Method and apparatus for controlling a waterjet-driven marine vessel

1. A method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steering nozzle, a reversing deflector and one of a bow thruster and a second steering nozzle, comprising:

receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to at least one of a translational thrust command and a rotational thrust command;

generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal;

coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steering nozzle;

coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling one of the second steering nozzle, the reversing deflector, and the bow thruster;

inducing a net translational force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal corresponding to the first vessel control signal comprising only the translational thrust command and a zero rotational thrust command, so that substantially no net rotational force is induced to the marine vessel; and

inducing a net force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal comprising a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command, substantially in a direction of a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command for all combinations of the rotational and translational thrust commands.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of generating the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal comprises calculating the first and second actuator control signals with at least one algorithm configured to induce the net translational force to the marine vessel substantially in the same direction as the translational thrust command.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the reversing deflector in substantially only one degree of freedom with respect to the vessel to provide varying amounts of thrust.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the first and second steering nozzles so that they rotate substantially in unison.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of inducing a net force to the marine vessel comprises inducing only a net rotational force to the marine vessel without substantially inducing any net translational force to the marine vessel, in response to the first vessel control signal corresponding to a rotational thrust command.

6. A method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steering nozzle, a reversing deflector and one of a bow thruster and a second steering nozzle, comprising:

receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to at least one of a translational thrust command and a rotational thrust command;

generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal;

coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steering nozzle;

coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling one of the second steering nozzle, the reversing deflector, and the bow thruster;

inducing a net translational force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal corresponding to the first vessel control signal comprising only the translational thrust command and a zero rotational thrust command, so that substantially no net rotational force is induced to the marine vessel;

inducing a net force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal comprising a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command, substantially in a direction of a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command for all combinations of the rotational and translational thrust commands; and

further comprising providing an equal transverse thrust from each of the bow thruster and a combination of a reversing deflector and the steering nozzle when the first vessel control signal corresponds to zero rotational thrust command.

7. A method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steering nozzle, a reversing deflector and one of a bow thruster and a second steering nozzle, comprising:

receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to at least one of a translational thrust command and a rotational thrust command;

generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal;

coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steering nozzle;

coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling one of the second steering nozzle, the reversing deflector, and the bow thruster;

inducing a net translational force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal corresponding to the first vessel control signal comprising only the translational thrust command and a zero rotational thrust command, so that substantially no net rotational force is induced to the marine vessel;

inducing a net force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal comprising a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command, substantially in a direction of a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command for all combinations of the rotational and translational thrust commands; and

further comprising modifying the first and second actuator control signals in response to the first vessel control signal comprising a rotational thrust command, so as to create a differential thrust between a combination of the first steering nozzle and the reversing bucket and the bow thruster, to induce a net rotational force to the marine vessel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel comprises the first and second steering nozzles, and further comprising an act of maintaining the first and second steering nozzles at a fixed position in response to the first vessel control signal corresponding to a translational thrust command in one of a port and starboard direction and a zero rotational force command.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating the first steering nozzle in combination with a reversing deflector to provide a reverse thrusting waterjet, and actuating the second steering nozzle in combination with a second reversing deflector to provide a forward thrusting waterjet, in response to the first vessel control signal comprising a translational thrust command, and providing an angle of the first steering nozzle, measured from a straight ahead position, that is less than or equal to an angle of the second steering nozzle, measured from the straight ahead position.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising configuring the reverse thrusting waterjet with a first revolutions per minute (RPM) value, and configuring the forward thrusting water jet with a second RPM value , and configuring the first RPM value to be higher than the second RPM value.

11. A method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steering nozzle, a reversing deflector and one of a bow thruster and a second steering nozzle, comprising:

receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to at least one of a translational thrust command and a rotational thrust command;

generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal;

coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steering nozzle;

coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling one of the second steering nozzle, the reversing deflector, and the bow thruster;

inducing a net translational force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal corresponding to the first vessel control signal comprising only the translational thrust command and a zero rotational thrust command, so that substantially no net rotational force is induced to the marine vessel;

inducing a net force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal comprising a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command, substantially in a direction of a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command for all combinations of the rotational and translational thrust commands; and

further comprising controlling a combination of the first steering nozzle and the reversing deflector and the bow thruster, in response to the first vessel control signal corresponding to a transverse thrust command and a zero rotational thrust command, to induce only a net transverse force to the marine vessel.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating the first and second actuator control signals simultaneously to control the first steering nozzle and the bow thruster.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act inducing a net force to the marine vessel in response to the first vessel control signal corresponding to a rotational thrust command, includes inducing a rotational force to the marine vessel without inducing any substantial translational force to the marine vessel.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of receiving the first vessel control signal comprises receiving two vessel control signals, each signal corresponding to a single degree of freedom of a first vessel control apparatus having at least two degrees of freedom of movement that provides the two vessel control signals.

15. A method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steering nozzle, a reversing deflector and one of a bow thruster and a second steering nozzle, comprising:

receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to at least one of a translational thrust command and a rotational thrust command;

generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal;

coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steering nozzle;

coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling one of the second steering nozzle, the reversing deflector, and the bow thruster;

inducing a net translational force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal corresponding to the first vessel control signal comprising only the translational thrust command and a zero rotational thrust command, so that substantially no net rotational force is induced to the marine vessel;

inducing a net force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal comprising a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command, substantially in a direction of a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command for all combinations of the rotational and translational thrust commands; and

further comprising automatically detecting and storing key parameters of any of the first and second steering nozzles, the reversing bucket and the bow thruster during a reference maneuver of the marine vessel.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising implementing the key parameters to perform a maneuver of the marine vessel that corresponds to the reference maneuver.

17. A method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steering nozzle, a reversing deflector and one of a bow thruster and a second steering nozzle, comprising:

receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to at least one of a translational thrust command and a rotational thrust command;

generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal;

coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steering nozzle;

coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling one of the second steering nozzle, the reversing deflector, and the bow thruster;

inducing a net translational force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal corresponding to the first vessel control signal comprising only the translational thrust command and a zero rotational thrust command, so that substantially no net rotational force is induced to the marine vessel;

inducing a net force to the marine vessel, in response to the first actuator control signal and the second actuator control signal comprising a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command, substantially in a direction of a combination of the translational thrust command and the rotational thrust command for all combinations of the rotational and translational thrust commands; and

further comprising recording key parameters of any of the first and second steering nozzles, the reversing bucket and the bow thruster, in response to actuating an input device during a reference maneuver of the marine vessel.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of receiving the first vessel control signal comprises receiving the first vessel control signal from a first vessel control apparatus having three degrees of freedom.