METHOD OF SHIP AUTOMATIC CONTROL Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC B63H25/04 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: method uses signals of current course angle from satellite navigation receiver and preset course angle from course setting unit to be used together to generate total control signal for ship steering drive. In navigation preset time intervals, first modulus of difference between ship current latitude and latitude ''I'' of ship turn point along preset course, and second modulus of difference between current altitude and altitude ''i'' of ship turn point along preset course are generated. Sufficing the condition when either of two moduli exceeds magnitude ''C'', preset course angle is generated proceeding from current ship location point and proximate turn in ship course. Sufficing the condition when either of two moduli is smaller than magnitude ''C'', preset course angle is generated proceeding from current ship location point and next point of turn in ship course To follow automatically ship motion preset schedule, additionally used are propeller shaft rpm controller, propeller shaft drive and computer wherein preset ship speed is generated (also, with correction in time interval Δt). Ship preset speed signal is compared with that from satellite navigation system. Difference in signals is loaded into propeller shaft rpm controller to maintain ship speed equal to corrected value by propeller shaft.

EFFECT: ship control by course angle vector, automatic correction of preset speed via repeated fixed time interval.

1 dwg