Patent ID: 7429202
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A system for controlling operation of a plurality of outboard motors each adapted to be supported on a stern of a boat by a shaft to be steerable relative to the boat and each having a propeller and a steering actuator driving the shaft, an internal combustion engine connected to the propeller through a shift clutch; a throttle actuator changing an opening of a throttle valve of the engine; and a shift actuator driving the shift clutch to change a shift position; said system comprising: a plurality of controllers each controlling operation of an associated one of steering actuators to regulate steering angles of the outboard motors such that lines extending from axes of rotation of the propellers of the outboard motors intersect at a desired point; a sensor detecting direction and speed of wind hitting the boat; and a communication unit enabling the controllers to communicate with each other to exchange command values for the steering actuators, the throttle actuators and the shift actuators; wherein each of the controllers determines the command values of the associated steering actuator, throttle actuator and shift actuator to control the operation of the associated steering actuator, throttle actuator and shift actuator based on the detected direction and speed of the wind and the command values for those of other than the associated actuators to regulate bow direction and position of the boat.