Automatically navigable vessel steering system, method for controlling vessel steering system, and marine vessel

Abstract

A marine vessel includes a vessel steering system including a boat controller configured or programmed to include an automatic vessel steering mode and a manual vessel steering mode as vessel steering modes. When a password to release a locked state is input to a multifunction display in a locked state where the vessel steering mode is fixed in the automatic vessel steering mode, the boat controller is configured or programmed to shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vessel steering system comprising:
 a boat controller configured or programmed to include an automatic vessel steering mode and a manual vessel steering mode as vessel steering modes; wherein   when an unlock key is received in a locked state in which the vessel steering mode is fixed in the automatic vessel steering mode, the boat controller is configured or programmed to shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode.   
     
     
         2 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , wherein the boat controller is configured or programmed to receive the unlock key when a marine vessel including the vessel steering system is in an emergency situation. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 2 , wherein the emergency situation includes stranding of the marine vessel, unnavigability of the marine vessel due to poor visibility, or entry into a sea area where the marine vessel is likely to be stranded. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a manual operator to receive the unlock key. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communicator; wherein   the unlock key is received from outside a marine vessel including the vessel steering system via the communicator.   
     
     
         6 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 in a case where the unlock key is received from the outside of the marine vessel via the communicator, the boat controller is configured or programmed to enable remote control of the marine vessel in the manual vessel steering mode.   
     
     
         7 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 marine vessel steering equipment operable after the unlock key is received and the automatic vessel steering mode is shifted to the manual vessel steering mode.   
     
     
         8 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the marine vessel steering equipment includes a remote controller including a lever; and   when the unlock key is received, the boat controller is configured or programmed to:
 in a case where the lever is located at a neutral position where a thrust is not applied to the marine vessel, immediately shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode; and 
 in a case where the lever is not located at the neutral position, shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode after the lever is shifted to the neutral position. 
   
     
     
         9 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the marine vessel steering equipment includes a remote controller including a lever; and   when the unlock key is received in a case where the lever is located at a forward position that advances the marine vessel or a backward position that reverses the marine vessel, the boat controller is configured or programmed to not shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode; and   when the lever is moved to a neutral position that does not apply thrust to the marine vessel, the boat controller is configured or programmed to immediately shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode, or when the lever is once moved to the neutral position and then moved to the forward position or the backward position, the boat controller is configured or programmed to shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode.   
     
     
         10 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the unlock key is received in a case where a rudder angle position of a marine vessel including the vessel steering system is located at a straight advancing rudder angle position that moves the marine vessel straight, the boat controller is configured or programmed to immediately shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode, or shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode after the rudder angle position of the marine vessel is changed to a turning rudder angle position that turns the marine vessel leftward or rightward.   
     
     
         11 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the unlock key is received, the boat controller is configured or programmed to not shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode when a rudder angle position of a marine vessel including the vessel steering system is at a turning rudder angle position that turns the marine vessel to leftward or rightward; and   when the rudder angle position of the marine vessel is changed to a straight advancing rudder angle position that moves the marine vessel straight, the boat controller is configured or programmed to immediately shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode, or when the rudder angle position of the marine vessel is once changed to the straight advancing rudder angle position and then changed to the turning rudder angle position, the boat controller is configured or programmed to shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode.   
     
     
         12 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the unlock key is received in a case where a rudder angle position of a marine vessel including the vessel steering system is a turning rudder angle position that turns the marine vessel to leftward or rightward, the boat controller is configured or programmed to shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode after the rudder angle position of the marine vessel is changed to a straight advancing rudder angle position that moves the marine vessel straight.   
     
     
         13 . The vessel steering system according to  claim 1 , wherein the unlock key is a password, a passcode, a barcode, or a quick response code. 
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling a vessel steering system including an automatic vessel steering mode and a manual vessel steering mode as vessel steering modes, the method comprising:
 shifting the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode when an unlock key is received in a locked state in which the vessel steering mode is fixed in the automatic vessel steering mode.   
     
     
         15 . A marine vessel comprising:
 a vessel steering system including a boat controller configured or programmed to include an automatic vessel steering mode and a manual vessel steering mode as vessel steering modes; wherein   when an unlock key is received in a locked state in which the vessel steering mode is fixed in the automatic vessel steering mode, boat controller is configured or programmed to shift the automatic vessel steering mode to the manual vessel steering mode.   
     
     
         16 . A vessel steering system comprising:
 a boat controller configured or programmed to include an automatic vessel steering mode and a manual vessel steering mode as vessel steering modes; wherein   when an unlock key is received in a locked state in which the vessel steering mode is fixed in the automatic vessel steering mode, the boat controller is configured or programmed to release the locked state.