Brunswick Corporation

Jason S Arbuckle

Thomas S Kirchhoff

Matthew W Snyder

Steven J Andrasko

Andrew J Przybyl

Kenneth G Gable

Travis C Malouf

Robert Raymond Osthelder

David M Van Buren

William P O'Brien

Aaron J Ward

Michael J Lemancik

Trevor George

William R Robertson

Brandon L Tate

Kent A Prochazka

Steven J Gonring

Mark W Henker

Daniel J Balogh

Walter B Ross

Michael P Dengel

Gene A Smedema

John R Boatman

Steven L Van Camp

Robert M Hackbarth

Wayne M Jaszewski

Matthew Eric Derginer

Michael A Torgerud

Justin R Poirier

Matthew S Krabacher

Brennan J Kelly

Michael M Blackwood

Kyle K Karnick

Chuck E Welles

Michael F Durmeyer

A method of controlling navigation for a marine vessel includes receiving a user input via a user input device identifying at least one selectable priority for path planning, defining a prioritized navigation pathway through a marine navigation area based on the at least one selectable priority for path planning indicated by the user input between a vessel location and a navigation target location, generating a display image representing the marine navigation area and the prioritized navigation pathway, and displaying the display image on a display device.

Marine navigation systems, methods, and user interfaces

A propulsion system for a marine vessel includes a plurality of marine drives configured to effectuate propulsion on the marine vessel and a control system. The control system is configured to determine a disturbance vector representing an environmental disturbance on the marine vessel and identify a propulsion response capability of the plurality of marine drives to oppose the disturbance vector. When a request is received to perform an autonomous action, the control system determines whether insufficient propulsion authority is available to perform the requested autonomous action based on the disturbance vector and the propulsion response capability and, if so, generates an insufficiency alert on a user interface to advise a user of the insufficient propulsion authority.

Marine propulsion control system, method, and user interface

A system for adjusting a field of view (FOV) of a vision system on a marine vessel is provided, the system comprising: a camera is provided, the camera adjustably mounted to the marine vessel with an associated FOV of an environment of the marine vessel, and wherein the camera is associated with a three-dimensional camera coordinate system; and one or more hardware processors configured to: identify a trigger condition for adjusting the FOV of the camera; adjust a posture of the camera from an initial posture to an adjusted posture based on identification of the trigger condition, such that the camera has an adjusted FOV relative to the marine vessel; and determine three-dimensional location information associated with an object in the adjusted FOV in a three-dimensional global coordinate system associated with the marine vessel based on an adjusted transform between the camera coordinate system and the global coordinate system.

Systems and methods for adjusting a field of view of a vision system on a marine vessel

A method of operating a steering system for a marine vessel includes controlling a resistance device to apply a resistance force against rotation of the steering wheel in a first rotational direction past an end stop position, controlling a steering actuator associated with a marine drive based on a steering map and such that a drive angle of the marine drive stays within a permitted drive angle range, and determining that the current wheel position has passed the end stop position and then adjusting control of the steering actuator to account for the current wheel position being past the end stop position.

Marine steering systems and steering control methods

A method for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel includes receiving a lock control instruction designating two locked axes and one unlocked axis out of a surge access, a sway access, and a yaw access. Upon receiving the lock instruction, a current GPS position and a current heading of the marine vessel are sensed and a movement track is defined for the unlocked axis based on the current GPS position and the current heading. The movement track is defined such that the vessel position with respect to each of the two locked axes is unchanged. A thrust command input is received and then at least one propulsion device is controlled to move the marine vessel on the movement track based on the thrust command input while automatically maintaining the vessel position with respect to each of the two locked axes.

Navigation control system and method for a marine vessel

A propulsion control system for a marine vessel includes at least one image sensor positioned on the marine vessel and configured to image an area behind the marine vessel, and multiple drive units configured to propel the marine vessel. Each of the drive units is steerable about a vertical steering axis. The propulsion control system further includes a controller configured to receive a prompt to perform an obstacle clearance procedure, and in response to the prompt, steer at least one of the drive units about its vertical steering axis to increase visibility of the area behind the marine vessel by the at least one image sensor.

Systems and methods for controlling drive units of a marine vessel to enhance imaging of a marine environment

A method for maintaining a marine vessel at a target position in a body of water, the method being carried out by a processing system and including: estimating at least one roughness condition of the body of water based on measurements related to an attitude of the marine vessel; calculating a desired linear velocity based on a difference between an actual position of the marine vessel and the target position; filtering an actual linear velocity of the marine vessel based on the roughness conditions; and operating a propulsion system of the marine vessel to move the marine vessel to minimize a difference between the desired linear velocity and the filtered actual linear velocity. A method for maintaining a marine vessel at a target heading in a body of water is also disclosed.

Marine vessel station keeping to reduce wear and noise on propulsion system

A method of controlling an electric marine propulsion system configured to propel a marine vessel and powered by a power storage system includes presenting on a user interface a plurality of power mode options selectable by a user, including at least a reduced power and an emergency power mode. Upon selection of the reduced power mode by the user, at least one auxiliary devices utilizing power from the power storage system is automatically turned off and the propulsion system is controlled so as not to exceed a first speed limit. Upon selection of the emergency power mode by the user, the at least one auxiliary device utilizing power from the power storage system is turned off and the propulsion system is controlled so as not to exceed a second speed limit that is lower than the first speed limit.

Electric marine propulsion system and control method

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel includes at least two marine drives, a control system communicatively connected to the at least two marine drives and configured to detect that at least one of the marine drives is running and that least one of the marine drives is not running and determine, based on a trim position of each of the at least one non-running marine drive, that at least one non-running marine drive is trimmed down. The control system then controls each of the at least one running marine drive based on an output limit restriction until the at least one non-running marine drive is sufficiently trimmed up.

Marine propulsion system and control method

A method of controlling at least one marine drive on a marine vessel includes determining that a trim position sensor has failed for a first marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range for the first marine drive based on a first assumed trim position, and determining a steering position adjustment based on the allowable steering angle range. A steering actuator is controlled to automatically adjust the steering position of the marine drive based on the steering position adjustment. A trim position adjustment is determined based on a second assumed trim position for the marine drive and a trim actuator is controlled to adjust the trim position of the first marine drive based on the trim position adjustment.

System and method for controlling position of a marine drive

One embodiment of a method of controlling low-speed propulsion of a marine vessel includes receiving user input to engage an automatic speed control mode and then, when the automatic speed control mode is engaged, receiving the user input indicating at least one of a selected lure identifier and a selected fish identifier. A desired speed parameter is then determined based on the selected lure identifier and/or the selected fish identifier. The propulsion device is then controlled to automatically maintain the desired speed parameter.

System and method for controlling low-speed marine propulsion for optimizing fishing

A marine propulsion system for marine vessel includes at least one battery configured to power a vessel load, a plurality of marine drives, and a control system. Each of the plurality of marine drives includes an engine, an alternator driven by the engine to charge the battery, and a propulsor selectively driven by the engine to propel the marine vessel. Each of the plurality of marine drives is configured to operate in a propulsion mode in which the engine is operated to rotate the propulsor to propel the marine vessel in a generator mode in which the engine is operated to charge the battery while the marine vessel remains stationary. The control system is configured to select a subset of the plurality of marine drives and then to operate the subset of marine drives in the generator mode to charge the battery while the marine vessel remains stationary.

Marine propulsion and generator systems and methods

A method of controlling an electric marine propulsion system configured to propel a marine vessel including measuring at least one parameter of an electric motor in the electric marine propulsion system and determining that the parameter measurement indicates an abnormality in the electric marine propulsion system. A reduced operation limit is then determined based on the at least one parameter measurement, wherein the reduced operation limit includes at least one of a torque limit, an RPM limit, a current limit, and a power limit. The electric motor is then controlled such that the reduced operation limit is not exceeded.

Electric marine propulsion systems and methods of control

A method of operating a steering system on a marine vessel includes changing a maximum drive angle defining a permitted drive angle range for at least one marine drive and then, based on a steering map correlating wheel positions of a manually rotatable steering wheel to drive angles of the marine drive, adjusting at least one end stop wheel position to an adjusted end stop wheel position based on the changed maximum drive angle. Once it is determined that a current wheel position of the steering wheel is approaching the adjusted end stop wheel position, a resistance device is controlled to apply a resistance force against rotation of the steering wheel in a first rotational direction past the end stop position. The steering actuator associated with the marine drive is then controlled based on the steering map such that a drive angle of the marine drive stays within the permitted drive angle range.

A system for steering marine propulsion devices. Steering actuators are configured to change steering angles of the marine propulsion devices. A control system is operatively connected to the steering actuators. The control system is configured to receive a steering request for steering a first device among the marine propulsion devices, compare a steering angle of the first device to a steering angle of a second device among the marine propulsion devices, and control the steering actuators to steer the first device only when the steering angle of the first device is within a threshold range of the steering angle of the second device.

Growing community of inventors

Horicon, WI, United States of America

Jason S Arbuckle