System and method for controlling course of a marine vessel

1. A system for controlling a course of a marine vessel powered by a marine engine as it moves in a body of water, the system comprising:

a steering wheel rotatable to a plurality of positions;

a steerable component comprising a pod drive, an outboard motor, a stern drive, a jet drive, or a propeller capable of producing a thrust vector coupled to the vessel and rotatable about a steering axis to affect a direction of movement of the vessel in response to rotation of the steering wheel in a manual steering mode;

a navigation system that determines a current global position and a current heading of the vessel;

a mode selection device configured to initiate an auto-waypoint mode of the system; and

a control module in signal communication with the steering wheel, the steerable component, the navigation system, and the mode selection device;

wherein, in response to initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the control module sets a virtual waypoint and sets a course for the vessel toward the virtual waypoint based on a current position of the steering wheel and the vessel's current global position;

wherein the control module sets the virtual waypoint by projecting the vessel's current global position out by a predetermined distance and at an angle from the vessel's current heading the angle being based on the current position of the steering wheel; and

wherein the control module thereafter commands the steerable component to rotate automatically and independently of the current position of the steering wheel, so as to counteract external forces on the vessel due to wind, waves, current, or other environmental factors, to thereby maintain the vessel on the set course toward the virtual waypoint.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated to a neutral, centered position upon initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the control module calculates the virtual waypoint by projecting the vessel's current global position out by the predetermined distance at zero degrees from the vessel's current heading and sets the course as a straight line toward the virtual waypoint.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated to the neutral, centered position upon initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the control module establishes a detent for the steering wheel around the neutral, centered position.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated out of the neutral, centered position while the course is the straight line toward the virtual waypoint, the control module cancels the auto-waypoint mode and returns the system to the manual steering mode.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated out of the neutral, centered position while the course is the straight line toward the virtual waypoint, the control module sets a series of virtual waypoints, each virtual waypoint in the series of virtual waypoints being set by projecting the vessel's current global position out at progressively increasing angles from the vessel's current heading, and sets the course as being along an arc including the series of virtual waypoints.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated to a non-neutral, angled position upon initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the control module sets a series of virtual waypoints, each virtual waypoint in the series of virtual waypoints being set by projecting the vessel's current global position out at progressively increasing angles from the vessel's current heading, and sets the course as being along an arc including the series of virtual waypoints.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated to the non-neutral, angled position upon initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the control module calculates a radius of the arc based on the steering wheel's current position and a current speed of the vessel.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein in response to a change in the vessel's current speed while the course is along the arc including the series of virtual waypoints, the control module calculates a new radius of the arc based on the steering wheel's current position and the new current speed of the vessel.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the control module not being able to maintain the set course with a calibrated amount of movement of the steerable component, the control module cancels the auto-waypoint mode and returns the system to the manual steering mode.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mode selection device is also configured to cancel the auto-waypoint mode, in response to which the control module returns the system to the manual steering mode.

11. A method for controlling a course of a marine vessel powered by a marine engine as it moves in a body of water, the method comprising:

determining a current global position and a current heading of the vessel;

initiating an auto-waypoint mode of a vessel course control system;

in response to initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, a control module setting a virtual waypoint and setting a course for the vessel toward the virtual waypoint based on a current position of a steering wheel of the system and the vessel's current global position, wherein setting the virtual waypoint comprises projecting the vessel's current global position out by a predetermined distance and at an angle from the vessel's current heading, the angle being based on the current position of the steering wheel; and

automatically rotating a steerable component comprising a pod drive, an outboard motor, a stern drive, a jet drive, or a propeller capable of producing a thrust vector, which is coupled to the vessel and rotatable about a steering axis to affect a direction of movement of the vessel independently of the current position of the steering wheel so as to counteract external forces on the vessel due to wind, waves, current, or other environmental factors, and thereby maintaining the vessel on the set course toward the virtual waypoint.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated to a neutral, centered position upon initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the method further comprises calculating the virtual waypoint by projecting the vessel's current global position out by the predetermined distance at zero degrees from the vessel's current heading and setting the course as a straight line toward the virtual waypoint.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated out of the neutral, centered position while the course is the straight line toward the virtual waypoint, the method further comprises canceling the auto-waypoint mode and returning the system to a manual steering mode, in which a position of the steering wheel determines a position of the steerable component.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated out of the neutral, centered position while the course is the straight line toward the virtual waypoint, the method includes setting a series of virtual waypoints, each virtual waypoint in the series of virtual waypoints being set by projecting the vessel's current global position out at progressively increasing angles from the vessel's current heading, and setting the course as being along an arc including the series of virtual waypoints.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated to a non-neutral, angled position upon initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the method includes setting a series of virtual waypoints, each virtual waypoint in the series of virtual waypoints being set by projecting the vessel's current global position out at progressively increasing angles from the vessel's current heading, and setting the course as being along an arc including the series of virtual waypoints.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein in response to the steering wheel being rotated to the non-neutral, angled position upon initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the method includes calculating a radius of the arc based on the steering wheel's current position and a current speed of the vessel.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein in response to a change in the vessel's current speed while the course is along the arc including the series of virtual waypoints, the method includes calculating a new radius of the arc based on the steering wheel's current position and the new current speed of the vessel.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein in response to a determination that the vessel's current global position and current heading are not available or are not valid, the method includes cancelling the auto-waypoint mode and returning the system to a manual steering mode, in which a position of the steering wheel determines a position of the steerable component.