System And Method For Optimizing A Path For A Marine Vessel Through A Waterway

A system for controlling a combination of vessels through a waterway, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a respective propulsion system and a respective directional system on each of the vessels, said respective propulsion system and respective directional system being coupled to the processor and configured to respectively impart a selective propulsion force on the respective vessel at a selective direction based on a respectively received propulsion command and direction command from the processor;
• wherein said processor is configured to determine an optimal path for said vessels through said waterway from a first location to a second location, a respective propulsion command, and respective direction command to be transmitted to said respective propulsion and respective directional system of said vessels at a respective incremental location along said optimal path, so to optimize a performance characteristic of said vessels along said optimal path;
• and wherein said determination of said optimal path, said respective propulsion command, and said respective direction command is based on said first location, said second location, at least one respective operating parameter of the vessels, said performance characteristic, and a navigational data of the waterway.

A method for controlling a marine vessel through a waterway from a first location to a second location, said method comprising:

• determining an optimal path for said marine vessel through said waterway from said first location to said second location;
• and
• determining a propulsion command and a direction command to be transmitted to a respective propulsion and directional system of the marine vessel at a respective incremental location along the optimal path;
• wherein the optimal path, the propulsion command, and the direction command are determined to optimize a designated performance characteristic of the marine vessel as it travels along the waterway, based on the first location, the second location, the performance characteristic, at least one operating parameter of the marine vessel, and navigational data of the waterway.

A system for controlling a marine vessel through a waterway, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a propulsion system and a directional system on the marine vessel, said propulsion system and directional system being coupled to the processor and configured to impart a velocity to the marine vessel based on commands received from the processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to determine an optimal path for said marine vessel through said waterway from a first location to a second location, and to determine said commands to be transmitted to the propulsion and directional systems at respective incremental locations along the optimal path so as to optimize a performance characteristic of said marine vessel along the optimal path;
• and
• wherein the determination of the optimal path and the commands is based on the first location, the second location, at least one operating parameter of the marine vessel, the performance characteristic, and navigational data of the waterway.