US 12,263,929 B2
Watercraft maneuvering system, and watercraft including the same
Toshiya Tsuchiya, Shizuoka (JP); and Kento Sakurada, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Shizouka (JP)
Filed by YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Iwata (JP)
Filed on Jan. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/092,494.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-003925 (JP), filed on Jan. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0219677 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. B63H 21/21 (2006.01); B63H 20/12 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01)
CPC B63H 21/213 (2013.01) [B63H 20/12 (2013.01); G05D 1/0206 (2013.01); B63H 2021/216 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A watercraft maneuvering system comprising:
a plurality of watercraft maneuvering stations to steer and adjust a propulsive force of a watercraft, the plurality of watercraft maneuvering stations including:
a main station including a steering wheel to steer the watercraft and an acceleration lever to adjust the propulsive force; and
a substation spaced apart from the main station and including a joystick to both steer the watercraft and adjust the propulsive force; and
a controller configured or programmed to perform a station management operation to select only one of the plurality of watercraft maneuvering stations as an operative station in which an operation to steer and adjust the propulsive force is enabled; wherein
the substation includes a joystick button operable by a user to enable an operation input with the joystick;
the controller is configured or programmed to select the substation as the operative station in response to the operation of the joystick button;
the controller is configured or programmed to perform a mode management operation to manage a propulsion system control mode;
the control mode includes an ordinary mode in which the operation of the joystick is disabled, and a joystick mode in which the operation of the joystick is enabled; and
the controller is configured or programmed to set the control mode to the joystick mode when the substation is selected as the operative station;
the joystick mode includes a first joystick mode in which propulsive forces of a plurality of propulsion systems are used, and a second joystick mode in which a propulsive force of a propulsive force of less than all propulsion systems is used; and
when the control mode is set to the joystick mode, the controller is configured or programmed to determine whether the plurality of propulsion systems are in a propulsive force operable state and, when all of the plurality of propulsion systems are in the propulsive force operable state, the controller is configured or programmed to set the control mode to the first joystick mode and, when not all of the plurality of propulsion systems are in the propulsive force operable state, the controller is configured or programmed to set the control mode to the second joystick mode.