Sperry Corporation

Sperry Marine Inc.

John F Yancey, Jr

Albert L Coleman

Charles R Wesner

Eldon John Thompson

Gregory Schluge

Rebecca A Bird

Ronald K Richey

David A Bennett

Jeffrey C Johnson

Steven E Schubert

A ship steering system has a multiplicity of selectable steering stations. A continuously rotating helm at each steering station generates digital rudder control signals which cause a predetermined rudder movement for each 360.degree. of helm rotation. Steering stations are selected through a multiplexer controlled at a command steering station. The steering system is operable from the command steering station in a plurality of modes, which includes auto-pilot, helm (full-follow-up), and tiller (non-follow-up). Helm and/or tiller modes of operation are available at steering stations remote from the command steering station. The system provides for an emergency takeover from the helm or autopilot modes by automatically establishing the tiller mode when the tiller stick is moved. When in the autopilot mode an alarm system provides an alert should the course deviate from a selected course tolerance.

Configurable marine steering system

An adaptive autopilot for Marine Vessles which seeks to obtain minimum combined hull and rudder drag while maintaining heading control by providing optimum rudder activity through a series of iterative steps.

Adaptive autopilot

Growing community of inventors

Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

John F Yancey, Jr