FLEXIBLE, REDUCED CABLING, AND FAULT TOLERANT NETWORKED STEERING SYSTEM

摘要

A marine vessel steering system having bus (13) to which an autopilot interface unit (AIU)(17) containing an autopilot function is coupled. The system having at least one steering location at which autopilot function controls are positioned and coupled to a cable (bus) interface unit (CIU)(32) to the bus (13) for communication the AIU. A manuals steering unit, such as a helm (19), is positioned at the main steering location and directly coupled to the AIU, wherein a switch (25) selects between autopilot function rudder control and helm rudder control. Miniwheels (31), which operate in a manner similar to that a helm, are positioned at steering locations remote to the main steering location which communicated with the AIU to switch between autopilot function control to miniwheel control. A multiplicity of AIUs (11, 11a, 11b) may be utilized to maintain operation with a minimum of disruption should an AIU fails by switching from the failed unit to one of the other AIUs. Marine vessels may contain more than one rudder each with an associated AIU. Through a master/slave arbitration procedure one AIU is established as the master, wherein the master provides all data for rudder control.