72results about "Steering initiations" patented technology

An electric power assisted steering assembly comprises a steering mechanism which operatively connects a steering wheel to the roadwheels of a vehicle, a torque sensing means adapted to produce a first output signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism, a means for producing a second output signal indicative from a signal indicative of the angular velocity of the portion of the steering mechanism, an electric motor operatively connected to the steering mechanism, a signal processing unit adapted to receive the two output signals and to produce therefrom an overall torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism by the motor, and a motor drive stage adapted to provide a drive current to the motor responsive to the torque demand signal. The overall torque demand signal includes a damping component that is dependent upon the second output signal. The means for producing the yaw damping component includes a filter having one pole and one zero, and in use the second signal is passed through the filter to produce the damping component, the frequency of the pole and zero being selected such that the filter provides a band between the pole and zero within which the phase of the filtered second signal and the velocity signal are further out of phase or in phase than within the band.

A boat control system controls a boat. The boat control system includes a boat propulsion device and an operation device. The boat propulsion device includes an electric motor and a first controller that controls the drive of the electric motor. The operation device accepts operations. The operation device outputs an operation signal in response to the operation. The first controller switches between a first steering mode in which the first controller controls the drive of the electric motor based on the operation signal and a second steering mode in which the first controller controls the drive of the electric motor based on an automatic control signal to automatically direct the boat to a destination point.

A watercraft operating system includes a plurality of marine propulsion devices, a joystick, a thrust selector, and a controller. The thrust selector is operable to select one of a plurality of thrust modes including a limiting mode, which limits a forward thrust and a rearward thrust, and a non-limiting mode which does not limit at least one of the forward thrust and the rearward thrust. The forward thrust is generated by each of the plurality of marine propulsion devices when the joystick is tilted forward, whereas the rearward thrust is generated when the joystick is tilted rearward. The controller is configured or programmed to control a rudder angle and an output of each of the plurality of marine propulsion devices in accordance with the selected thrust mode, a tilt direction of the joystick, and a tilt amount of the joystick.

The application discloses a control method, a power device, a steering wheel, a propulsion system, a water area movable device and a computer readable storage medium. The control method is applied to an electric steering scene and includes the following steps: if it is detected that a current rotation angle of a steering wheel exceeds a rotation limit angle, a return torque is output to the steering wheel by a return mechanism, and the return torque is used for returning the steering wheel to a limit position corresponding to the rotation limit angle; and during the returning of the steering wheel from a current position to the limit position, the return torque changes according to an output time of the return torque or a rotation stroke of the steering wheel, so that the power consumption of the steering wheel in the over-limit return process can be reduced.

Improvement of a ship propulsion system that issues a warning for the auxiliary ship propulsion unit in a ship having a main propulsion unit and an auxiliary ship propulsion unit. [Solution] The ship propulsion system comprises a ship's main propulsion engine, a ship's auxiliary propulsion engine having a maximum output smaller than the maximum output of the ship's main propulsion engine, and a controller provided in the ship's auxiliary propulsion engine. The controller performs a notification process to notify an external party if an abnormality occurs in the ship's auxiliary propulsion engine.

A system for controlling a watercraft includes a satellite positioning sensor, a remote sensor, and a controller. The satellite positioning sensor detects a position of a watercraft based on radio waves transmitted from a satellite. The remote sensor detects a position of a target object. When the satellite positioning sensor receives the radio waves transmitted from the satellite, the controller is configured or programmed to obtain the position of the watercraft detected by the satellite positioning sensor and execute a normal automated navigation such that the watercraft is moved along a predetermined navigation route. The controller is configured or programmed to obtain the position of the target object detected by the remote sensor during navigation of the watercraft, and execute a temporary automated navigation to move the watercraft toward the target object when the satellite positioning sensor is interrupted from receiving the radio waves transmitted from the satellite.

We provide technology that can flexibly respond to changes in shipping routes. [Solution] A ship's automatic steering system 11 that controls a ship based on a planned route set by a route planning device, comprising: a receiving unit 100 that receives waypoint information including a plurality of waypoints constituting the planned route from the route planning device; and an interruption determination unit 101 that determines whether the route indicated by the new waypoint information is an interruption route, which is a route different from the planned route indicated by the old waypoint information, based on a comparison between at least one waypoint included in the old waypoint information previously received by the receiving unit and at least one waypoint included in the new waypoint information newly received by the receiving unit 100.

A computer system (100; 700) comprising processing circuitry (102; 702) configured to: obtain environment data (20) and monitor a snap-in docking distance (40) in relation to a fixed structure (10) based on the environment data (20); in response to the marine vessel (1) being outside the distance (40): control movement (22) of the marine vessel (1) based on a maneuvering request (24) and / or the environment data (20); and in response to the marine vessel (1) being within the distance (40): control the marine vessel (1) to move into physical engagement with the fixed structure (10); obtain force sensing data (25) indicating an engagement pressure between the marine vessel (1) and the fixed structure (10); and regulate a thrust force (60) in a direction towards said the fixed structure (10) based on said force sensing data (25) to control a desired engagement pressure.

A watercraft propulsion system includes a bow thruster, at least two propulsion devices, a translation / bow turning operator to apply a translation command to translate a hull and a bow turning command to turn a bow of the hull, and a controller configured or programmed to drive the bow thruster, and drive one of the at least two propulsion devices forward and another of the at least two propulsion devices in reverse while controlling the steering angles of the at least two propulsion devices so that propulsive force action lines of the at least two propulsion devices cross each other in the hull in a translation watercraft maneuvering mode to translate the hull in response to an operation of the translation / bow turning operator. The controller includes a calibration mode in which calibration is performed for the translation watercraft maneuvering mode.

A ship control device is provided with an input unit capable of acquiring operation inputs from each of a first operator used in a low-speed navigation control mode and a second operator used in a high speed navigation control mode, and a control unit for determining a target direction and a throttle opening in the direction control at the time of navigation based on the operation inputs acquired in the input unit. The low-speed navigation control mode has a manual operation control mode by the operation of the first operator and an automatic navigation control mode for holding a direction or a throttle opening using the target direction. The control unit is provided with a setting unit for setting the target direction and the throttle opening used for automatic navigation based on the operation input to the first operator in the automatic navigation control mode.

The present watercraft operating system (100) includes a marine propulsion device (3) and a watercraft operating controller (30). Under a compass direction keeping control for keeping a watercraft (10) oriented in a target compass direction, the watercraft operating controller (30) turns a propeller (14) between a first steering position and a second steering position at a predetermined time interval. The first steering position is a position where the thrust is applied to the watercraft (10) in a back-and-forth direction and a right-and-left direction. The second steering position is obtained by reversing the first steering position in either the back-and-forth direction or the right-and-left direction. The watercraft operating controller (30) controls the magnitude of the thrust and a rotational direction of the propeller (14) such that the watercraft (10) performs bow turning toward the target compass direction when the propeller is located in each of the first and second steering positions. The watercraft operating controller (30) controls the rotational direction of the propeller (14) such that a direction of the thrust in the back-and-forth direction generated at the first steering position and a direction of the thrust in the back-and-forth direction generated at the second steering position are opposite when the watercraft (10) is caused to perform bow turning in the same direction at the first steering position and the second steering position.

To provide a ship control device capable of more reliably realizing the turning of a ship as intended by the operator without major system changes.SOLUTION: A ship control device 10 comprises an input part 201 for inputting a maneuvering command value related to ship motion control, and a control part 20 for generating a rudder angle command signal and a throttle command signal for a ship based on the maneuvering command value to output them. The control part 20 outputs the throttle command signal with a Hi level and a Low level in an intermittent control waveform if the maneuvering command value is within an intermittent control range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

We provide technology that can flexibly respond to changes in shipping routes. [Solution] A ship's automatic steering system 11 that controls a ship 12 based on a planned route set by a route planning device 10, comprising: a receiving unit 100 that receives route information relating to the planned route from the route planning device 10; and an interruption determination unit 101 that determines that an interruption route is one in which the route indicated by the new route information is different from the planned route indicated by the old route information when the leg direction included in the old route information previously received by the receiving unit 100 is different from the leg direction included in the new route information newly received by the receiving unit 100, and the ship's automatic steering system 11 is in the process of turning the ship 12.

[Problem] To precisely measure the distance between a target location of ship sailing and an own ship. [Solution] This sailing assistance system 10 comprises a reflection member 30, a distance measurement unit 21, and a target location setting unit 23. The reflection member 30 includes a target location PS90 on an anchor target line of a ship 80, and is installed in a curved shape by bordering the anchor target line. The distance measurement unit 21 is installed in the ship 80, transmits and receives laser light, and performs three-dimensional distance measurement. The target location setting unit 23 sets the target location by using the distance measurement result obtained by means of the laser light reflected by the reflection member 30.

An actuation system for moving at least two devices on a marine vessel includes at least three actuators, wherein the at least three actuators include at least one pair of actuators configured to jointly move a first actuated device, a plurality of position sensors configured to generate position information indicating whether each one of the at least three actuators has moved and / or whether the first actuated device has moved, and a controller configured to control each of the at least three actuators, wherein locations of the at least three actuators are initially unknown by the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically determine the location of each of the at least three actuators on the marine vessel based on the position information measured in response to movement commands and, thereafter, control each of the at least three actuators based on their respective location.

A steering assist system for a marine vessel has a steering control unit for receiving an operator steering command via a steering device. The steering control unit is configured to provide feedback to an operator via the steering device in response to a control signal and a positioning system configured to determine a location of the marine vessel. The system has a processing circuitry to store sea-chart data indicating one or more hazardous location areas. The system is configured to determine whether the location of the marine vessel in relation to the one or more hazardous location areas satisfies a predetermined hazard criterion, and in accordance with a determination that the hazard criterion is satisfied, transmit a control signal to the steering control unit. The steering control unit is, upon receipt of the control signal, configured to provide feedback to an operator via the steering device.

Small boats are normally used for different applications such as fishing, crafting, or just for leisure, but the hustle is always there during the boat launching or loading from and to the trailer as a certain skill is required. Even with the new thrusters' system that makes it a little bit easier to maneuver, the process is still manual and usually requires multiple people to coordinate the boat safe load / launch. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a boat autonomous loading and launching system where the boat can autonomously launch from the trailer and load to the trailer. The boat control unit can receive several measurements from a user interface device, sensors, and navigation unit, process them, and control the boat's propellers and thrusters and the trailer's locking mechanism.

[Problem] To provide a sea mark identification device capable of distinguishing a port mark and a starboard mark regardless of the location of a ship. [Solution] A sea mark identification device comprises: an acquisition unit that acquires an image generated by a camera installed on a ship; a mode identification unit that identifies whether the mode of a lateral buoy contained in the image is a first mode or a second mode; a country determination unit that determines a country to which a location detected by a location detection unit for detecting the location of the ship belongs; and a port / starboard determination unit that, on the basis of predetermined corresponding relationships indicating whether the first mode and the second mode correspond to a port sign or a starboard sign in each country, determines whether the mark content of the lateral buoy is a port mark or a starboard mark, from the mode of the lateral buoy and the determined country.

The application discloses a control method of a power device, the power device, a control method of a steering wheel, the steering wheel, a control method of a propulsion system, the propulsion system, a water area movable device and a computer readable storage medium. The control method comprises the following steps: if it is detected that one of the steering wheel and the steering mechanism is rotated first and the other one is not rotated secondly according to a preset steering transmission ratio, a new rotation angle range of the steering wheel is determined according to a rotation angle change amount of the first rotation, the steering wheel is controlled to rotate in the new rotation angle range, the preset steering transmission ratio represents a proportional relationship between a rotation limit angle difference of the steering wheel and a rotation limit angle difference of the steering mechanism, a mapping relationship between a rotation angle of the steering wheel and a rotation angle of the steering mechanism is re-established according to the new rotation angle range, and the steering mechanism is controlled to steer according to the mapping relationship.

An axially adjustable steering column assembly includes an upper sleeve. The steering column assembly also includes a lower sleeve, wherein the upper sleeve is received within and telescopingly adjustable therein, the lower sleeve defining a pair of slots extending in an axial direction along the lower sleeve. The steering column assembly also includes a column mount, wherein the lower sleeve translates and rotates relative to the column mount. The steering column assembly also includes a pair of bushings positioned within the pair of slots. The steering column assembly also includes a rack operatively connected to one of the pair of bushings, the rack being rotatable accordingly with the lower sleeve. The steering column assembly also includes a sensor operatively contacting the rack to detect the axial position of the axially adjustable steering column assembly.

The present invention provides a jet propulsion system, a jet-propelled boat, and a boat hull launching method that enable easy launching of the boat hull from a trailer. [Solution] This jet propulsion system 100 includes a jet propulsion mechanism 4 that generates thrust by ejecting a jet of water from the nozzle 44a, which is located at the stern 114 of the hull 110 and includes a nozzle 44 provided with a jet water nozzle 44a, a nozzle actuator 5a that rotates the nozzle 44 to change the direction of the jet water from the nozzle 44a, and a control unit 8 that performs oscillation control by repeatedly oscillating the nozzle 44 using the nozzle actuator 5a when lowering the hull 110 from the trailer T.

There is room to reduce the number of parts in ship control systems. [Solution] The ship control system controls the ship. The ship control system comprises a ship propulsion system and a specific device. The ship propulsion system has an electric motor and a first controller that controls the drive of the electric motor. The specific device is communicatively connected to the first controller. The first controller performs specific processing other than drive control of the electric motor based on information transmitted from the specific device.

The present invention provides a jet-powered boat, a jet-powered boat control system, and a method for maintaining the docked state of a jet-powered boat, which enable the boat operator to maintain the docked state of the boat at a pier even when the boat operator is located away from the hull. [Solution] This jet-propelled boat 100 includes a control unit 40 that performs docking maintenance control, which controls the water flow direction adjustment unit 30 so that the direction of the jet water flow generated from the water flow generation unit 20 is maintained in a state that presses the hull 10 against the pier 201 when a docking maintenance operation is performed to maintain the hull 10 docked against the pier 201, while also controlling the water flow generation unit 20 to maintain the state in which a jet water flow is generated from the water flow generation unit 20.

[Problem] To measure the distance between a host vessel and an object more accurately. [Solution] A navigation assistance device 10 comprises: a distance measurement unit 21; an attitude measurement unit 22; a vessel-side reference point setting unit 30; and a horizontal distance calculation unit 40. The distance measurement unit 21 uses a ranging coordinate system to perform ranging on a quay, which is an anchorage target of a vessel, and outputs quay ranging information according to the ranging coordinate system. The attitude measurement unit 22 measures the attitude of the vessel. The vessel-side reference point setting unit 30 sets, as a vessel-side reference point, a predetermined position of the vessel in the ranging coordinate system. The horizontal distance calculation unit 40 calculates the horizontal distance between the vessel-side reference point and the quay by using the quay ranging information, which is projected onto a horizontal plane by using the attitude, and the vessel-side reference point.

A marine drive system and method for marine vessel stabilization is provided. The marine drive system has at least one electric drive unit arranged to generate a thrust power for propulsion of the marine vessel, at least one trim actuator arranged to control the thrust elevation angle of the at least one electric drive unit, and a control unit arranged to adjust the thrust power of the at least one electric drive unit and the thrust elevation angle of the at least one trim actuator in order to obtain desired stabilizing pitch and roll movements of the marine vessel, wherein the control unit is connected to a steering control device of the marine vessel. The control unit is arranged to generate a force feedback by the steering control device based on the applied adjustments of the thrust power and the thrust elevation angle.

A system for controlling steering on a marine vessel includes a steering wheel movable within a fixed rotation range between a first fixed end stop and a second fixed end stop, a steering actuator configured to rotate the steerable component about the steering axis between a first steering limit and a second steering limit, and a controller configured to detect that the steering wheel position is in a first end region adjacent to the first fixed end stop or a second end region adjacent to the second fixed end stop while the steerable component is not at one of the steering limits. The steering actuator is controlled to rotate the steerable component at a fixed rotation rate while the steering wheel position is in the first end region or the second end region so as to move the steerable component toward alignment with the steering wheel position.

A removable universal controller for a steering wheel, the controller including a body having rotating elements for hanging the body onto the rim of the steering wheel and for rotating the steering wheel; and a navigation system coupled to at least one of the rotating elements to cause the rotation thereof according to a heading.

A watercraft operating system includes a marine propulsion device, an operation console, an input, and a watercraft operating controller. The marine propulsion device generates a thrust to propel a watercraft. The operation console includes a tiltable joystick. The input is configured to output an operating signal. The watercraft operating controller is configured or programmed to control a magnitude and an orientation of the thrust in accordance with an operation by the operation console. Upon receiving the operating signal, the watercraft operating controller is configured or programmed to determine whether or not the joystick is located in a neutral position. When the joystick is located in the neutral position, the watercraft operating controller is configured or programmed to transition to a holding standby state. When the joystick is tilted in the holding standby state, the watercraft operating controller is configured or programmed to transition to a holding control state to hold the thrust or a watercraft speed.