US 12,330,761 B2
System for and method of controlling watercraft
Hidehiko Harada, Shizuoka (JP); Jumpei Yasuda, Shizuoka (JP); and Ryota Inoue, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Shizuoka (JP)
Filed by YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Iwata (JP)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/094,423.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-062136 (JP), filed on Apr. 1, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0312072 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B63H 20/12 (2006.01); B63H 25/42 (2006.01); B63H 20/00 (2006.01); B63H 25/02 (2006.01); B63H 25/04 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 20/12 (2013.01) [B63H 25/42 (2013.01); B63H 2020/003 (2013.01); B63H 2025/026 (2013.01); B63H 2025/045 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for controlling a watercraft including a marine propulsion device, the system comprising:
a data communication module to perform wireless communication with an external computer;
a position sensor to detect a position of the watercraft; and
a controller configured or programmed to:
obtain the position of the watercraft; and
send at least one of functional information, trouble information, or operational information to the external computer through the data communication module; wherein
an automatic control function of the marine propulsion device and the position of the watercraft when the automatic control function is used are associated with each other in the functional information;
a trouble in the watercraft and the position of the watercraft when the trouble occurred are associated with each other in the trouble information, the trouble including at least one of overheating of a drive source of the marine propulsion device, over-revolution of the drive source, stall of the drive source, or a jump of the watercraft;
an operational pattern performed by a user for the marine propulsion device and the position of the watercraft when the operational pattern is performed are associated with each other in the operational information, the operational pattern including at least one of an operation of a shift operator to perform switching between a forward moving action and a rearward moving action by the marine propulsion device, an operation performed to steer the watercraft, or an operation performed on a joystick operable to move the watercraft forward, rearward, rightward, and leftward; and
the external computer is configured or programmed to:
(1) when the trouble occurs, display a map indicating a specified region where the trouble occurs, display an application installed in a user terminal or a display, or send an alert to a watercraft that passes through the specified region; or
(2) based on the operational information, suggest to the user to use a position keeping function such that the watercraft is kept in a predetermined position, suggest an appropriate method of operating the watercraft on the display or the application installed in the user terminal, or send an e-mail.