Patent ID: 8622778

Claim:
A programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel comprising: a set of port side transducers, wherein the set of port side transducers further comprises: a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a port fore side of the marine vessel; a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a port aft side of the marine vessel; and a lateral port side position transducer; a set of starboard side transducers, wherein the set of starboard side transducers further comprises: a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a starboard fore side of the marine vessel; a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a starboard aft side of the marine vessel; and a lateral starboard side position transducer; a stern thruster; a bow thruster; a forward/reverse driver selector, wherein the forward/reverse driver selector works in conjunction with the stern thruster and the bow thruster; a plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of actuators control the forward/reverse drive selector; a programmable processor control unit, wherein the programmable processor control unit further comprises an automatic processor operating in real-time to communicate and transmit a set of distance and velocity information provided by the set of port side transducers and the set of starboard side transducers to the bow thruster and the stern thruster; a control panel, wherein the control panel further comprises: an on button to activate the programmable automatic docking system; an off button to de-activate the programmable automatic docking system; a port button, wherein the port button activates the set of port side transducers to transmit a set of distance, position and velocity information of the marine vessel to the programmable processor control unit; a starboard button, wherein the starboard button activates the set of port side transducers to transmit a set of distance, position and velocity information of the marine vessel to the programmable processor control unit; a plus button; a minus button, wherein the plus button and the minus button allow for a final pre-selected distance to be entered between the marine vessel and an external object; a slip forward button; a slip reverse button; a buoy button; a bow distance, velocity and position transducer located on a bow of the marine vessel; and a stern distance, velocity and position transducer located on a stern of the marine vessel.