Beating and passage time optimization computer navigation system for sailing vessels

A digital computer navigation system for use on a sailing vessel when beating, designed to automatically maximize said vessel's rate of progress in an averaged true wind direction, said system comprising,

• a processing means for vectorially subtracting time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous direction of movement relative to the water on which said vessel is sailing and time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous speed relative to said water, from time sequenced values of an instantaneous apparent wind direction relative to said vessel and time sequenced values of an instantaneous apparent wind speed relative to said vessel, to produce time sequenced values of an instantaneous true wind direction,
• a processing means for averaging said time sequenced values of an instantaneous true wind direction, to produce an averaged true wind direction,
• a processing means for determining time sequenced values of the cosine of an instantaneous angle between said averaged true wind direction and said vessel's instantaneous direction of movement relative to said water,
• a processing means for multiplying said time sequenced values of said cosine of said instantaneous angle by said time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous speed relative to said water, to produce time sequenced resolutions of said vessel's instantaneous velocity relative to said water in an averaged true wind direction,
• a processing means for determining when said time sequenced resolutions are at maximum value,
• a signalling means for signalling when said time sequenced resolutions are at maximum value, to,
• an automatic control means for controlling the adjustment, on a repetitive sequential basis, of said vessel's sailing variables, including rudder setting, main sheet setting and jib sheet setting, to continually tend toward maximization of said time sequenced resolutions, said automatic control means comprizing,
• a selection means for selecting one of said vessel's said sailing variables for adjustment until said time sequenced resolutions are at maximum value and for then passing selection on to the next of said sailing variables, for adjustment in turn, on a repetitive sequential basis,
• an adjustment means for adjusting the setting of that particular sailing variable selected for adjustment at a given time, until said time sequenced resolutions are at maximum value,
• a restraining means for maintaining the settings of all sailing variables not selected for adjustment at a given time;
• whereby said vessel is automatically sailed so that said time sequenced resolutions tend toward maximization, whereupon said vessel's rate of progress in an averaged true wind direction automatically tends toward maximization, when said vessel is beating.

A digital computer navigation system for use on a sailing vessel, designed to automatically minimize said vessel's great circle passage time to a destination of given position, said system comprising,

• a processing means for processing time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position in conjunction with values of the latitude and of the longitude of said destination, to produce time sequenced values of an instantaneous great circle bearing of said destination from said vessel's instantaneous position,
• a processing means for processing time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position, in conjunction with antecedent time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position, to produce time sequenced values of said vessel's direction of movement relative to the earth's surface and time sequenced values of said vessel's speed relative to the earth's surface,
• a processing means for determining time sequenced values of the cosine of an instantaneous angle between said instantaneous great circle bearing and said time sequenced values of said vessel's direction of movement relative to the earth's surface,
• a processing means for multiplying said time sequenced values of said cosine of said instantaneous angle, by said time sequenced values of said vessel's speed relative to the earth's surface, to produce time sequenced resolutions of said vessel's instantaneous velocity relative to the earth's surface along said instantaneous great circle bearing,
• a processing means for determining when said time sequenced resolutions are at maximum value,
• a signalling means for signalling when said time sequenced resolutions are at maximum value, to,
• an automatic control means for controlling the adjustment, on a repetitive sequential basis, of said vessel's sailing variables, including rudder setting, main sheet setting and jib sheet setting, to continually tend toward maximization of said time sequenced resolutions, said automatic control means comprizing,
• a selection means for selecting one of said vessel's said sailing variables for adjustment until said timme sequenced resolutions are at maximum value and for then passing selection on to the next sailing variable for adjustment in turn, on a repetitive sequential basis,
• an adjustment means for adjusting the setting of that particular sailing variable selected for adjustment at a given time, until said time sequenced resolutions are at maximum value.
• a restraining means for maintaining the settings of all sailing variables not selected for adjustment at a given time;
• whereby said vessel's rate of progress along said instantaneous great circle bearing automatically tends toward maximization, whereupon said vessel's great circle passage time to said destination automatically tends toward minimization.

A digital computer navigation system for use on a sailing vessel, designed to minimize said vessel's great circle passage time to a destination of given position, said system comprising,

• a processing means for processing time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position, in conjunction with values of the latitude and of the longitude of said destination, to produce time sequenced values of an instantaneous great circle bearing of said destination from said vessel's instantaneous position,
• a processing means for processing time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneus position in conjunction with antecedent time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position, to produce time sequenced values of said vessel's direction of movement relative to the earth's surface and time sequenced values of said vessel's speed relative to the earth's surface,
• a processing means for determining time sequenced values of the cosine of an instantaneous angle between said instantaneous great circle bearing and said time sequenced values of said vessel's direction of movement relative to the earth's surface,
• a processing means for multiplying said time sequenced values of said cosine of said instantaneous angle by said time sequenced values of said vessel's speed relative to the earth's surface, to produce time sequenced resolutions of said vessel's velocity relative to the earth's surface along said instantaneous great circle bearing,
• an audio frequency generating means for converting said time sequenced resolutions into audio frequency signals,
• a sound producing means for making said audio frequency signals audible;
• whereby a crew of said vessel is enabled to sail it so as to continually tend toward maximization of the pitch of said audio frequency signals, whereupon said vessel's great circle passage time to said destination tends toward minimization.

A digital computer navigation system for use on a sailing vessel when beating, designed to maximize said vessel's rate of progress in an averaged true wind direction, said system comprising,

• a processing means for vectorially subtracting time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous direction of movement relative to the water on which said vessel is sailing and time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous speed relative to said water, from time sequenced values of an instantaneous apparent wind direction relative to said vessel and time sequenced values of an instantaneous apparent wind speed relative to said vessel, to produce time sequenced values of an instantaneous true wind direction,
• a processing means for averaging said time sequenced values of an instantaneous true wind direction, to produce an averaged true wind direction,
• a processing means for determining time sequenced values of the cosine of an instantaneous angle between said averaged true wind direction and said vessel's instantaneous direction of movement relative to said water,
• a processing means for multiplying said time sequenced values of said cosine of said instantaneous angle by said time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous speed relative to said water, to produce time sequenced resolutions of said vessel's instantaneous velocity relative to said water in an averaged true wind direction,
• a computer display means for making the relative magnitudes of said time sequenced resolutions visible;
• whereby a crew of said vessel is enabled to sail it so as to continually tend toward maximization of said time sequenced resolutions whereupon said vessel's rate of progress in an averaged true wind direction tends toward maximization when said vessel is beating.

A digital computer navigation system for use on a sailing vessel, designed to minimize said vessel's great circle passage time to a destination of given position, said system comprising,

• a processing means for processing time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position, in conjunction with values of the latitude and of the longitude of said destination, to produce time sequenced values of an instantaneous great circle bearing of said destination from said vessel's instantaneous position,
• a processing means for processing time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position, in conjunction with antecedent time sequenced values of said vessel's instantaneous position, to produce time sequenced values of said vessel's direction of movement relative to the earth's surface and time sequenced values of said vessel's speed relative to the earth's surface,
• a processing means for determining time sequenced values of the cosine of an instantaneous angle between said instantaneous great circle bearing and said time sequenced values of said vessel's direction of movement relative to the earth's surface,
• a processing means for multiplying said time sequenced values of said cosine of said instantaneous angle, by said time sequenced values of said vessel's speed relative to the earth's surface, to produce time sequenced resolutions of said vessel's velocity relative to the earth's surface, along said instantaneous great circle bearing,
• a computer display means for making the relative magnitudes of said time sequenced resolutions visible;
• whereby a crew of said vessel is enabled to sail it so as to continually tend toward maximization of said time sequenced resolutions, whereupon said vessel's great circle passage time to said destination tends toward minimization.