Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Yasuji Sekimoto

Yasuhiko Ishida

Makoto Itoi

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.

Vessel steering system

An operator control system for a boat, where an outboard motor includes a throttle actuator that controls throttle opening of the engine, a shift actuator that controls a shift position to be put into one of neutral, drive, and reverse positions, and an engine control unit that controls the engine. An operation input portion, to control propulsion of the outboard motor and an operation quantity computation portion, that computes control command values including a start and a stop, the throttle opening, and the shift position of the outboard motor by detecting a steering state of a boat driver at the steering seat, are mounted on an operator station. The operation quantity computation portion transmits the control command values to the outboard motor via a communication portion, and the outboard motor performs control of the start and the stop, the throttle opening, and the shift position of the engine according to the control command values received.

Growing community of inventors

Chiyoda-ku, Japan

Yasuji Sekimoto