Patent ID: 7993172

Claim:
A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets, comprising: a processor configured to receive a first vessel control signal including at least a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in one of a port and starboard direction, and that is configured to provide at least one first actuator control signal and a second set of actuator control signals that are derived from the first vessel control signal; wherein the at least one first actuator control signal is to be coupled to and control the first and second steering nozzles, and the second set of actuator control signals are to be coupled to and control the first and second reversing buckets; and wherein the processor is configured to provide the second set of actuator control signals so that the first reversing bucket is positioned in a first discrete position and so that the second reversing bucket is positioned in a second discrete position, in response to the first vessel control signal, and wherein the processor is configured to maintain the first reversing bucket substantially in the first discrete position and the second reversing bucket substantially in the second discrete position for all first vessel control signals having only having a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in one of the port direction and the starboard direction, and for all first vessel control signals corresponding to a translational thrust command having a component in one of the port direction and the starboard direction and a component in one of a forward and aft direction.