulsion device if authentication by the authentication unit does succeed and prohibit operation of the propulsion device if authentication by the authentication unit does not succeed, a fault detection unit arranged to detect a fault of the authentication unit, and a fault detection control unit arranged to make a provisional fault judgment when the fault detection unit detects the fault of the authentication unit before completion of engine starting by the starter, and then make the fault detection unit perform the fault detection again after the completion of engine starting by the starter. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049386 | MARINE VESSEL THEFT DETERRENT APPARATUS AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A theft deterrent apparatus is used in a marine vessel which includes a propulsion device. The theft deterrent apparatus includes an authentication unit, a fault detection unit arranged to detect a fault of the authentication unit, and an operation control unit arranged to control operation of the propulsion device. When the authentication unit is normal, the operation control unit controls the operation of the propulsion device in accordance with an authentication result of the authentication unit. When a fault has occurred in the authentication unit, the operation control unit controls the operation of the propulsion device without referring to the authentication result of the authentication unit. When the authentication unit is normal, the operation control unit sets an operation mode of the propulsion device to an ordinary operation mode under a condition of success of authentication by the authentication unit and prohibits the operation of the propulsion device if the authentication by the authentication unit does not succeed. When a fault has occurred in the authentication unit, the operation control unit sets the operation mode of the propulsion device to an emergency operation mode in which a predetermined restriction is applied with respect to the ordinary operation mode. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057279 | Method and Apparatus for Active Heave Compensation - Methods and apparatuses for active heave compensation, the method, in certain aspects, including the steps of: (a) measuring with a measurement device ( | 03-04-2010 |
20100070118 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING STEERING AND MOORING ALONGSIDE OF VESSELS - A method and a system for assisting steering and mooring alongside of vessels that enables operators to easily obtain physical relationship between two vessels and the states of mooring lines and fenders when the operators lay the two vessels aboard and moors them alongside for loading cargoes are provided. Physical relationship between a hull of the first vessel and a hull of the second vessel is calculated in the form of numerical data based on information on a reference position of a first vessel that is detected by a first GPS receiver, information on a reference position of a second vessel that is detected by a second GPS receiver, oscillation information on the first vessel, oscillation information on the second vessel, information on a distance between the two vessels that is measured by distance measuring device, coordinate data including hull outer shape and the like against the reference position for each vessel, and air pressure data for each fender. Information on the physical relationship between the hull of said first vessel and the hull of said second vessel based on the numerical data and the state of each fender are displayed on a first display device provided for a steering room of the first vessel and a second display device provided for a steering room of the second vessel by means of animation. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070119 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WATERJET DRIVEN VESSEL - A method for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and first and second trim deflectors comprises generating at least a first set of actuator control signals and a second set of actuator control signals. The first set of actuator control signals is coupled to and controls the first and second steering nozzles, and the second set of actuator control signals is coupled to and controls the first and second trim deflectors. The acts of generating and coupling the first set of actuator control signals and the second set of actuator control signals result in inducing any of a net yawing force, a net rolling force, and a net trimming force to the marine vessel without inducing any other substantial forces to the marine vessel by controlling the first and second steering nozzles and the first and second trim deflectors. Also disclosed is a system for controlling a marine vessel. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076632 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF A SHIP - A method for automatically controlling the speed of a ship, in which the engine speed (nMOT) is automatically controlled by a closed-loop engine speed control system as an inner closed-loop control system, the ship's speed (vS) is automatically controlled by a closed-loop ship's speed control system as an outer closed-loop control system, and the ship's set speed (vSL) is influenced as a reference input of the closed-loop ship's speed control system as a function of an external signal source. The ship's set speed (vSL) is corrected as a function of the underwater topography (TOPO). | 03-25-2010 |
20100076633 | AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE PROPULSIVE UNITS FOR THE TURN OF A BOAT - Automatic control system for the turn of a boat equipped with two propulsive lines, each line comprising a propulsion device ( | 03-25-2010 |
20100094490 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM FOR MARINE VESSEL - A marine vessel power generation and propulsion system including a control system. The system includes a plurality of generator sets, each generator set including an engine configured to drive an electrical generator and wherein each generator set is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical bus. The control system includes a controller configured to switch the power generation system between a plurality of operating modes, wherein in each mode of operation the controller adjusts each generator set to dynamically optimize the performance of the power generation system. In each mode of operation the controller is configured to prioritize a different predetermined characteristic when optimizing the performance of the power generation system. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094491 | AUTOMATIC STABILIZING UNIT FOR WATERCRAFTS - An automatic stabilization unit for watercraft such as boats, yachts and the like. In order to ensure stabilization of the watercraft with a high level of movement comfort at the same time over the entire speed range and in all water conditions, an electronic regulator is provided which stabilizes the water attitude of the watercraft during movement, while moving straight ahead and turning, as a function of the movement-situation-dependent rotation rates and longitudinal accelerations and/or lateral accelerations and/or vertical accelerations, using the actuating elements which are normally available in the watercraft, thus preventing or reducing to a minimum any stress on, damage to or danger to the boat, its occupants and the surrounding are thereof. | 04-15-2010 |
20100106349 | METHOD FOR NAVIGATING AN UNDERSEA VEHICLE - In a method for navigating an undersea vehicle ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100106350 | Real-time efficiency monitoring for marine vessel - A propulsion system for a marine vessel comprising an engine driving a generator for supplying electrical power to a propulsion motor, an operator display, a fuel consumption sensor, a vessel position sensor, a vessel speed sensor, and a controller configured to receive inputs from the fuel consumption, vessel position and vessel speed sensors and calculate the vessel's efficiency through water and efficiency over land, wherein both efficiency values are displayed on the operator display as volume of fuel consumed per distance traveled (over land or through the water). | 04-29-2010 |
20100114412 | BOAT - A boat that allows effective steering even when the motor output power is decreased due to the low battery charge includes a first predictive determination unit arranged to compare an actual charge amount of a battery supplying an electric power to a steering motor or a predicted charge amount of the battery calculated from a predicted working current with a threshold predetermined in relation to running states; a steering load detector arranged to calculate a required output value of a steering motor necessary to steer an outboard motor while the boat is under way; and a steering load controller arranged to control the required output value to be decreased from the present output value when the first predictive determination unit determines that the threshold is larger than the battery charge amount. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121505 | SHIP MANEUVERING DEVICE - An instruction value conversion section ( | 05-13-2010 |
20100121506 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE SAIL SURFACE EXPOSED TO THE WIND - An apparatus for adjusting the surface of at least one sail exposed to the wind in a boat comprising one or more detectors for sensing at least of the direction of the wind, its speed, the degree of the rolling of the boat, the frequency of the oscillations, the rolling, pitching and yawing angles and the accelerations with respect to a reference system; motorized drive means for hoisting and lowering, or else winding and unwinding at least in part the sail; a control unit programmed to automatically control the drive means of the sail in feedback based upon the detected quantity, or else following a command imparted by the skipper. A method for adjusting the surface of the sails in feedback based upon the detected quantity. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125383 | ELECTRONIC METHOD OF CONTROLLING PROPULSION AND REGENERATION FOR ELECTRIC, HYBRID-ELECTRIC AND DIESEL-ELECTRIC MARINE CRAFTS, AND AN APPARATUS THEREFOR - A method of programming and setting parameters for a computer unit that regulates the interface between the operator of a marine vessel and the vessel's electric generation and propulsion systems. The invention describes the regulation of energy producing devices, energy storage devices and drive motors and propellers in both propulsion and regeneration modes. This invention simplifies and automates most of the operation of marine electric, hybrid electric, or diesel electric propulsion because the only controls requiring operator intervention are three generator modes: OFF, AUTO and ON, an alarm, an override switch and one or more throttle(s). This helm control can be duplicated in different areas of the vessel. All automatic modes required to regulate forward movement, reverse, emergency power, zero drag, propeller freeze and regeneration are all controlled by a logic using a combination of generator mode, the position of the throttles, the speed and the stored parameters of the vessel. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131131 | Personal Watercraft - A personal watercraft includes a handle having a pair of right and left grip portions, and a handle pad configured to cover a region of the handle, the region being located between the pair of grip portions. The handle pad is provided on a surface thereof with an accommodating concave portion configured to accommodate therein a portable information device. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131132 | REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A WATERCRAFT - A remote control system for controlling a propulsion unit of a watercraft includes a plurality of remote controller side ECUs, all of which have the same construction in one embodiment. Each remote controller side ECU includes ECU discriminating terminal sections and an ECU determining section for determining a role of each remote controller side ECU based upon signals provided by the ECU discriminating terminal sections. The ECU determining section determines a role of the particular remote controller side ECU based upon the signals provided by the ECU discriminating terminal sections when the remote controller side ECU starts operating. The ECU determining section also reads out the most proper one of first through sixth exclusive use sections, which define the function of the ECU's role. A determination result is stored in first, second and third EPROMs so as to be used to determine the role. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131133 | UNMANNED BOAT AUTOMATIC SURVEY SYSTEM AND UNMANNED BOAT AUTOMATIC SURVEY METHOD - The present invention is about an unmanned boat automatic survey device and an unmanned boat automatic surveying method that automatically generate survey routes and automatically survey underwater and water bottom conditions under the survey routes. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138083 | MARINE VESSEL MANEUVERING SUPPORTING APPARATUS AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel maneuvering supporting apparatus is used in a marine vessel which includes a propulsion system and a steering mechanism. The marine vessel maneuvering supporting apparatus includes an operational unit, operated by an operator, arranged to control movement and turning of a marine vessel, a target value computing unit having a plurality of computing modes and arranged to compute target values including a target propulsive force for the propulsion system and a target steering angle for the steering mechanism in accordance with an operational input from the operational unit, and a switching unit arranged to switch the computing modes of the target value computing unit. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138084 | Reactive suspension with an integrated braking and steering system for a boat - A boat with several stability and handling design improvements. It has an enhanced reactive suspension system positioned in the vessel between a set of separating hull and body components. The boat also has improved braking, steering and stabilizing systems designed around multiple pivoting mechanisms on the vessel hull that work individually or in unison to achieve the desired braking or steering effect. The stabilizing system is operated by a computerized, gyroscopic hydraulic control to maintain stability and comfort of ride, minimizing the roll, pitch and yaw commonly experienced in the passenger compartment. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145558 | MARINE VESSEL MANEUVERING SUPPORTING APPARATUS AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel maneuvering supporting apparatus is used in a marine vessel which includes a propulsion system and a steering mechanism. The marine vessel maneuvering supporting apparatus includes a first operational unit arranged select a forward drive position for forward drive of the propulsion system, a reverse drive position for reverse drive of the propulsion system, and a neutral position for an inactive state of the propulsion system, a second operational unit arranged to command rightward and leftward movement of the marine vessel, and a target value computing unit arranged to determine target values including a target propulsive force for the propulsion system and a target steering angle for the steering mechanism, such that the marine vessel undergoes parallel movement in a direction that is in accordance with an operation position of the first operational unit when rightward or leftward movement is commanded by the second operational unit. | 06-10-2010 |
20100152935 | Restricting Unsupervised Activity of Unmanned Vessels - A process for balancing the execution of hazardous activity carried out in connection with an unmanned boat which is remotely controlled by two independent wireless communications channels. The process includes receiving signals from both communications channels. Subsequently, data is extracting from the two signals. After confirming the presence of two respective messages, one from each channel, a command is executed relating to safety issues, relating to the execution of the hazardous activity. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161161 | APPARATUS FOR INTEGRALLY MANAGING SHIP DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - An apparatus for integrally managing a ship includes a device manager for integrally managing different types of local ship devices in the ship by using a standardized protocol message; a local device manager for managing local ship devices in a legacy environment on the basis of an independent local protocol; and an inter-working framework (IWF) for performing translation of a protocol for compatibility between the standardized protocol and the independent local protocol to manage the different types of local ship devices between the device manager and the local device manager. The device manager receives a remote control instruction for remotely maintaining and repairing the local ship device from a remote server connected through a wired/wireless communication network. | 06-24-2010 |
20100168942 | System And Method For Optimizing A Path For A Marine Vessel Through A Waterway - A system is provided for optimizing a path for a marine vessel through a waterway from an initial location to a final location. The system includes a propulsion system and a directional system on the marine vessel, which impart a selective propulsion force on the marine vessel at a selective direction based on a received propulsion command and direction command from a processor. The processor determines an optimal path for the marine vessel, an optimal propulsion command and optimal directional command at a respective incremental location along the optimal path, so to optimize a performance characteristic of the marine vessel. The determination of the optimal path, the optimal propulsion command and the optimal directional command is based on the initial location, the final location, at least one operating parameter, the performance characteristic, and navigational data of the waterway. | 07-01-2010 |
20100185348 | AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE WITH CURRENT MONITORING - The present invention relates to an autonomous underwater vehicle (“AUV”) for monitoring underwater fluid currents by detecting electrical currents induced by the flow of a conductive liquid through the Earth's magnetic field. More particularly, the present invention relates to the gathering of data related to underwater fluid currents and the control of AUV motion during data gathering. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191396 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel propulsion system includes multiple propulsion devices, multiple operation levers, and multiple lever position sensors arranged to detect the positions of the multiple operation levers, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to control, based on detection results from the multiple lever position sensors, the shift states of the respective propulsion devices and to change the steering angle of at least one of the propulsion devices. The control unit may be arranged to change the steering angles of the propulsion devices to facilitate the behavior of the hull corresponding to the shift states of the respective propulsion devices. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191397 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices arranged to be mounted on a hull so as to enable a steering angle to change, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers relative to each other and set a target travel speed according to amounts of displacement of the first and second operation levers with respect to neutral positions. The control unit is also programmed to control the steering angles, shift states, and propulsive forces of the respective first and second propulsion devices such that the hull pivots at the target pivoting speed and travels at the target travel speed. | 07-29-2010 |
20100198435 | AUTOMATED FUEL ECONOMY OPTIMIZATION FOR MARINE VESSEL APPLICATIONS - A method and system for operating a marine vessel includes a cruise control module operating the marine vessel at a speed and a trim control module positioning an outdrive into a plurality of trim positions. A fuel economy determination module determines a plurality of fuel economies for each of the trim positions and determines an efficient trim position from the plurality of fuel economies for each of the trim positions. An operation control module operates the marine vessel at the efficient trim position. A trim tab position may also be taken into account for efficient operation. | 08-05-2010 |
20100211239 | Towrope Winch Dead Start - A system for starting from a dead start position may comprise a towrope winch, and a computing device configured to send and receive data to and from the towrope winch, in which the computing device is configured to operate the towrope winch and watercraft based on data inputted by the user to the computing device. A computer program product for operating a towrope winch from a dead start position may comprise a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising computer usable program code configured to prompt a user to enter data regarding the operation of the towrope winch from a dead start, and computer usable program code configured to operate the towrope winch based on data inputted by the user. | 08-19-2010 |
20100235023 | Method and arrangement for controlling a ship propulsion system - In a method for controlling a ship propulsion system wherein, in a first operating mode, the position of a command signal generator within a guide range including a forward and a reverse section is interpreted by a system controller as a desired power output as well as a desired travel direction, a second operating mode is provided wherein the position of the command signal generator is ignored as power output command so that the position of the command signal generator forms only as directional control device and wherein in either mode of operation, the command signal generator is automatically returned to a neutral position when the command signal generator is released by an operator. | 09-16-2010 |
20100250035 | MARINE VESSEL STEERING APPARATUS AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism arranged to be operable by an operator, a steering unit arranged to turn a pivoting unit mounted pivotally on a marine vessel, a detecting unit arranged to detect if an actual pivoting angle, the turning angle of the pivoting unit, becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, a locking unit arranged to lock the turning of the steering mechanism, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting angle based on the turning state of the steering mechanism and to drive the steering unit to make the actual pivoting angle equal to the target pivoting angle. The control unit is also programmed, when the detecting unit detects that the actual pivoting angle becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined angle, to drive the locking unit to lock the turning of the steering mechanism. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250036 | MARINE VESSEL CONTROL APPARATUS, MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel control apparatus is arranged to start and stop engines that are respectively provided in multiple propulsion devices. The marine vessel control apparatus includes multiple individual start/stop switches arranged to correspond to the respective multiple propulsion devices and arranged to be operated by an operator to individually start and stop the engines in the respective multiple propulsion devices, an all-device start/stop switch arranged to be operated by the operator to collectively start and stop the engines in the multiple propulsion devices, an operating state acquiring unit arranged to acquire operating states of the engines in the respective multiple propulsion devices, and a control unit. The control unit includes multiple input ports corresponding to the respective multiple individual start/stop switches. Each of the input ports is connected with the corresponding individual start/stop switch. All of the input ports are connected commonly with the all-device start/stop switch. The control unit is arranged and programmed to control the start and stop of the engines in the multiple propulsion devices according to an input pattern to the multiple input ports and the operating states acquired by the operating state acquiring unit. | 09-30-2010 |
20100274420 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING PROPULSION SYSTEMS - Methods and systems are provided for controlling a propulsion system of a vessel including an engine and a propeller. In one embodiment, the method comprises independently adjusting each of an engine setting and a propeller setting responsive to real-time vessel operating data. | 10-28-2010 |
20100280684 | SYNCHRONIZATION OF SHIFT AND THROTTLE CONTROLS IN A MARINE VESSEL - A method of synchronizing shift and throttle functions of first and second engines in an electronic shift and throttle system includes computing an initial direct throttle command based on a position of a control lever used to control the shift and throttle functions of the first engine. The initial direct throttle command is sent to both the first and second engines. An adjusted throttle command is computed based on a subsequent direct throttle command and the speeds of the first and second engines after execution of the initial direct throttle command. The subsequent direct throttle command is sent to the first engine while the adjusted throttle command is sent to the second engine. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280685 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING OR DECREASING ENGINE THROTTLE IN A MARINE VESSEL - A method of adjusting engine throttle in an electronic shift and throttle system comprises determining a position of a control lever which allows an operator to manually control throttle functions. A throttle command is calculated based on the position of the control lever. The throttle command is adjusted in response to an input received from an input means. The position of the control lever remains constant as the throttle command is being adjusted. | 11-04-2010 |
20100292876 | BOAT PROPELLING SYSTEM - A boat propelling system capable of determining operation accuracy of a transmission mechanism includes an outboard engine main body, a swivel bracket arranged to allow the outboard engine main body to pivot in a right-left direction with respect to a hull, an electric motor provided in the swivel bracket to pivot the outboard engine main body in the right-left direction, a pivot sensor provided in the electric motor to detect a pivot angle of a motor shaft, a transmission mechanism provided in the swivel bracket to transmit a driving force of the electric motor to the outboard engine main body, a pivot sensor arranged to detect an actual pivot angle of the outboard engine main body, and an ECU arranged and programmed to control an operation of the boat propelling system. The ECU determines operation accuracy of the transmission mechanism by comparing an actual pivot angle change amount of the outboard engine main body based on a result of detection by the pivot sensor and a calculated theoretical change amount based on a drive amount of the electric motor. | 11-18-2010 |
20100292877 | Comprehensive engineering / operation system for electric vehicle and smart networked and decentralized power storage - Comprehensive, Systematic and Practical Engineering/Manufacture/Operation/Management System for Electric Vehicle with dual usage for Decentralized Smart Power Storage that includes: Smart Battery Subsystem (SBS), which includes the Smart Battery Assembly (SBA) with embedded computer/data logger and the Battery Compartment (BC) on the EV and in the Swapping Recharge Stations (RS); the computers on the EV and RS; hardware and software for the SBA Exchange/Recharge/Maintenance/Management/Billing Subsystem; the Smart Decentralized Energy Storage Subsystem for on-line, off-line and/or emergency uses. The SBA can be swapped at RS or recharged at home or any recharge stations, or dismounted/mounted easily in garage or during roadside service. The SBA could include the built-in charge controller and inverter. All the subsystems are indispensable parts or options for this invented integrated system. | 11-18-2010 |
20100305789 | MARINE VESSEL CONTROL SYSTEM, MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM, AND MARINE VESSEL - A marine vessel control system includes a control unit, a first communication bus, a second communication bus, and an auxiliary device connection section. The control unit includes a main output section arranged to output marine vessel maneuvering control information including starting information of a marine vessel propulsion device, and a sub output section arranged to output backup information including the starting information of the marine vessel propulsion device. The first communication bus is connected to the marine vessel propulsion device and the control unit, and is arranged to transmit the marine vessel maneuvering control information to the marine vessel propulsion device. The second communication bus is connected to the marine vessel propulsion device and the control unit, and is arranged to transmit the backup information to the marine vessel propulsion device. The second communication bus includes an auxiliary device connection section that is arranged to enable connection of an auxiliary device that executes communication, related to auxiliary information other than the marine vessel maneuvering control information, with at least one of the marine vessel propulsion device and the control unit via the second communication bus. | 12-02-2010 |
20110004362 | TILT AND TRIM SENSOR APPARATUS - The present invention relates a tilt and trim sensor apparatus having a housing and a shaft rotatably mounted to the housing. The apparatus includes a magnet connected to one of the housing and the shaft. The apparatus includes a transducer connected to another of the housing and shaft. The transducer is disposed adjacent to the magnet for sensing the position of the magnet and is operable to generate an output representative of an angular position of the magnet. The apparatus has a microprocessor for sensing gauge display input requirements. The apparatus has output circuitry for outputting a signal based on the output of the transducer that is in accordance with the gauge display input requirements. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010028 | BOAT PROPELLING SYSTEM - A boat propelling system capable of determining an abnormality regarding steering of a propelling system main body includes an outboard engine main body, a steering section arranged to steer the outboard engine main body, a steering angle sensor arranged to detect a steering angle of the steering section, a pivot sensor arranged to detect an actual pivot angle of the outboard engine main body, and an ECU. The ECU calculates a target pivot angle change amount based on a target pivot angle derived from the steering angle and a baseline target pivot angle, calculates an actual pivot angle change amount based on the actual pivot angle and a baseline actual pivot angle, and obtains a gap amount between the target pivot angle change amount and the actual pivot angle change amount. Then, the ECU determines an abnormality regarding steering of the outboard engine main body based on a result of comparison between the gap amount and the first threshold value. Setting of the baseline target pivot angle and the baseline actual pivot angle is based on a result of a comparison between the gap amount and a second threshold value. | 01-13-2011 |
20110106347 | VESSEL STEERING SYSTEM - A vessel steering system is provided with a control unit that calculates a control pivoting angle for pivoting the propulsion means based on a steering angle. Based on actual-state recognition of at least one of the type of the vessel, the type of the propulsion means, an actual pivoting angle of a neighboring propulsion means that is close to the propulsion means when a plurality of propulsion means is provided, the distance between the swivel shaft of a reference propulsion means and the swivel shaft of a neighboring propulsion means thereof at a time when a plurality of propulsion means is provided, and the mounting position of the propulsion means on the vessel, the control unit sets a pivoting limit angle for limiting the pivoting of the propulsion means, and controls the pivoting apparatus in such a way that the propulsion means does not pivot by more than the set pivoting limit angle. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106348 | DEVICE FOR DRIVING A VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A WATERCRAFT - This present invention relates to a device for driving a vehicle, in particular a watercraft, which comprises a combustion engine adapted to coact with a generator for generation of electrical energy, an energy storage device adapted to coact with the generator via a rectifier for storage of electrical energy made available by the generator and for energy output as and how required, and a drive system that is adapted to be activated by a motor control device and that comprises at least one electric motor wherein the energy for operating the electric motor can be supplied by the generator and/or the energy storage device at option and wherein said motor control device comprises at least two functionally independent motor control modules for operating the electric motor. | 05-05-2011 |
20110112707 | ARRANGEMENT FOR DETERMINING A FORCE ACTING ON A RUDDER - In order to reduce the switching hysteresis in a dynamic positioning system and/or an autopilot system for watercraft, an arrangement is provided for determining a force acting on a rudder for watercraft. This arrangement includes a processing unit, at least one measuring device for determining values of a physical quantity of a rudder, and means for transmitting the determined values of the physical quantity to the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine the force acting on the rudder on the basis of the determined values of the physical quantity. | 05-12-2011 |
20110137499 | VESSEL STEERING SYSTEM - A steering system includes: a steering wheel; a steering wheel sensor configured to detect an operation angle of the steering wheel; an actuator configured to turn an outboard engine; a plurality of turn angle sensors including a first turn angle sensor configured to detect a turn angle; and a control unit configured to calculate a controlling turn angle, and to drive the actuator to turn the outboard engine in accordance with a difference between the controlling turn angle and the turn angle. If an anomaly of the first turn angle sensor is detected, the control unit continues to drive the actuator based on information from a second turn angle sensor in a normal state, and drives the actuator so as to limit the turn angle of the outboard engine as compared with a case in which the first turn angle sensor is in a normal state. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137500 | ANTITHEFT APPARATUS FOR EQUIPMENT WITH PRIME MOVER - In an apparatus for preventing theft of equipment such as outboard motor having a prime mover (engine), a prime mover controller and an authenticator ( | 06-09-2011 |
20110144836 | UNDERWATER INVESTIGATION SYSTEM PROVIDING UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLE (UUV) GUIDANCE BASED UPON UPDATED POSITION STATE ESTIMATES AND RELATED METHODS - An underwater investigation system may include a host ship, a UUV including a propulsion device and a steering device, and at least one sonar system. The system may further include a guidance controller configured to initiate sonar range measurements between the host ship and the UUV using the at least one sonar system, and estimate a respective UUV position state relative to the host ship at the initiation of at least some of the sonar range value measurements to define a series of successive UUV position state estimates. The guidance controller may be further configured to update UUV position state estimates in the series based upon completion of their respective sonar range measurements, propagate the updates to subsequent UUV position state estimates in the series, and control the propulsion device and the steering device to guide movement of the UUV relative to the host ship based upon the updated position state estimates. The system thereby provides relatively precise guidance and navigation capabilities to maneuver the UUV relatively long distances away from the host ship. | 06-16-2011 |
20110153125 | Systems and Methods for Orienting a Marine Vessel to Minimize Pitch or Roll - Systems and methods for orienting a marine vessel minimize at least one of pitch and roll in a station keeping mode. A control device having a memory and a programmable circuit is programmed to control operation of the plurality of marine propulsion devices to maintain orientation of a marine vessel in a selected global position and heading. The control device receives at least one of actual pitch and actual roll of the marine vessel in the global position and controls operation of the plurality of marine propulsion units to change the heading of the marine vessel to minimize at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll while maintaining the marine vessel in the selected global position. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153126 | Systems and Methods for Orienting a Marine Vessel to Enhance Available Thrust - Systems and methods for orienting a marine vessel enhance available thrust in a station keeping mode. A control device having a memory and a programmable circuit is programmed to control operation of a plurality of marine propulsion devices to maintain orientation of a marine vessel in a selected global position. The control device is programmed to calculate a direction of a resultant thrust vector associated with the plurality of marine propulsion devices that is necessary to maintain the vessel in the selected global position. The control device is programmed to control operation of the plurality of marine propulsion devices to change the actual heading of the marine vessel to align the actual heading with the thrust vector. | 06-23-2011 |
20110166724 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION CONTROL APPARATUS AND MARINE VESSEL - A marine vessel propulsion control apparatus is arranged to control a propulsion unit and a steering unit. The marine vessel propulsion control apparatus includes a joystick unit, and a control unit programmed to control an output of the propulsion unit and a steering angle of the steering unit in accordance with an output signal of the joystick unit. The joystick unit includes a lever that is tiltable from a neutral position and arranged to be operated by a marine vessel operator to command a heading direction and stem turning of a hull. The control unit is programmed to maintain the steering angle of the steering unit when the output of the propulsion unit is stopped. | 07-07-2011 |
20110172858 | JOYSTICK CONTROLLED MARINE MANEUVERING SYSTEM - A marine propulsion and steering system for a vessel having multiple modes of operation, an axial propulsion system, a maneuvering propulsion system and a maneuvering control system including a pilot controllable joystick for generating propulsion and maneuvering control inputs representing vessel motions desired by a pilot. An input loop is responsive to the joystick control inputs to generate maneuvering commands representing the magnitudes and directions of motions of the vessel desired by the pilot and the actuator loop controller is responsive to the maneuvering commands from the input loop to generate corresponding vessel control commands to the vessel propulsion and maneuvering systems. | 07-14-2011 |
20110196552 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STARTING AND STOPPING MARINE ENGINES - The present invention relates to a start-protection system for an engine of a marine vessel. The engine has gears and a shift actuator for operatively shifting the gears. The system includes a first position sensor disposed to operatively sense whether the engine is in a forward, neutral or a reverse gear position. The first position sensor generates a signal representative of the gear position. The system includes a second position sensor adjacent to a shift control which controls shift functions of the engine. The second position sensor generates a signal representative of the position of the shift control. The system includes processing means. The processing means are configured to receive the signals of the position sensors, determine the gear position and the position of the shift control and enable the engine to start upon determining that both the shift control and the engine are in neutral positions. | 08-11-2011 |
20110196553 | System for Automatically Instancing Marine Engines - The system herein disclosed automatically detects whether an engine control unit instance number of a multi-engine marine vessel needs changing. Each engine control unit is electronically paired with a respective servo controller. A vessel controller is in communication with the servo controllers. The vessel controller commands in turn each servo controller to switch on its paired engine control unit, read the instance number of its paired engine control unit, switch off its paired engine control unit, and convey the instance number back to the vessel controller. The vessel controller then compares the instance numbers of the engine control units. If at least two instance numbers of the engine control units are duplicates of each other, the vessel controller ascertains that at least one of the instance numbers of the engine control units needs to be changed and assigns a new instance number to one of the engine control units. | 08-11-2011 |
20110208377 | EFFICIENCY OPTIMIZING PROPELLER SPEED CONTROL FOR SHIPS - The invention relates to a method for improving the propulsion efficiency of vessels. The improvement is obtained by utilising wave induced variations in propeller inflow, i.e. the speed of water flowing towards the propeller. The wave induced water speed variation is used to calculate the propeller speed in a way so that the propeller speed is optimal with respect to the total propulsion efficiency. The optimal propeller speed is determined by solving an optimisation problem formulated as the maximization of the ratio of energy delivered by the propeller and the energy delivered to the propeller. The method may be used for vessels with one or more propellers. | 08-25-2011 |
20110213515 | PREDICTIVE MAPPING SYSTEM FOR ANGLERS - A method includes receiving, at a computing device, a search request that includes one or more search criteria for a body of water. The one or more search criteria include an identification of a fish species. One or more locations on the body of water that satisfy the one or more search criteria are identified. The one or more locations include at least one predicted location of the fish species within the body of water. The one or more locations are highlighted on a map of the body of water. | 09-01-2011 |
20110257819 | Vessel Performance Optimization Reporting Tool - The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a sensor system, a computer system, and a satellite transceiver. The sensor system is configured to generate data about a vessel and an environment around the vessel. The computer system is connected to the sensor system. The computer system is configured to receive the data from the sensor system, generate vessel information about the data, and send the vessel information to a remote location. The satellite transceiver is connected to the computer system. The satellite transceiver is configured to send the vessel information to and receive other information from the remote location. | 10-20-2011 |
20110257820 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR VESSEL EQUIPPED WITH EXHAUST HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM AND THE VESSEL EQUIPPED WITH THE CONTROL DEVICE - A ship powered by an internal combustion engine ( | 10-20-2011 |
20110301788 | ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - An engine control strategy for a marine vessel propulsion system receives a request for a gear from among plural transmission gears, determines an engine speed for the requested transmission gear shift, adjusts the engine to the determined speed for a predetermined amount of time, and prevents the requested transmission gear shift from occurring for the predetermined amount of time while maintaining the engine at the predetermined speed. After the predetermined amount of time elapses, the requested shift is allowed to occur. | 12-08-2011 |
20110307127 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE PERFORMANCE - Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle including an engine comprising a turbocharger including a compressor and a turbine. The engine further includes a bypass path configured to selectively route gas from downstream of the compressor to upstream of the turbine. In one embodiment, the method comprises selectively increasing gas flow to the engine by adjusting gas flow through the bypass path from downstream of the compressor to upstream of the turbine. In this manner, the performance of the engine may be adjusted for various operating conditions. | 12-15-2011 |
20110307128 | Automatic vessel position holding control method and controller - An automatic vessel position holding control method for holding a vessel position and a vessel heading of a vessel on the ocean in order to reduce a positional deviation and a heading deviation sharply as compared with the conventional automatic vessel position holding control by performing feedforward control for estimating and then compensating for at least one of a wave drifting force and a wave drifting moment that act on the vessel, wherein a vessel position holding control is performed that includes such controls as estimating waves entering the vessel from motion thereof, calculating at least one of the wave drifting force and the wave drifting moment from the estimated waves and performing feedforward control for at least one of the calculated wave drifting force and the calculated wave drifting moment. | 12-15-2011 |
20110320072 | VARIABLE TRIM DEFLECTOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MARINE VESSEL - A method and a system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second trim deflectors is disclosed. The first and second trim deflectors have a first surface having a first area and a second surface having a second area, wherein the second planar surface is coupled to the first surface. The method and system control the first and second trim deflectors to induce any of a net yawing force, a net rolling force, and a net trimming force to the marine vessel without inducing any other substantial forces to the marine vessel by controlling the first and second trim deflectors. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320073 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN A MARINE VESSEL - An apparatus and a method are disclosed for controlling energy consumption in a marine vessel having a plurality of energy consuming users and fuel consuming engines. An exemplary apparatus includes a voyage management tool for planning a route for the marine vessel and for estimating energy consumption on the route; an energy management tool for predicting energy consumption; and control tool for managing an energy balance on the route. | 12-29-2011 |
20120010766 | NAVIGATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SHIP - To propose a ship navigation control system that can easily and automatically switch between a target throttle opening for constant velocity navigation control and a target throttle opening corresponding to a lever operation amount of an operation lever. Throttle control means includes first computation means that computes a first target throttle opening for constant velocity navigation control of a ship based on a constant velocity navigation command using at least a ship velocity signal and a target ship velocity command signal, second computation means that computes a second target throttle opening corresponding to the lever operation amount, and a selection and output means that selects one having a smaller value of the first target throttle opening and the second target throttle opening and outputs the one as a throttle opening. | 01-12-2012 |
20120016543 | METHOD FOR VERIFYING THE TOE ANGLE OF A SHIP'S RUDDERS - A method of checking a toe angle of at least one port rudder ( | 01-19-2012 |
20120072059 | METHOD FOR THE COMPUTER-SUPPORTED CONTROL OF A SHIP - The positions and motions of a bow and a stern of the ship are detected using redundant devices and evaluated to automatically perform difficult maneuvers in ports or to generate recommendations for controlling the ship | 03-22-2012 |
20120095628 | SAFETY SYSTEM FOR MARINE VESSELS - There is elucidated a safety system for a marine vessel. The vessel includes two engines coupled to propellers for propelling the vessel through water. The vessel is provided with a digital anchor in communication with the two engines for maintaining the vessel substantially at a defined location when the anchor is activated. The safety system includes a sensor assembly coupled to a data processing assembly for sensing a region of said water at least partially surrounding the vessel for detecting one or more persons present in the region and for modifying operation of the digital anchor is response to the one or more persons being detected. The invention is of advantage in that the digital anchor is capable of responding to the one or more persons being present in the water and thereby reducing a risk of injury or loss of life when the digital anchor is employed. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095629 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF A INSTRUMENT CABLE TOWED IN WATER - System and method for controlling an instrumented cable ( | 04-19-2012 |
20120101668 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISCRIMINATING SHIP - This disclosure provides an automatic ship discrimination apparatus, which includes a transceiver for transceiving ship information in a predetermined format, a storing module for storing the ship information received from a ship, and a data processor for processing transceived ship information data. The data processor refers to the ship information in the storing module, determines whether an item is missing from the ship information, and, if an item is missing, transmits a message for requesting the item. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101669 | Sail Usage Sensing System and Method - A system for collecting and analyzing sail usage data. The system has a sensor on a sail for sensing heel, vibration or tension on the sail, an RFID tag connected to the sensor, an RFID tag reader for reading data of the first parameter from the RFID tag, a memory for storing data read from the RFID tag and a processor for processing the data from the RFID tag. Data received from the sensor is processed to determine a number of hoists of the sail and an amount of time during which the sail was in a hoisted position. The data from the sensor is used to determine which tack the sailboat was on and how long it was on that tack. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101670 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A MARINE VESSEL - One embodiment of the invention comprises a method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steerable propulsor, a corresponding first reversing device, a second steerable propulsor and a corresponding second reversing device. The method comprises receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to a rotational movement and no translational movement command, generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal, coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steerable propulsor and the second steerable propulsor, and coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling the first reversing device and to the second reversing device. The method creates rotational forces on the marine vessel with substantially no translational forces on the marine vessel. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101671 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTOMATING, CONTROLLING, AND OPTIMIZING THE OPERATION OF ONE OR MORE ENERGY STORAGE UNITS AND A COMBINED SERIAL AND PARALLEL HYBRID MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEM - A method of integrating, optimizing and combining in a marine hybrid system, the operation of one or more variable speed high voltage direct current (HVDC) generator(s), one or more energy storage units and a combination of one or more HVDC parallel hybrid and serial hybrid propulsion systems through use of an Energy Management Computer. One aspect of the invention involves the application of logic programming to automate the optimization and the operation of the Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) so that whenever the system requires their usage, they are operated at optimum efficiency conditions. For an ICE to operate at peak efficiency a combination of a large energy storage unit used as a buffer combined with a mixture of both a serial and a parallel hybrid system is used. | 04-26-2012 |
20120130569 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEA STATE PREDICTION AND AUTOMATED VESSEL NAVIGATION - Systems and methods for sea state prediction and autonomous navigation in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a method of predicting a future sea state including generating a sequence of at least two 3D images of a sea surface using at least two image sensors, detecting peaks and troughs in the 3D images using a processor, identifying at least one wavefront in each 3D image based upon the detected peaks and troughs using the processor, characterizing at least one propagating wave based upon the propagation of wavefronts detected in the sequence of 3D images using the processor, and predicting a future sea state using at least one propagating wave characterizing the propagation of wavefronts in the sequence of 3D images using the processor. Another embodiment includes a method of autonomous vessel navigation based upon a predicted sea state and target location. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MARINE VESSEL AUTOPILOT - An autopilot system includes a navigation application for computing angular position and angular turn rate of a pilot line and an autopilot steering application for calculating steering commands for a ship steering device. The pilot line provides directional guidance to a ship and is a vector having one end attached to a point on the ship and a second end pointing to a desired direction. The autopilot steering application receives the computed pilot line angular position and angular turn rate and calculates angular position steering commands for the steering device. The steering commands are calculated by taking into account the difference between the pilot line angular position and the ship's angular position and the difference between the pilot line angular turn rate and the ship's angular turn rate. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130571 | Method for Navigation in No-Passing Zones - A method for assisting tug boats, work boats and other vessels to navigate no-passing zones, such as narrow channel areas, along an inland and other waterways to avoid passing or overtaking other vessels having the right-of-way according to established waterway rules of the road within the no-passing zones. The method is implemented within an executing computer program, using a database of mile mark distances and of no-passing zones along the length of the waterway. | 05-24-2012 |
20120143408 | STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM AND METHOD USING AUTOPILOT DEVICE - A steering assist system for a vehicle includes a turning device, a steering device, a steering sensor and an autopilot device. The steering device is operable to apply a first turning force to the turning device. The steering sensor detects a steering state of the steering device during which the steering device applies the first turning force. The autopilot device automatically navigates the vehicle to a desired heading of the vehicle. The autopilot device includes an actuator and a steering assist control section. The actuator is operable to apply a second turning force to the turning device. The steering assist control section controls the actuator to apply the second turning force to turn the turning device in the same direction that the first turning force is turning the turning device when the steering sensor detects the steering state of the steering device. | 06-07-2012 |
20120191275 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM - A control system for a vehicle that includes an engine includes a speed generation module, an airflow determination module, and a throttle control module. The speed generation module generates a desired engine speed during a period after a measured vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a desired vehicle speed, wherein the desired engine speed is based on a difference between the desired vehicle speed and the measured vehicle speed. The airflow determination module determines a desired airflow based on a difference between the desired engine speed and a measured engine speed. The throttle control module determines a desired throttle position based on the desired airflow, and commands a throttle of the engine to the desired throttle position. | 07-26-2012 |
20120191276 | WATERCRAFT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for a watercraft includes memory, a communications module, and a throttle control module. The memory includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening. The communications module selectively downloads a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory. The throttle control module generates the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and a selected one of the first and second mappings. A throttle actuator module opens a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening. | 07-26-2012 |
20120191277 | ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MARINE VESSEL - A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a profile storage module, a profile playback module, and a speed control module. The profile storage module stores an acceleration profile specifying a manner of accelerating a marine vessel. The profile playback module, in response to a play command received from a vessel operator, retrieves the acceleration profile and adjusts a desired engine speed based on the acceleration profile. The speed control module controls an engine speed of the marine vessel based on the desired engine speed. | 07-26-2012 |
20120197467 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING WATER-JET DRIVEN MARINE VESSEL - A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second waterjets, corresponding first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets. The system comprises a speed control device for providing a first vessel control signal that corresponds to a speed to be provided to the marine vessel, a processor configured to receive the first vessel control signal and that is configured to provide at least one first actuator control signal coupled to the first and second waterjets, and at least one second actuator control signal coupled to the first and second steering nozzles and the first and second reversing buckets. The system any of improves upon turns provided by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, improves upon slowing down or stopping marine vessels as is done by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, and improves upon the controllability of the waterjet propulsed marine vessel at low vessel speeds. | 08-02-2012 |
20120221182 | CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF A VESSEL TRAVELING THROUGH WATER DURING A SEISMIC SURVEY OPERATION - To perform control of movement of a marine vessel traveling through water during a seismic survey operation, input information relating to factors that affect a speed of the marine vessel is received. The speed of the marine vessel is adjusted in response to the received information relating to the factors that affect the speed of the marine vessel. | 08-30-2012 |
20120232727 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR PROPULSION MACHINE - A control device controls the operating state of each of a plurality of propulsion machines arranged in parallel in a marine vessel. Control devices are connected to each other by a communication line through which operating information of the propulsion machine is mutually transmitted and received. The control device includes a unit which determines the installation position of a corresponding propulsion machine, a unit which determines the connection state of another propulsion machine connected to the communication line, and a unit which determines a propulsion machine as a control reference from among a plurality of control devices. The propulsion machine as a control reference is switched to a propulsion machine which is arbitrarily designated by an operator or a propulsion machine which has the highest priority as a control reference. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239231 | CONTROL OF AERODYNAMIC FORCES BY VARIABLE WETTED SURFACE MORPHOLOGY - Systems and methods for providing dynamic control to a vehicle in a dynamic fluid. The systems and methods of the invention relate to one or more morphable surfaces that can be controlled by a controller and an actuator in an active manner to provide asperities that interact with a fluid moving across the morphable surfaces. By controlling the size, shape and location of the asperities, one can exert control authority over the motion of the vehicle relative to the fluid, including a speed, a direction and an attitude of the vehicle. Examples of materials that provide suitable morphable surfaces include ionic polymer metal composites and shape memory polymers, both of which types of material are commercially available. Useful morphable surface systems have been examined and are described. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239232 | Method for Determining Correction Under Steering of a Point on a Towed Object towards a Goal Position - A method for determining correction during steering of a point on an object towed by a towing device, the object point, toward a target position, the object being provided with a bird, including the steps of determining a target position; determining the position of the object point, determining the speed and acceleration of the object point and directions of these and thereby determining an inline direction; determining whether the inline is directed toward the target position and if it deviates from the desired direction, determining a distance vector between the object point and the target position; calculating the object point distance, speed and acceleration components at least in the lateral direction or the vertical direction; and transferring values for the components to a control system for the corresponding bird | 09-20-2012 |
20120253566 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PREDICTING SHIP MOTION - A ship motion prediction system is described that includes a plurality of surface platforms and a central computer having a communications interface. The platforms each include a propulsion system for movement of the platform, a plurality of sensors operable for gathering sensor data relating to an environment proximate the platform, a processing device communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and the plurality of sensors, and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processing device. The central computer includes a communications interface, and the processing device is programmed to transmit sensor data to the central computer via the transceiver and the communications interface. The central computer is programmed to transmit commands for operation of the propulsion system to the processing device via the communications interface and transceiver. The central computer is further programmed to predict an effect of the environments associated with the plurality of surface platforms on a water vessel or vessels operating within a vicinity of the plurality of surface platforms. | 10-04-2012 |
20120259489 | SHIP MANEUVERING CONTROL METHOD AND SHIP MANEUVERING CONTROL SYSTEM - A short-term planned route from a start position that is a ship position at a first time up to an end position that is the ship position at a second time is designed based on a planned route, an estimated encounter marine phenomenon information, operation performance information measured on a ship, and a hull motion model of the ship, the estimated encounter marine phenomenon information being measured on the ship based on actually encountered marine phenomenon information. The short-term planned route makes a first evaluation function optimal, the first evaluation function containing: an index indicating an influence of a fluctuation portion between a planned position that is a ship position planned at the second time on the planned route and the end position; a fuel consumption index when the ship sails along the short-term planned route; and a safety index when the ship sails along the short-term planned route. | 10-11-2012 |
20120265380 | Target Trailing with Safe Navigation with colregs for Maritime Autonomous Surface Vehicles - Systems and methods for operating autonomous waterborne vessels in a safe manner. The systems include hardware for identifying the locations and motions of other vessels, as well as the locations of stationary objects that represent navigation hazards. By applying a computational method that uses a maritime navigation algorithm for avoiding hazards and obeying COLREGS using Velocity Obstacles to the data obtained, the autonomous vessel computes a safe and effective path to be followed in order to accomplish a desired navigational end result, while operating in a manner so as to avoid hazards and to maintain compliance with standard navigational procedures defined by international agreement. The systems and methods have been successfully demonstrated on water with radar and stereo cameras as the perception sensors, and integrated with a higher level planner for trailing a maneuvering target. | 10-18-2012 |
20120277941 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MARINE VESSEL THROUGH A WATERWAY - 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. | 11-01-2012 |
20130085630 | FISHFINDER DATA DISPLAY DEVICE, FISHFINDER DEVICE, METHOD OF SPECIFYING DESTINATION AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA - A fishfinder data display device is provided. The display device includes a memory for storing fishfinder data obtained by a fishfinder detecting underwater and a location where the fishfinder data is acquired so as to associate the fishfinder data with the location, a display unit for displaying an image created based on the fishfinder data, and a controller, when an operator performs a specifying operation to a predetermined part of the image displayed by the display unit, for reading the location corresponding to the fishfinder data based on the specified predetermined part of the image from the memory, and causing an autopilot device to execute an autopilot operation with the location as a destination. | 04-04-2013 |
20130090789 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONFIGURING SENSOR ACQUISITION BASED ON PRESSURE STEPS - Technologies are provided for underwater measurements. A system includes an underwater vessels including: a plurality of sensors disposed thereon for measuring underwater properties; and a programmable controller configured to selectively activate the plurality of sensors based at least in part on underwater pressure. A user may program at what pressure ranges certain sensors are activated to measure selected properties, and may also program the ascent/descent rate of the underwater vessel, which is correlated with the underwater pressure. | 04-11-2013 |
20130096742 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers relative to each other and set a target travel speed according to amounts of displacement of the first and second operation levers with respect to neutral positions. | 04-18-2013 |
20130096743 | WATERCRAFT PROPULSION DEVICE - A watercraft propulsion device includes an engine, a drive shaft, a propeller shaft, a rotational speed detector, and a controller. The drive shaft transmits power from the engine. The propeller shaft is rotationally driven by power transmitted from the drive shaft. The rotational speed detector detects an engine rotational speed. The controller executes a suppression control to suppress the engine rotational speed when a change rate of the engine rotational speed is equal to or larger than a prescribed value. | 04-18-2013 |
20130110329 | WATERCRAFT | 05-02-2013 |
20130173095 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR AN INTEGRATED HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE (HMI) OF AN ENGINE-GENERATOR - In one embodiment, an engine management system (EMS) can use a human machine interface (HMI) to modify operating parameters of a set of engine generators controlled by an engine control unit (ECU). The HMI can permits authorized users to adjust a plurality of operating parameters of the engine generators in accordance with an authorization level of the authorized users. The ECU can be a standalone system operable independent of the EMS. A communication network (e.g., ARCnet) can link the EMS to the ECU, wherein the changes of the operating parameters input via the HMI are maintained over a power-cycle of the EMS. Further, changes of the operating parameters input via the HMI can be maintained even when communications over the communication network linking the engine. | 07-04-2013 |
20130173096 | GUIDANCE AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR UNDER-ACTUATED MARINE SURFACE SHIPS AND OTHER AUTONOMOUS PLATFORMS - A computer implemented method for guiding an under-actuated marine surface vessel in tracking a desired trajectory comprises expressing a predetermined vessel trajectory as a set of straight line segments, determining a desired current line segment, and determining the vessel's current position. A cross-track error and the derivative of the cross-track error are then determined. Next, a radius R of the line-of-sight (LOS) circle using a newly introduced exponential function is determined. Intersection points M and N between the LOS circle and the current desired line segment are determined. A desired heading angle is determined as the angle between the line of sight and a predetermined fixed reference line. A drift detection algorithm is built into the proposed guidance scheme to detect situations whereby the ship moves parallel to its desired trajectory for an extended period of time without being able to correct for the cross track error. | 07-04-2013 |
20130197728 | System for Monitoring the Operation of a Marine Propulsion System - A monitoring and displaying system for a marine vessel calculates a variable that is equivalent to distance moved by the marine vessel as a function of rotation of the engine crankshaft. The variable is calculated by measuring boat speed and engine speed. In a typical application, the resulting variable is displayed in terms of inches of boat movement for one revolution of the engine crankshaft. This information is provided on a display monitor so that the operator of a marine vessel can continually monitor the effect on this variable by various changes that might be made to the marine propulsion system, such as a change in trim angle. | 08-01-2013 |
20130218376 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING WATER-JET DRIVEN MARINE VESSEL - A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second waterjets, corresponding first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets. The system comprises a speed control device for providing a first vessel control signal that corresponds to a speed to be provided to the marine vessel, a processor configured to receive the first vessel control signal and that is configured to provide at least one first actuator control signal coupled to the first and second waterjets, and at least one second actuator control signal coupled to the first and second steering nozzles and the first and to second reversing buckets. The system any of improves upon turns provided by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, improves upon slowing down or stopping marine vessels as is done by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, and improves upon the controllability of the waterjet propulsed marine vessel at low vessel speeds. | 08-22-2013 |
20130218377 | NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - A navigation assistance system equipped with an environment-regulated-marine-zone detection device that includes a movement tracking device that tracks the movement of a ship based on input data; a first computation device that computes an arrival distance and a arrival time until arriving at an environment regulated marine zone or a departure distance and a departure time until departing from an environment regulated marine zone based on data transmitted from the movement tracking device, as well as data about the environment regulated marine zone in a built-in database of the first computation device or data about the environment regulated marine zone in a built-in database of another external device. The detection device also includes a display device that displays the arrival distance and the arrival time or the departure distance and the departure time based on the data transmitted from the first computation device. | 08-22-2013 |
20130231805 | SWIMMING HOOP RINGS FOR DETECTING SAFETY OF CHILDREN - A swimming hoop ring is provided for detecting safety of children. In one embodiment, a swimming hoop ring includes a ring made of plastic, wherein the ring is being worn by a child; a top GPS receiver on a top surface of the ring, wherein the top GPS receiver is used to detect location of the ring when the top surface of the ring surfaces onto water; a bottom GPS receiver on a bottom surface of the ring, wherein the bottom GPS server can be used to detect location of the ring when the top GPS receiver fails to operate as the top surface of the ring is flipped upside down into the water; a rf transmitter included in the ring, wherein the rf transmitter can be used to transmit rescue signals; a propeller included in the ring to steer the ring in certain directions; and a weight detector included in the ring to detect if there is a sudden drop of weight of the ring to indicate the child is being unsafe. | 09-05-2013 |
20130231806 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE PERFORMANCE - Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle including an engine comprising a turbocharger including a compressor and a turbine. The engine further includes a bypass path configured to selectively route gas from downstream of the compressor to upstream of the turbine. In one embodiment, the method comprises selectively increasing gas flow to the engine by adjusting gas flow through the bypass path from downstream of the compressor to upstream of the turbine. In this manner, the performance of the engine may be adjusted for various operating conditions. | 09-05-2013 |
20130238177 | WATERCRAFT PROPULSION DEVICE - A watercraft propulsion device includes an engine, a drive shaft, a propeller shaft, a rotational speed detector, and a controller. The drive shaft transmits power from the engine. The propeller shaft is rotationally driven by power transmitted from the drive shaft. The rotational speed detector detects an engine rotational speed. The controller executes a suppression control to suppress the engine rotational speed when a change rate of the engine rotational speed is equal to or larger than a prescribed value. | 09-12-2013 |
20130282210 | UNMANNED MARITIME VEHICLE WITH INFERENCE ENGINE AND KNOWLEDGE BASE AND RELATED METHODS - An unmanned maritime vehicle includes a hull, a propulsion system carried by the hull, vehicle sensors carried by the hull, a wireless transceiver carried by the hull, and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver, the vehicle sensors, and the propulsion system. The controller is configured to implement an inference engine and a knowledge base to define an expert system generating a recommended water navigational action based upon a set of water navigational rules and inputs from the vehicle sensors. | 10-24-2013 |
20130297104 | PROGRAMMABLE AUTOMATIC DOCKING SYSTEM - A programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel, wherein the programmable automatic docking system includes a set of starboard side transducers and a set of port side transducers to detect and transmit real-time distance, position and velocity information of the marine vessel in relation to an external object, | 11-07-2013 |
20130317677 | PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR SHIP LOADING - Protection system for ship loading provided with a cover device comprising a universal adaptable cover, a coupling and operation device comprising a ring structure that houses the elements necessary for operation of the protection system, such as the fixing device, tractor assembly responsible for handling, lowering and collapsing the protection cover and its system of monitoring of the load, which, together, allow a new approach in the protection of loading of ships. | 11-28-2013 |
20130317678 | VEHICULAR DUAL MODE MASTER/SLAVE INTERFACE - A vehicular interface may include an electromechanical interface between a hand-held electronic device and subsystems on a vehicular bus or network. In selected embodiments the interface may operate in a “master mode” when a handheld device, such as a tablet computer or smart-phone, is not inserted therein. In this mode the interface may serve as a master controller and accesses and controls various subsystems on a vehicle (such as engine control subsystems, media controllers, navigation systems, sensors and transducers) as a master controller. In one embodiment, when a tablet device is inserted into the interface, the interface may automatically switch to “slave mode” in which it acts as an adapter or interface between the tablet device and the vehicular subsystems. In this mode of operation the user's exclusive interface is through the tablet computer and the tablet computer serves as the master controller for the system. | 11-28-2013 |
20130345912 | WATERCRAFT AUTOMATION AND AQUATIC EFFORT DATA UTILIZATION - Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are disclosed. In one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a watercraft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft. | 12-26-2013 |
20140012440 | VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM - A vessel propulsion system includes an engine that provides a propulsive force to a vessel, a throttle valve to adjust an air amount supplied to the engine, an accelerator operation unit operated by an operator to adjust a throttle opening degree, the throttle opening degree corresponding to an operation amount of the accelerator operation unit, and a control unit programmed to vary an engine output even when the throttle opening degree is maintained at a fixed value other than an idling opening degree, the engine output corresponding to the operation amount of the accelerator operation unit as a reference output. | 01-09-2014 |
20140018981 | STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MARINE VESSEL - A method and a system for improving the fuel efficiency by controlling the steering system of a marine vessel. In the method the steering system is configured to acquire data related to the fuel efficiency by changing the orientations of steering devices without changing the steering angle of the marine vessel. The acquired data is modeled statistically and an optimum value can be determined from the model. The optimum value is then used for actuating the steering devices to the optimum angle. | 01-16-2014 |
20140046515 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION CONTROL DEVICE, MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION APPARATUS, AND MARINE VESSEL - A marine vessel propulsion control device includes a marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section that stores a plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns corresponding to a plurality of combinations of a propulsion device attached to a marine vessel and an operation device attached to the marine vessel, a selection information storage section that stores selection information that specifies one marine vessel maneuvering pattern selected from the plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns, and a control section programmed to read out from the marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section a marine vessel maneuvering pattern corresponding to selection information stored in the selection information storage section, and to output a command signal to the propulsion device according to an operation signal of the operation device based on the read-out marine vessel maneuvering pattern. | 02-13-2014 |
20140081489 | AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF A MARINE VESSEL DURING SPORT FISHING MODE - The disclosure relates to a marine vessel having a control system for automatically steering the marine vessel for the purpose of aiding an angler who has hooked a fish. The control system includes a GPS unit for determining the orientation of the marine vessel, a sonar unit for determining the bearing of a fish, and an algorithm for minimizing the error between the two. The control system will execute steering commands in the propulsion system in order to minimize the error in order to aid the angler as he tries to land the hooked fish. | 03-20-2014 |
20140114509 | Predictive Sea State Mapping for Ship Motion Control - A motion control system for a ship has one or more sensors generating sea condition data and at least one ship control system. Analyzer software receives the sea condition data and predicts a sea condition event. Calculator software calculates one or more commands in preparation for the sea condition event. Interface software communicates the one or more commands to the at least one ship control system and the at least one ship control system implements a command in advance of the event. The at least one ship control system may comprise a ride control system having one or more motion control devices. The at least one ship control system may also comprise an auto pilot system. | 04-24-2014 |
20140129062 | CONTROL FOR TRIMMING ELEMENTS - The invention relates to command input means ( | 05-08-2014 |
20140136032 | ARRANGEMENT FOR DETERMINING A FORCE ACTING ON A RUDDER - In order to reduce the switching hysteresis in a dynamic positioning system and/or an autopilot system for watercraft, an arrangement is provided for determining a force acting on a rudder for watercraft. This arrangement includes a processing unit, at least one measuring device for determining values of a physical quantity of a rudder, and means for transmitting the determined values of the physical quantity to the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine the force acting on the rudder on the basis of the determined values of the physical quantity. | 05-15-2014 |
20140156124 | SHIP STEERING DEVICE AND SHIP STEERING METHOD - A ship steering device capable of steering a hull in an intended direction by correcting an unintended rotation that occurs during an oblique sailing operation regardless of the type and size of the hull. A ship steering device is provided with an elevation angle sensor for detecting the elevation angle α of a hull, a hull speed sensor for detecting the speed V of the hull, a storage means storing the relation among the elevation angle α of the hull, the speed V of the hull, and a correction value K, and a calculation means serving as a correction value determination means, and an operation amount by which a joystick is operated such that the hull does not turn in the state in which the hull is obliquely sailed is determined by the calculation means and used as the correction value K. | 06-05-2014 |
20140222260 | STEERING APPARATUS FOR A STEERED VEHICLE - A steering apparatus comprises a rotatable steering shaft and a sensor which senses angular movement of the steering shaft. An electromagnetic actuator actuates a stop mechanism to releasable engage the steering shaft. There is a microcontroller which causes the electromagnetic actuator to actuate the stop mechanism to fully engage the steering shaft and prevent rotation of the steering shaft in a first rotational direction, which corresponds to movement towards the hardstop position, while allowing rotational play between the steering shaft and the stop mechanism in a second direction, which corresponds to rotational movement away from the hardstop position, when the sensor senses that the steering shaft has reached a hardstop position. A driver applies a reserve polarity pulse to the electromagnetic actuator when the stop mechanism is fully engaged and the steering shaft is rotated, as permitted by the rotational play, in the second rotational direction. | 08-07-2014 |
20140244081 | AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE, AUTOMATIC STEERING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING AUTOMATIC STEERING PROGRAM - There is provided an automatic steering device with which a heading can be stably controlled even under powerful disturbance. The control computer | 08-28-2014 |
20140277864 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAVIGATION FOR UNMANNED UNDERSEA VEHICLES - System and method for navigating an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) using three-dimensional acoustic reflectivity data sets and a beam steered downward looking sonar capturing sub-bottom features and creating three-dimensional representations to compare with the reflectivity data sets to general navigation corrections. Acoustically senses and exploits sub-bottom features for navigation of UUVs that can provide more reliable navigation than using surface features alone, since much of the sea floor is flat (e.g. on continental shelves and abyssal plains). | 09-18-2014 |
20140277865 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME POLARS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for real-time creation of vessel performance models. Performance inputs are received from a set of sensors during a voyage of a vessel. The performance inputs are data associated with a performance of the vessel during the voyage. A real-time performance model is generated during the voyage using a subset of the performance inputs. A predicted value for velocity made good is identified for the vessel using the real-time performance model. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288735 | TILT-ANGLE ADJUSTING APPARATUS AND SHIP PROPULSION MACHINE - To provide a technique capable of adjusting a tilt angle of a ship propulsion machine body with respect to a hull to a tilt angle suitable for a travelling state easily and with high accuracy. A motor adjusting a tilt angle of a ship propulsion machine body with respect to a hull and a control device controlling drive of the motor so as to change the tilt angle in accordance with an output from a hull angle sensor detecting a hull angle as an angle of the hull with respect to the water surface are included. | 09-25-2014 |
20140316620 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AVERTING AND DAMPING ROLLING OF A SHIP - This invention relates to a method and a device for averting and damping rolling of an engine-driven marine vessel with propeller propulsion. The proposed method recognizes the fact that the speed controller of a ship responds to heel angle variations by propeller speed adjustments. A speed controller is reading such propeller moment change as speed variations to be corrected. By the recurrence of this process, the result is amplifying small rolling effects to a critical rolling. Further elements contribute to this process, such as the propeller side effects ship's hull contact with the sea, waves or winds. However, by suppressing the interaction between heel angle variations and the speed controller, the rolling of a ship can be effectively reduced and averted. The proposed method, by suppressing the cause of the critical rolling, reduces rolling, fuel consumption and maintenance of the ship's propulsion engines. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324256 | PROCESS FOR CONTROLLING A HYBRID NAVAL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM - A method for controlling the hybrid drive system of a water craft, comprising a combustion engine ( | 10-30-2014 |
20140336852 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ENGINE FUEL LIMITS - A method of determining fuel limits for an engine includes measuring an actual fuel value for the engine and creating a plurality of engine speed points. The method further includes calculating respective static fuel limit points for each of the engine speed points utilizing the actual fuel value. The static fuel limit points define and limit a rated power of the engine. | 11-13-2014 |
20140336853 | METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPTIMIZING SHIP PERFORMANCE AND DEVICES THEREOF - A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and performance optimization computing device for optimizing the performance of a ship. Data associated with one or more operational parameters associated with the ship is obtained. One or more performance values corresponding to the obtained data are identified. One or more optimal operational parameters are determined based on a comparison of the identified one or more performance values and one or more historical performance values. The historical performance values correspond to historical data associated with the one or more operational parameters. The determined one or more optimal operational parameters for the ship are provided. | 11-13-2014 |
20140336854 | BIDIRECTIONAL WIRELESS CONTROLS FOR MARINE DEVICES - A marine device, such as a trolling motor, a trim tab, a downrigger or a sonar device, is operated based upon commands generated by a wireless remote control device. The marine device is connected to a controller that provides commands to the marine device. The controller communicates with the remote control through a bidirectional wireless communication link to receive commands and to provide status information on the operation of the motor. The remote control includes user inputs for generating commands that are sent wirelessly to the controller to control operation of the marine device. The remote control also includes a display for displaying real time status information that is received wirelessly from the controller. | 11-13-2014 |
20140365050 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING WATERJET-DRIVEN MARINE VESSEL - A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second waterjets, corresponding first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets. The system comprises a speed control device for providing a first vessel control signal that corresponds to a speed to be provided to the marine vessel, a processor configured to receive the first vessel control signal and that is configured to provide at least one first actuator control signal coupled to the first and second waterjets, and at least one second actuator control signal coupled to the first and second steering nozzles and the first and to second reversing buckets. The system any of improves upon turns provided by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, improves upon slowing down or stopping marine vessels as is done by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, and improves upon the controllability of the waterjet propulsed marine vessel at low vessel speeds. | 12-11-2014 |
20150019053 | COMMUNICATION WITH AN UNDERWATER VEHICLE - A method of communicating with an underwater vehicle comprising a propulsion system for propelling the vehicle through the water. A series of data sets are encoded and transmitted to the underwater vehicle in a series of signal bursts, and decoded at the underwater vehicle. The propulsion system is operated in a series of thrust pulses separated by drift periods such that the propulsion system operates at a relatively high rate during the thrust pulses and at a relatively low (or zero) rate during the drift periods. The drift periods are timed such that each signal burst arrives at the underwater vehicle during a drift period and not during a thrust pulse. The method may be performed with a single vehicle or a plurality of underwater vehicles. The encoded data signals are broadcast simultaneously to the underwater vehicles in the series of signal bursts. | 01-15-2015 |
20150025718 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION - When an information display layout is created, a touch panel device displays information display areas icons. A user can create the information display layout by dragging the icons to the information display areas. After the drag operation, information corresponding to the icons is displayed in the respective information display areas. | 01-22-2015 |
20150025719 | Wakeboat Hull Control Systems and Methods - Wakeboat hull control systems and methods are provided to monitor the orientation of the wakeboat hull in the surrounding water, and to automatically control wakeboat ballast components to achieve or maintain desired hull orientations. Systems and methods are provided to measure, store, and recall hull orientation. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast systems. | 01-22-2015 |
20150032304 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR CALCULATING STATUS, AND MOVABLE BODY - A status calculating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes three or more antennas disposed at different positions on a movable body, each antenna receiving positioning signals, correlators for calculating carrier wave phase differences for every antenna based on correlation of the positioning signals with a replica signal, carrier wave phase measurement value calculating modules for calculating carrier wave phase measurement values, a baseline vector calculating module for calculating baseline vectors based on the carrier wave phase measurement values, and an attitude angle calculating module for calculating a yaw angle for every baseline vector and calculating a representative yaw angle based on the plurality of calculated yaw angles. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032305 | ROTATION AND TRANSLATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VESSELS - A marine propulsion control system for controlling a set of propulsion units carried, by a hull of a vessel is based on the recognition that simultaneous control of yaw and sway movements can be achieved through a control system for a set of propulsion units where two propulsion units achieve yaw movement and two propulsion units achieve a sway movement. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032306 | DYNAMIC LOAD COMPENSATION - The present invention relates to a system for reducing load and frequency variations in the power distribution of a dynamically positioned vessel. The system comprising a consumer load control being connected to at least one power generator and at least one thruster, the consumer load control being adapted to monitor the available power in the system, from said at least one power generator and, the power consumption from said at least one thruster as well as other power consumers in the system. The system also comprises a dynamic positioning (DP) unit monitoring the position of the vessel calculating the required thruster capacity for maintaining a predetermined position, wherein the DP unit is adapted to define an acceptable window for variations in said position relative to the predetermined position, and said consumer load control is adapted to adjust the power provided to said thruster in order to reduce total load variations depending on the available power and to the position of the vessel relative to said window. | 01-29-2015 |
20150057854 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN OUTBOARD ENGINE - A method for providing an outboard engine to a client includes providing the client with an outboard engine core having an engine and an electronic management module, the electronic management module being adapted to run at least one of a plurality of software. Each of the plurality of software (i) is adapted to control at least one engine operating parameter during operation of the engine, and (ii) corresponds to at least one engine operation mode selected from a list of engine operation modes. The method also includes providing the client with the list of engine operation modes, requesting from the client a selection of at least one engine operation mode, and allowing the client to activate at least one of the plurality of software corresponding to the selection on the electronic management module. A system for providing an outboard engine to a client is also disclosed. | 02-26-2015 |
20150057855 | VEHICLE OPERABLE WITH MUSCLE POWER AND/OR MOTOR POWER, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE VEHICLE - A vehicle operable with human muscle power and/or motor power, e.g., an electric bicycle, includes: a crank drive through which a rider torque generated by a rider is introduced; an electrical drive system that can additionally apply a driving torque; and a control unit configured to shut off the electrical drive system when the rider torque is not present. The control unit encompasses a monitoring device which ensures that when the rider torque falls below a predetermined value, the electrical drive system continues to be operated for a specified time span, the duration of the time span being variable as a function of a pedaling frequency. | 02-26-2015 |
20150066256 | ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE ESTIMATION DEVICE OF OUTBOARD MOTOR - By obtaining an atmospheric pressure learning value by applying filtering to an estimated atmospheric pressure found from an estimated atmospheric pressure map in an atmospheric pressure learning region matched in advance, and by constantly updating this atmospheric pressure learning value, stable and highly reliable atmospheric pressure estimation can be achieved. Also, a pre-set parameter value or the last atmospheric pressure learning value is used as the initial atmospheric pressure value and an unstable intake pressure value at the engine start in a battery-less state is not used. Hence, it becomes possible to provide an estimated atmospheric pressure with which high drivability is achievable by fully exploiting the engine performance as soon as the engine is started. | 03-05-2015 |
20150081146 | Actively controlled curvature robotic pectoral fin - A robotic mechanical fin, having a motor housing containing a plurality of rib rotation motors, rib spars, and a plurality of ribs, mechanically movable and communicatively coupled to the plurality of rib rotation motors and shafts, where the plurality of ribs are rotationally coupled to and actuated by the plurality of rib rotation motors and shafts. The mechanical fin further includes a flexible fin casing, within which the ribs reside, forming the complete actively controlled curvature robotic propulsion and steering apparatus. The mechanical fin, is connected to a plurality of control electronics circuits and a computer processor programmed with actuation code that when executed by the computer processor causes automated actuation of simultaneous propulsion and steering maneuverability of the actively controlled curvature, robotic, mechanical fin. | 03-19-2015 |
20150088346 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ON FUEL SAVINGS, SAFE OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE BY REAL-TIME PREDICTIVE MONITORING AND PREDICTIVE CONTROLLING OF AERODYNAMIC AND HYDRODYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNAL/EXTERNAL FORCES, HULL STRESSES, MOTION WITH SIX DEGREES OF FREEDOM, AND THE LOCATION OF MARINE STRUCTURE - A system for monitoring a physical change of a marine structure includes a complex optical measuring instrument configured to detect a behavior and structural change of the marine structure by using at least one optical sensor by means of optical fiber Bragg grating. | 03-26-2015 |
20150094886 | JET PROPELLED WATERCRAFT - A jet propelled watercraft includes a vessel body, a jet propulsion mechanism, an engine, at least one switch, and an emergency contact unit. The at least one switch includes an engine stop switch, a lanyard switch, and a rollover switch. The engine stop switch is configured to stop the engine in response to manual operation. The lanyard switch is configured to stop the engine in response to detachment of a lanyard. The rollover switch is configured to stop the engine in response to rollover of the vessel body. The emergency contact unit includes a determination portion and an instruction portion. The determination portion determines whether or not rescue is required based on the status of the at least one switch when the engine has been stopped. The instruction portion instructs transmission of a distress signal to a predetermined emergency contact when the determination portion has determined that rescue is required. | 04-02-2015 |
20150100185 | ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD IN A SHIP - A ship is disclosed which can include a hull, at least one propulsion unit having a propulsion engine, transmission, at least one propeller connected via the transmission to the propulsion engine, and an oscillation sensor situated in a vicinity of the at least one propeller in order to sense cavitation of the at least one propeller. A control unit can control the propulsion engine, the oscillation sensor being connected to the control unit, whereby the output signal of the oscillation sensor is analyzed in the control unit to detect and indicate that a worse degree cavitation is emerging on a display unit at the navigation bridge and/or regulate the rotation speed and/or the power of the propulsion engine. | 04-09-2015 |
20150100186 | Synchronous Drive Trim Alignment Device - A unique method for automatically monitoring, trimming, and adjusting or synchronizing multi-propeller drives of a boat to remain aligned with each other in the desired trim positions during operation. In each instance that a driver or operator activates all of the stern drives at the same time to adjust or synchronize the trim, the position of each of the propeller drives is monitored by the system. If any of the propeller drives are found not to be in alignment or out of synchronization with one another, the system will automatically make the appropriate adjustments in the necessary propeller drive(s) to synchronize all of the stern drive into the same desired trim positions. An automatic calibration process is also provided to ensure that the system has, and is using, accurate position data. | 04-09-2015 |
20150112518 | VARIABLE APERTURE PHASED ARRAY INCORPORATING VEHICLE SWARM - In one aspect a system for acoustic testing comprises a plurality of acoustic sensors mounted to a plurality of vehicles, a control system to control the plurality of vehicles, and a data acquisition system to receive data generated by the plurality of acoustic sensors in response to noise from a noise source proximate the plurality of vehicles. Other aspects may be described. | 04-23-2015 |
20150112519 | SHIP MONITORING DEVICE - A computer | 04-23-2015 |
20150112520 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETACHING COMPARTMENTS ATTACHED TO A WATERCRAFT - A method and system for detaching one or more compartments attached to a watercraft in response to a detected event, the method including detecting an event with respect to a compartment attached to the watercraft and causing, in response to detecting the event, a release of one or more attaching members that attach the compartment to the watercraft. | 04-23-2015 |
20150112521 | Systems and Methods for Controlling Shift in Marine Propulsion Devices - Systems and methods are for controlling shift in a marine propulsion device. A shift sensor outputs a position signal representing a current position of a shift linkage. A control circuit is programmed to identify an impending shift change when the position signal reaches a first threshold and an actual shift change when the position signal reaches a second threshold. The control circuit is programmed to enact a shift interrupt control strategy that facilitates the actual shift change when the position signal reaches the first threshold, and to actively modify the first threshold as a change in operation of the marine propulsion device occurs. | 04-23-2015 |
20150120102 | TURNING PROGRESS DISPLAY APPARATUS, AUTOPILOT DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING TURNING PROGRESS - A turning progress display apparatus is provided. The turning progress display apparatus includes an azimuth information acquiring module configured to acquire azimuth information that is at least one of information of an orientation of a movable body, information of a traveling direction of the movable body, and information that changes cooperating with a change of the orientation of the movable body, a progress calculating module configured to calculate a progress of the turn based on the azimuth information acquired by the azimuth information acquiring module and a target value of the azimuth information, and a display unit configured to display the turning progress calculated by the progress calculating module. | 04-30-2015 |
20150127197 | USE OF CENTER ENGINE FOR DOCKING - In a marine propulsion control system for controlling a set of propulsion units carried by a hull of a vessel, cavitation typically occurs on the propulsion unit with reverse gear engaged, and in a triple propulsion unit installation the normally idle center propulsion unit can be used to increase the reverse thrust and thereby limit the RPM of propulsion units in reverse, so that the cavitation effect is limited, and simultaneously allow for higher forward thrust on the third propulsion unit, thus increasing the total thrust for the vessel. | 05-07-2015 |
20150127198 | Ship Having A Window As Computer User Interface - A method of controlling a ship as well as to a ship, where the ship includes at least one data collecting unit configured to collect operational data of the ship, at least one control computer for controlling an operation aspect of the ship, at least one window facing a view used in the control, and at least one actuating unit for actuating a control aspect of the ship. The at least one window includes a touch screen on which operational data obtained from the data collecting unit is presented and via which a control command can be entered for controlling the ship. | 05-07-2015 |
20150134158 | ICE ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF EVACUATING AN ARCTIC FLOATING PLATFORM FROM A HAZARDOUS ICE CONDITION - An ice alert system includes an ice floe monitoring system, and an ice floe forecast system operatively connected to the ice floe monitoring system. The ice floe forecast system is configured to determine a hazardous ice condition. An evacuation system is operatively connected to the ice floe forecast system. The evacuation system is configured and disposed to determine, in response to the hazardous ice condition, a safe harbor location, and a navigational course from an original anchor point to the safe harbor location. | 05-14-2015 |
20150142227 | DYNAMIC POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Dynamic positioning systems and methods for controlling thrusters of a vessel. A dynamic positioning system includes a controller configured to predict position and heading of the vessel and efficiently control the the thrusters based on the predicted position and heading. | 05-21-2015 |
20150149004 | UNDERWATER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL MEANS OF ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION - The invention concerns an underwater vehicle equipped with electrochemical means of electrical power generation, characterised in that it comprises a data processing unit ( | 05-28-2015 |
20150291060 | Electric Vehicle Control Systems - An electric vehicle may include a first drive axle to drive a first wheel of the electric vehicle, a first electric motor mounted directly on the first drive axle, a power supply such as a battery to power the first electric motor, and a controller to control the electric motor. The electric vehicle may include a second drive axle to drive a second wheel and a second electric motor mounted on the second drive axle. The electric motor may be only mounted on the first drive axle. The battery may be formed from an array of batteries. | 10-15-2015 |
20150291267 | Marine Lifting Apparatus - A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. Each of the frames provides a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a package to be lifted and/or a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames. | 10-15-2015 |
20150300306 | START CONTROL DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR, START CONTROL METHOD FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR, AND PROGRAM - A start control device ( | 10-22-2015 |
20150300822 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WATER COLUMN AIDED NAVIGATION - Underwater vehicles may fix their position from GPS at the surface of the water and use bottom track for dead reckoning once it has descended to within tracking range of the bottom of a body of water. This disclosure describes a method and system for navigation through the water through depths where GPS is not available using current profiles from sonar systems including acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP). This extrapolation of earth referenced current profiles can provide a way to estimate vehicle motion below the surface before the vehicle reaches the bottom. Once bottom track is achieved, the corrected reference for vehicle motion improves the vehicle position estimate. A Kalman filter updates vehicle position and current profile estimates during descent, and the bottom track when the bottom comes within range to enable navigation of underwater vehicles. | 10-22-2015 |
20150307172 | Robotic Drowning Rescue System - A system remotely monitors a potential drowning victim and remotely and passively detects one or more drowning indicia. Upon detecting one or more drowning indicia, the system acquires location coordinates of the victim and activates a self-propelled robotic submersible, which travels to the victim's location and uses one or more sensors to position itself directly below the victim in the body of water. When the sensors have confirmed the position of the submersible directly below the victim, the submersible initiates the rescue operation by lifting or floating the victim above the surface of the water. The submersible then transports the victim to an area where he/she can be resuscitated and receive medical attention. | 10-29-2015 |
20150307176 | WATERCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEM AND PROPULSION MACHINE CONTROLLING METHOD - A watercraft propulsion system includes a normal watercraft operating unit, a joy stick watercraft operating unit, a control unit, a control mode switching unit, and a detection unit. The normal watercraft operating unit includes throttle levers and a steering wheel. The throttle levers are used to adjust outputs of at least two propulsion machines mounted to a hull. The steering wheel is used to adjust rudder turning angles of the at least two propulsion machines. The joy stick watercraft operating unit includes a joy stick. The joy stick is used to move the hull in at least each of front, rear, left, and right directions. The control unit is configured and programmed to control the outputs and the rudder turning angles of the at least two propulsion machines in a normal mode in accordance with an operation of the normal watercraft operating unit or a joy stick mode in accordance with an operation of the joy stick watercraft operating unit. The control mode switching unit is configured to output a control mode switching instruction to the control unit when the control mode switching unit has received a switching operation of the control mode. | 10-29-2015 |
20150309199 | VARIABLE TURN RADIUS FOR MARINE VESSELS - Operation of a marine vessel is disclosed. A marine vessel may be operated so as to determine that an end of a first sail line is approaching. Once determined, a turn path from the end of the first sail line to the beginning of a second sail line may be determined. The turn path may be determined based on at least one of current direction and current magnitude. | 10-29-2015 |
20150336645 | AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE MARINE SEISMIC SURVEYS - An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The AUV ( | 11-26-2015 |
20150346726 | CONTROLLABLE BUOYS AND NETWORKED BUOY SYSTEMS - Buoyant sensor networks are described, comprising floating buoys with sensors and energy harvesting capabilities. The buoys can control their buoyancy and motion, and can organize communication in a distributed fashion. Some buoys may have tethered underwater vehicles with a smart spooling system that allows the vehicles to dive deep underwater while remaining in communication and connection with the buoys. | 12-03-2015 |
20150346730 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC POSITIONING - A system for minimizing fuel consumption in a dynamic positioning (DP) vessel comprising a measurement system, an observer system, a control system and a thruster system. The heading of the vessel is adjusted to minimize the environmental forces felt on each side of the vessel. The method also allows for operator input to offset the vessel heading to improve comfort on board. | 12-03-2015 |
20150360762 | SHIFT CONTROL DEVICE OF OUTBOARD MOTOR, SHIFT CONTROL METHOD OF OUTBOARD MOTOR AND PROGRAM - A shift control device of an outboard motor having an electrical shift device for switching a propulsion direction has a rotation switching unit electrically switching whether to drive the outboard motor for regular rotation or for counter rotation, and a rotation determination unit determining whether the outboard motor drives for regular rotation or for counter rotation. Desired performances can be obtained by the outboard motor for regular rotation and the outboard motor for counter rotation without complicating the operation even when the propulsion unit for regular rotation and the propulsion unit for counter rotation are made as a common unit. | 12-17-2015 |
20150375837 | WIND SENSOR MOTION COMPENSATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide wind sensor motion compensation for wind sensors mounted to moving platforms. A wind sensor motion compensation system may include a wind sensor, a wind sensor accelerometer, one or more additional sensors, actuators, controllers, user interfaces, and/or other modules mounted to or in proximity to a vehicle. The wind sensor motion compensation system may be implemented with one or more logic devices adapted to receive sensor signals and determine a sensor-motion compensated wind velocity. The logic devices may be adapted to receive a wind sensor acceleration and a relative wind velocity from a wind sensor, determine a wind sensor velocity from the wind sensor acceleration, and determine a sensor-motion compensated relative wind velocity from the wind sensor velocity and the relative wind velocity. | 12-31-2015 |
20150378361 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE POSITION AND ORIENTATION - Systems and related methods for controlling vehicle position and movement are disclosed. A system includes one or more computers configured to receive data corresponding to video image frames of at least a portion of a course, and analyze the video image frame to estimate at least one of position and orientation of the vehicle within the course. A method includes identifying groups of pixels from the video image frames that are determined to correspond to non-background objects in the course. The method also includes correlating at least a portion of the identified groups of pixels with known objects in the course, and analyzing positions of the groups of pixels within the video image frames and known positions of at least one of an image capture device and known objects relative to the course to estimate at least one of the position and orientation of the vehicle within the course. | 12-31-2015 |
20160001856 | Comparative Ice Drift and Tow Model Analysis for Target Marine Structure - A marine threat monitoring and defense system and method protects a target vessel in icy or other marine regions. The system uses communications, user interfaces, and data sources to identify marine obstacles (e.g., icebergs, ice floes, pack ice, etc.) near a target vessel performing set operations (e.g., a stationed structure performing drilling or production operations or a seismic survey vessel performing exploration operations with a planned route). The system monitors positions of these identified marine obstacles over time relative to the target vessel and predicts any potential threats. When a threat is predicted, the system plans deployment of support vessels, beacons, and the like to respond to the threat. For example, the system can direct a support vessel to divert the path or break up ice threatening the target vessel. | 01-07-2016 |
20160001868 | DISPLAY INSTRUMENTS - A display instrument | 01-07-2016 |
20160009351 | AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC STEERING METHOD | 01-14-2016 |
20160009352 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEADING CONTROL OF A FLOATING LNG VESSEL USING A SET OF REAL-TIME MONITORED HULL INTEGRITY DATA | 01-14-2016 |
20160009353 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEADING CONTROL OF A FLOATING LNG VESSEL USING A SET OF REAL-TIME MONITORED CARGO CONTAINMENT SYSTEM STRAIN DATA | 01-14-2016 |
20160016646 | OCEANIC NAVIGATION SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an oceanic navigation system, and more particularly to an oceanic navigation system including an oceanic navigation control apparatus which is interfaced with a GPS reception part and various sensing devices so as to check the problems of a vessel in real time, and a smart terminal for executing an oceanic navigation applet so as to display the state information and the navigation information provided by the oceanic navigation control apparatus on the display screen, thus improving the portability thereof. | 01-21-2016 |
20160027308 | NAVIGATION OF A FLEET OF AUTONOMOUS VESSELS IN CURRENT AND WIND - This invention provides a vessel system and methodology that can be used to promote growth of phytoplankton in the oceans. Unmanned self-controlled wave-powered vessels are equipped with storage units for dispensing a fertilizer, and with sensors to monitor ocean conditions and effects. Fleets of vessels move autonomously by on-board processing of GPS and directional information, piloting a path that is coordinated by a central processing unit. The vessels travel through a defined target area, creating a detailed survey of chemical and biological characteristics that affect grown. The data are processed in a computer model to identify precise locations and precise amounts of fertilizer that will produce the best results. Projected benefits of fertilizing plankton include sequestering CO | 01-28-2016 |
20160031536 | BLACK BOX SYSTEM FOR LEISURE VESSEL - The present invention relates to a black box system for a leisure vessel and, more particularly, to a black box system for a leisure vessel which has a marine black box to interface a GPS receiving unit with various kinds of navigation data measuring devices and a camera unit, thereby checking problems in the vessel in real time, and which executes information stored in a portable memory with a marine black box application via a smart terminal to output the information on a display screen and to simultaneously store images and data at the time of an accident in a data storage server provided on land, thereby increasing portability and analyzing navigation data and images for a vessel when the vessel has been lost due to an unexpected accident. | 02-04-2016 |
20160061980 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STEERING SEISMIC VESSEL - System and method for steering a vessel during a marine acquisition campaign. The method includes obtaining a pre-plot track of a steered point, wherein the steered point is associated with an equipment spread towed by the vessel; calculating an offset between a past position of the vessel and a current position of the steered point; and steering the vessel along a vessel track, wherein the vessel track is calculated by shifting the pre-plot track of the steered point with at least a cross-line component of the offset. | 03-03-2016 |
20160068247 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MARINE CRAFT WITH STEERABLE DRIVE - A system for controlling one or more propulsion devices of a marine vessel. The system includes circuitry configured to: receive a steering angle command for a propulsion device of the marine vessel; receive a trim position of the propulsion device; and generate a steering actuator position command for the propulsion device based on the steering angle command and the trim position of the propulsion device. | 03-10-2016 |
20160083054 | CONTROLLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FLOATING ARRANGEMENT - A controlling system is used for controlling a state of a floating arrangement comprising plurality of containers, such as shipping or standard freight containers, especially consistent with ISO standard. At least some of the containers comprise a float arrangement having e.g. intra-container water-displacing volumes, such as an inflatable bag, which can be used for displacing water from the container when the inflatable bag is filled or for letting more water entering into the container when the inflatable bag is emptied, and thereby manipulating the buoyancy or draft of the container and thus also the same of the pontoon platform comprising said container(s). The state of the container and thus the floating arrangement can be controlled by operating the float arrangement by the controlling system, such as manipulating the inflatable bags or other state changing means of the float arrangement, such as propellers or supporting means. | 03-24-2016 |
20160083065 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING WATERJET-DRIVEN MARINE VESSEL - A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second waterjets, corresponding first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets. The system comprises a speed control device for providing a first vessel control signal that corresponds to a speed to be provided to the marine vessel, a processor configured to receive the first vessel control signal and that is configured to provide at least one first actuator control signal coupled to the first and second waterjets, and at least one second actuator control signal coupled to the first and second steering nozzles and the first and second reversing buckets. The system any of improves upon turns provided by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, improves upon slowing down or stopping marine vessels as is done by conventional waterjet propulsion systems, and improves upon the controllability of the waterjet propulsed marine vessel at low vessel speeds. | 03-24-2016 |
20160096610 | BOAT MANEUVERING SYSTEM - A boat maneuvering system includes a power source, a first controller that controls the power source, a display device that has a touch panel function and displays an operation screen configured to operate the movement of a boat, and a second controller that is communicatively connected to the first controller and enables an operation of the boat through the operation screen when detecting a plurality of operations on the display device simultaneously. | 04-07-2016 |
20160097393 | WAKEBOAT WITH DYNAMIC WAVE CONTROL - Wakeboat ballast pump systems and methods are provided to monitor the operational condition and parameters of wakeboat ballast components. Systems and methods for sensing and measurement are provided to detect parameters associated with wakeboat ballast pumps and compartments, including systems and methods that can economically retrofit into existing wakeboat ballast systems. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action based on various operational conditions and parameters to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast pumps. | 04-07-2016 |
20160097875 | Compensation of Magnetic Data for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Mapping Surveys - Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to compensation of magnetic data, and, in particular, to a system and method for compensation of magnetic data as collected during autonomous underwater vehicle mapping surveys. | 04-07-2016 |
20160098865 | WATERCRAFT AUTOMATION AND AQUATIC EFFORT DATA UTILIZATION - Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are disclosed. In one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a watercraft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft. | 04-07-2016 |
20160098866 | WATERCRAFT AUTOMATION AND AQUATIC EFFORT DATA UTILIZATION - Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are disclosed. la one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a watercraft position, maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft. | 04-07-2016 |
20160098867 | WATERCRAFT AUTOMATION AND AQUATIC EFFORT DATA UTILIZATION - Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are disclosed. In one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a watercraft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft. | 04-07-2016 |
20160101838 | NAVIGATION ROUTE GENERATION DEVICE, AUTOMATIC STEERING SYSTEM, AND NAVIGATION ROUTE GENERATION METHOD - There is provided a navigation route generation device with which a host moving body can be navigated by offsetting it parallel to a line on the current travel direction of the host moving body by a simple operation, without changing the preset destination or bearing. A plotter that is part of an automatic steering system of a ship comprises a current route acquisition component, a parallel route generator, and a navigation route setting component. The current route acquisition component acquires the travel direction of the host ship. The parallel route generator generates a parallel route, which is a route that is parallel to the travel direction acquired by the current route acquisition component. The navigation route setting component sets the parallel route generated by the parallel route generator to the navigation route of the host ship. | 04-14-2016 |
20160101841 | WATERCRAFT AUTOMATION AND AQUATIC EFFORT DATA UTILIZATION - Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are disclosed. In one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a watercraft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, circuit aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft. | 04-14-2016 |
20160107727 | WATERCRAFT DOCKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF THEIR OPERATION - A system for securing a watercraft to a dock includes a first sensor for automatically detecting a securing point to which to dock the watercraft, an extendable arm with a cable inside, the cable having a proximal end for mounting to the watercraft, and a grasping element mounted to a distal end of the cable and configured to reversibly engage the securing point. A method for securing a watercraft to a dock includes automatically detecting a securing point on the dock, extending an arm from the watercraft toward the securing point, wherein the arm houses a cable having a proximal end mounted to the watercraft, and reversibly engaging the securing point using a grasping element mounted to a distal end of the arm. | 04-21-2016 |
20160107736 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE BUOYANCY CONTROL - A system for controlling the buoyancy of a remotely operated vehicle. The system includes buoyancy tanks, storage tanks, pressure sensors, gyroscopes, a control unit, and transporting and conducting means to couple all the elements. The system autonomously adjusts the depth of all or part of the remotely operated vehicle based at least in part on the pressure readings and the orientation of the remotely operated vehicle. The system is designed to reach the depths of the ocean floor either by a high pressure encasement, or by adjusting the internal pressure of the buoyancy tanks to withstand the ambient pressure exerted by the column of water. The system is entirely closed, meaning that the buoyancy can be adjusted simply by moving gas between a storage tank to a buoyancy tank. The system can finely control total depth, roll, pitch, and yaw of the remotely operated vehicle. | 04-21-2016 |
20160114861 | HYBRID WINCH WITH CONTROLLED RELEASE AND TORQUE IMPULSE GENERATION CONTROL FOR ANCHOR HANDLING OFFSHORE - A hybrid winch system for use with an anchor handling vessel comprises an electric winch mountable on the anchor handling vessel, an electric generator for providing generated power to the electric winch, a battery for providing stored power to the electric winch, an anchor cable wound around the electric winch and passing over a roller drum for guiding the anchor cable, an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor cable and a winch controller for selectively applying the generated power and the stored power to the electric winch. The winch controller is configured to provide the stored power to the electric winch for controlled release of the anchor cable in case of loss of the generated power. | 04-28-2016 |
20160114862 | HYBRID WINCH WITH CONTROLLED RELEASE AND TORQUE IMPULSE GENERATION CONTROL FOR ANCHOR HANDLING OFFSHORE - A hybrid winch system for use with an anchor handling vessel is disclosed that includes but is not limited to an electric winch mountable on the anchor handling vessel, an electric generator for providing generated power to the electric winch, a battery for providing stored power to the electric winch, an anchor cable wound around the electric winch and passing over a roller drum for guiding the anchor cable, an anchor attached to a distal end of the anchor cable and a winch controller for selectively applying the generated power and the stored power to the electric winch. The winch controller is configured to provide the stored power to the electric winch for controlled release of the anchor cable in the case of loss of the generated power. | 04-28-2016 |
20160114867 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING STABILITY OF A VESSEL - An automated stability system which is accurate but simple enough to be implemented on small vessels such as fishing boats is provided. It provides this by integrating the measurements of a digital magnetometer, digital accelerometer, and digital gyroscope which are used to calculate the natural roll period of the vessel which in turn permits calculation of the GM (metacentric height). GPS may also be provided to provide for time and velocity correction. | 04-28-2016 |
20160121978 | Electric Fin Stabilizer - A marine vessel stabilizer and control including a fin having a stem extending into the hull. An arm is connected to the stem and extends towards a connector which is connected to a rod. A housing is connected to another end of the rod and a screw passes through the housing. A motor is connected to the screw and configured to rotate to rotate the fin. A controller is connected to the motor, a speed sensor, a roll sensor and a fin position sensor such that a control signal can be calculated and the position of the fin can be determined to reduce roll of the vessel both when making headway and when at rest (zero speed). When the vessel is at rest, the fin is be configured to rotate through maximum angles greater than 15 degrees from either side of a neutral position. | 05-05-2016 |
20160121979 | SHIP MANAGING DEVICE, SHIP MANAGING SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM - A ship managing device acquires input data indicating a predetermined voyage condition, and extracts condition data corresponding to the input data. The condition data is predetermined data describing a combination of a voyage condition and an amount of fuel consumption. The ship managing device, using the condition data, identifies the amount of fuel consumption under the voyage condition indicated by the input data, and determines whether there is scope for improvement in the amount of fuel consumption. Thereafter, the ship managing device generates and outputs monitoring data corresponding to the result of the determination. | 05-05-2016 |
20160121980 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR REMOTELY NOTIFYING INFORMATION - An information remote notification device is provided. The information remote notification device includes an orientation sensor configured to detect an oriented direction of the information remote notification device, a communicator configured to acquire, from an external terminal device provided in a ship, at least navigational information related to the oriented direction and navigation of the ship, and a notifier configured to notify the navigational information and related to the oriented direction detected by the orientation sensor. | 05-05-2016 |
20160121986 | PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR AQUATIC VESSELS - A propulsion system for an aquatic vessel is provided. The propulsion system includes one or more Magnus-type rotors that are operable to rotate about their respective substantially upright axes. The propulsion system also includes a drive arrangement for rotating the Magnus-type rotors, and a control arrangement for receiving one or more measured apparent wind speeds and for controlling the drive arrangement to vary a rate of rotations of each of the Magnus-type rotors, for example, as a function of the measured apparent wind speeds. Moreover, the control arrangement is additionally provided in operation with future route information for the aquatic vessel, together with weather forecast information for use in controlling the drive arrangement for improving propulsion provided by the Magnus-type rotors. | 05-05-2016 |
20160123737 | System and Method for Communicating Near-Real Time Marine Navigation Information - A system for providing near real time navigation information includes a first communication device configured to transmit collection vessel data representing collection vessel draft and a geoposition. It also includes a second communication device configured to transmit user vessel data, including user vessel draft and user geoposition. A processing device is configured to determine a keel verified depth (KVD) based upon the collection vessel depth for the geoposition and transmit that data to the second communication device. | 05-05-2016 |
20160125739 | COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to generate image data based on avoidance areas for mobile targets and/or mobile structures. A collision avoidance system includes a logic device configured to communicate with a ranging sensor and/or a speed, position, and/or orientation sensor (SPOS) mounted to a mobile structure. The logic device may be configured to determine a projected course for a mobile target detected by the ranging sensor. The system may determine one or more avoidance areas based, at least in part, on the projected course for the mobile target and a speed, position, and/or orientation of the mobile structure detected by the SPOS. The system may generate image data based, at least in part, on the projected course, the one or more avoidance areas, and the detected orientation and/or position. | 05-05-2016 |
20160144942 | System and Method for Reducing Harmful Substances of Ship and Ship Using the Same - A ship comprises: a hull; an engine for propelling the hull; a harmful substance reducing device for reducing harmful substances included in exhaust gas discharged from the engine; and a preheating device for the harmful substance reducing device, preliminarily heating the harmful substance reducing device when the hull is located at an emission control area (ECA) preliminary entry point close to an ECA in which the emission of the harmful substances is restricted. The ship comprises: the hull; the engine for propelling the hull; the harmful substance reducing device for reducing the harmful substances included in the exhaust gas discharged from the engine; and an engine output control device for controlling the output of the engine to be lowered so as to reduce the amount of the exhaust gas discharged from the engine when the hull is located in the ECA or at the ECA preliminary entry point. | 05-26-2016 |
20160147228 | USER-OPERABLE CONTROL FOR PROPULSION SYSTEMS - A propulsion system for an aquatic vessel is provided. The propulsion system includes a plurality of Magnus-type rotors and a drive arrangement for rotating the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. The plurality of Magnus-type rotors are operable to rotate about corresponding substantially upright axes. The propulsion system also includes a control arrangement for receiving one or more measured apparent wind speeds and for controlling the drive arrangement to vary rates of rotations of the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. The rates of rotations may, for example, be varied as functions of the measured apparent wind speeds and a direction of travel of the aquatic vessel. Moreover, the control arrangement includes a user-operable control for adjusting propulsion provided by the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. The control arrangement is operable to control the drive arrangement to vary a drive applied to rotate one or more Magnus-type rotors from the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. | 05-26-2016 |
20160147229 | System and Method for Dynamically Positioning a Floating Vessel Alongside a Turret Moored Floating Vessel - A rapid transition floating vessel that is able to follow the yaw motions of a turret moored floating vessel is provided. The rapid transition floating vessel includes a system and processes for dynamically positioning the floating vessel alongside a turret moored floating vessel whereby the floating vessel remains at a safe distance while being connected to the turret moored floating vessel. This is achieved by the floating vessel following the yaw motions of the turret moored floating vessel as the turret moored floating vessel weathervanes about a centre of the turret moorings. | 05-26-2016 |
20160152200 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF ENERGY LOADS AND ENERGY SUPPLIES IN A COORDINATED MANNER | 06-02-2016 |
20160159625 | VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR AND HYBRID WINCH WITH CONTROLLED RELEASE AND TORQUE IMPULSE GENERATION CONTROL FOR ANCHOR HANDLING OFFSHORE - A winch is disclosed, including but not limited to a water-cooled electric winch motor, a water pump attached to a cooling circuit in the water-cooled winch motor, wherein the winch controller controls the water pump to circulate water in the cooling circuit at a proportional flow rate that is a percentage of a full flow rate for the water that circulates through the variable speed motor at a percentage of full flow rate proportional to a percentage of full power for the water-cooled motor. | 06-09-2016 |
20160161257 | ROUTE PLANNING - A method and apparatus for determining routes vehicles ( | 06-09-2016 |
20160161262 | ROUTE PLANNING - A method and apparatus for determining a route for a vehicle ( | 06-09-2016 |
20160167755 | UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES, LOCATIONS OF THEIR DOCKING STATIONS, AND THEIR PROGRAMMED ROUTES | 06-16-2016 |
20160176487 | System and Method for Automated Rendezvous, Docking and Capture of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles | 06-23-2016 |
20160187883 | A Programmable Automatic Docking System - A programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel, wherein the programmable automatic docking system includes a set of starboard side transducers and a set of port side transducers to detect and transmit real-time distance, position and velocity information of the marine vessel in relation to an external object. A programmable processor control unit receives the real-time distance, position and velocity information to control a set of propulsion elements to automatically control the marine vessels direct path of travel toward an external object and maintain the marine vessel at a pre-selected distance once the pre-selected distance is reached. | 06-30-2016 |
20160195399 | DEVICE, PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING MANAGEMENT OF SCHEDULE OF VOYAGE | 07-07-2016 |
20160251064 | SHIP PROPULSION PERFORMANCE PREDICTING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF, AND SHIP NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE SYSTEM | 09-01-2016 |
20160251066 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR | 09-01-2016 |
20160252906 | Operating Multiple Autopilots | 09-01-2016 |
20160252907 | APPARATUS AND METHOD | 09-01-2016 |
20160253906 | Optical Based Pose Detection For Multiple Unmanned Underwater Vehicles | 09-01-2016 |
20160375963 | MOTION COMPENSATION FOR RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN AN OBJECT CONNECTED TO A VESSEL AND AN OBJECT IN THE WATER - Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to motion compensation between water-borne objects, and, more particularly, to synchronizing motion between a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and a docking station of a launch and recovery system (LARS). An exemplary method includes receiving a measurement corresponding to a particle motion in water surrounding an ROV and synchronizing motion of a docking station with a motion of the ROV based at least in part on the measurement corresponding to the particle motion. | 12-29-2016 |
20170233051 | VESSEL CHARACTERISTIC ESTIMATION DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE | 08-17-2017 |
20180023954 | RACE ROUTE DISTRIBUTION AND ROUTE ROUNDING DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND METHODS | 01-25-2018 |
20190144092 | AZIMUTH THRUSTER SYSTEM DRIVEN BY COOPERATING PRIME MOVERS AND CONTROL METHOD | 05-16-2019 |
20190147669 | VESSEL DATA INTEGRATION SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |