Drive-by-wire control systems and methods for steering a marine vessel
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsSteven J. Andrasko, Kenneth G. Gable, Brad E. Taylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive-by-wire control system for steering a propulsion device on a marine vessel includes a steering wheel that is manually rotatable and a steering actuator that causes the propulsion device to steer based upon rotation of the steering wheel. The system further includes a resistance device that applies a resistance force against rotation of the steering wheel, and a controller that controls the resistance device to vary the resistance force based on at least one sensed condition of the system.
Claims20
A method of operating a drive-by-wire control system for steering a propulsion device on a marine vessel, the method comprising:
- receiving a rotational position of a manually rotatable steering wheel;
- operating a steering actuator to rotate the propulsion device to steer the marine vessel based on the rotational position of the steering wheel;
- measuring at least one of a hydraulic pressure associated with the steering actuator and a current draw associated with the steering actuator;
- and
- controlling a resistance device to vary a resistance force against rotation of the steering wheel based on at least one of the hydraulic pressure associated with the steering actuator and the current draw associated with the steering actuator.
A drive-by-wire control system for steering a propulsion device on a marine vessel, the drive-by-wire system comprising:
- a steering wheel that is manually rotatable;
- a steering actuator that rotates the propulsion device to steer based on rotation of the steering wheel;
- a resistance device that applies a resistance force against rotation of the steering wheel;
- and
- a controller that controls the resistance device to vary the resistance force based on at least one of a hydraulic pressure associated with the steering actuator and a current draw associated with the steering actuator.
A drive-by-wire control system for steering a propulsion device on a marine vessel, the drive-by-wire system comprising:
- a steering wheel that is manually rotatable;
- a steering actuator that rotates the propulsion device to steer the marine vessel based on rotation of the steering wheel;
- a resistance device that applies a resistance force against rotation of the steering wheel;
- a sensor that senses a rotational position of the steering wheel;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- compare the rotational position of the steering wheel to an endstop position for the steering wheel;
- and
- control the resistance device to vary the resistance force against rotation of the steering wheel based on the rotational position and at least one of a rotational velocity and a rotational acceleration of the steering wheel so as to effectuate an endstop at the endstop position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.