WATERCRAFT MANEUVERING SYSTEM, AND WATERCRAFT INCLUDING THE WATERCRAFT MANEUVERING SYSTEM

Abstract

A watercraft maneuvering system includes an overboard sensor to detect an operator overboard event when a watercraft operator falls overboard from a watercraft, and a controller provided on the watercraft and configured or programmed to control a propulsion system of the watercraft. The controller is configured or programmed to perform a fixed point holding control operation to control the propulsion system to maintain a fixed position of the watercraft when the overboard sensor detects the operator overboard event. The overboard sensor is provided on the watercraft, and includes a communicator that wirelessly communicates with an operator fob to be carried by the operator. The operator sensor may detect the operator overboard event based on a state of communication between the operator fob and the communicator.

Description

Claims

1. A watercraft maneuvering system comprising: an operator fob to be carried by an operator of a watercraft;an overboard sensor provided on the watercraft, including a communicator to wirelessly communicate with the operator fob, to detect an operator overboard event based on a state of communication between the operator fob and the communicator; anda controller provided on the watercraft and configured or programmed to control a propulsion system of the watercraft; wherein the controller is configured or programmed to perform a fixed point holding control operation to control the propulsion system so as to maintain the watercraft at a fixed position when the overboard sensor detects the operator overboard event.

2. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein, if the overboard sensor detects the operator overboard event, the controller is configured or programmed to perform a deceleration control operation to control the propulsion system so as to decelerate the watercraft, and to perform the fixed point holding control operation after the deceleration control operation.

3. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 2, wherein the propulsion system includes an engine, a propeller to be driven by the engine, and a clutch provided in a power transmission path between the engine and the propeller; andthe controller is configured or programmed to perform the deceleration control operation if the overboard sensor detects the operator overboard event and, after the deceleration control operation, to move the clutch to a disengaged state, and then to perform the fixed point holding control operation.

4. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a communicator to communicate with the operator fob;the operator fob includes a cancellation operation input operable by the operator, and a transmitter to transmit a fixed point holding cancellation command to the communicator of the controller according to an operation of the cancellation operation input; andif the communicator of the controller receives the fixed point holding cancellation command from the operator fob, the controller is configured or programmed to stop the fixed point holding control operation.

5. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a communicator to communicate with the operator fob;the operator fob includes a watercraft maneuvering operation input operable by the operator, and a transmitter to transmit a watercraft maneuvering command to the communicator of the controller according to an operation of the watercraft maneuvering operation input; andif the communicator of the controller receives the watercraft maneuvering command from the operator fob, the controller is configured or programmed to control the propulsion system so as to change at least one of a position or an azimuth of the watercraft according to the watercraft maneuvering command.

6. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 5, wherein the watercraft maneuvering command is operable to change at least one of a target position or a target azimuth for the fixed point holding control operation.

7. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a communicator to communicate with the operator fob to transmit watercraft maneuvering information of the watercraft to the operator fob; andthe operator fob includes a receiver to receive the watercraft maneuvering information transmitted from the communicator of the controller, and an notifier to provide the information received by the receiver to the operator.

8. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 7, wherein the watercraft maneuvering information to be transmitted to the operator fob by the communicator of the controller includes information indicating a malfunction state of the propulsion system.

9. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 7, wherein the notifier informs the operator by providing at least one of a buzzer sound, an audible message, display information, or vibrational information to the operator.

10. A watercraft maneuvering system comprising: an overboard sensor to detect an operator overboard event when a watercraft operator falls overboard from a watercraft; anda controller provided on the watercraft and configured or programmed to control a propulsion system of the watercraft; wherein the controller is configured or programmed to perform a fixed point holding control operation to control the propulsion system so as to maintain the watercraft at a fixed position when the overboard sensor detects the operator overboard event.

11. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 10, further comprising: a portable transmitter to be carried by the operator to transmit a cancellation command to the controller so as to cancel the fixed point holding control operation; wherein upon reception of the cancellation command from the portable transmitter, the controller is configured or programmed to stop the fixed point holding control operation.

12. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 10, further comprising: a portable transmitter to be carried by the operator and including a watercraft maneuvering operation input operable by the operator to transmit a watercraft maneuvering command to the controller according to an operation of the watercraft maneuvering operation input; wherein upon reception of the watercraft maneuvering command from the portable transmitter, the controller is configured or programmed to control the propulsion system so as to change at least one of a position or an azimuth of the watercraft according to the watercraft maneuvering command.

13. The watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 12, wherein the watercraft maneuvering command is operable to change at least one of a target position or a target azimuth for the fixed point holding control operation.

14. A watercraft comprising: a hull;a propulsion system provided on the hull; anda watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 1.

15. A watercraft comprising: a hull;a propulsion system provided on the hull; anda watercraft maneuvering system according to claim 10.