Marine vessel and control device therefor

Abstract

A control device for a marine vessel includes a hull, a pair of water resistance bodies, and a controller. The pair of water resistance bodies are provided on the hull, one on a left side and one on a right side of the hull, each independently movable between a first position in which a resistance received from water in a predetermined direction is adjustable to a first magnitude, and a second position in which a resistance is adjustable to zero or to a second magnitude smaller than the first magnitude. The controller is configured or programmed to acquire wind speed, acquire tidal current speed, and control is configured or programmed to control the pair of water resistance bodies based on the wind speed and the tidal current speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control device for a marine vessel, the control device comprising:
 a hull;   a pair of water resistance bodies on the hull, one on a left side of the hull and one on a right side of the hull, each independently movable between a first position in which a resistance received from water in a predetermined direction is adjustable to a first magnitude, and a second position in which a resistance is adjustable to zero or to a second magnitude smaller than the first magnitude; and   a controller configured or programmed to:
 acquire wind speed; 
 acquire tidal current speed; and 
 control the pair of water resistance bodies based on the wind speed and the tidal current speed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to set the pair of water resistance bodies to the first position when a predetermined condition is satisfied in which the wind speed exceeds a predetermined speed, or the wind speed is greater than a value derived from the tidal current speed. 
     
     
         3 . The control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to set the pair of water resistance bodies to the second position when the predetermined condition is not satisfied. 
     
     
         4 . The control device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the predetermined direction corresponds to a front-rear direction of the hull; and   the controller is configured or programmed to:
 acquire a hull orientation; 
 acquire a tidal current direction; and 
 set one of the pair of water resistance bodies to the first position and another one of the pair of water resistance bodies to the second position when an angular deviation between the hull orientation and the tidal current direction exceeds a predetermined angle, regardless of whether the predetermined condition is satisfied. 
   
     
     
         5 . The control device according to  claim 4 , wherein one of the pair of water resistance bodies set to the first position when the angular deviation exceeds the predetermined angle is configured to generate a rotational moment in a direction to correct the angular deviation. 
     
     
         6 . The control device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the pair of water resistance bodies are each configured to pivot about a pivot shaft parallel to an up-down direction;   the first position is a pivoted position where the pair of water resistance bodies are perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the hull; and   the second position is a pivoted position where the water resistance bodies are parallel to the front-rear direction of the hull.   
     
     
         7 . The control device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a pair of global navigation satellite system sensors to detect the hull orientation; and   a tidal current sensor to detect the tidal current direction.   
     
     
         8 . The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of water resistance bodies is plate-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The control device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of water resistance assemblies each including:
 a rotary motor to move one of the pair of water resistance bodies between the first position and the second position; and 
 a lifting motor to move one of the pair of water resistance bodies up and down relative to the hull. 
   
     
     
         10 . The control device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wind speed sensor to detect the wind speed; and   a tidal current sensor to detect the tidal current speed.   
     
     
         11 . A marine vessel comprising:
 the control device according to  claim 1 .