US 12,420,902 B2
Method for maneuvering a boat provided with a single drive unit
Lars Wik, Sävedalen (SE); and Johan Tell, Gothenburg (SE)
Assigned to VOLVO PENTA CORPORATION, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by VOLVO PENTA CORPORATION, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/512,113.
Claims priority of application No. 22211184 (EP), filed on Dec. 2, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0182148 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. B63H 21/21 (2006.01); B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B63H 20/12 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 21/213 (2013.01) [B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B63H 20/12 (2013.01); B63H 2021/216 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method for maneuvering a boat provided with a single drive unit, said boat comprising a hull having a longitudinal extent along a hull longitudinal axis, and a lateral extent along a hull lateral axis,
said drive unit comprising:
a mount attaching the drive unit to the hull along said hull longitudinal axis,
a lower unit comprising a propeller shaft for carrying a propeller for generating thrust, wherein the lower unit is configured such that the lower unit, or at least a portion of the lower unit carrying the propeller shaft, is rotatable about a steering axis such that a direction of a horizontal component of the thrust is variable in a horizontal plane by rotation of the lower unit about the steering axis,
wherein the method comprises:
obtaining, by a processor device of a computer system, net momentum direction data indicative of a target horizontal rotational movement of the hull,
triggering, by the processor device, a series of bursts of thrust by the drive unit, said series of bursts of thrust comprising a plurality of primary bursts and a plurality of secondary bursts directed differently than the primary bursts,
wherein the primary bursts and the secondary bursts are directed such that they provide a respective longitudinal thrust component parallel to the hull longitudinal axis,
wherein the primary bursts are directed such that the longitudinal thrust components of the primary bursts act in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of the longitudinal thrust components of the secondary bursts, and
wherein the primary bursts and the secondary bursts are further directed such that they jointly provide a net momentum on the hull associated with said net momentum direction data.